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''^i. 


Memoirs  of  Charles 
Macklin,  comedian 

William  Cook 


90.  Macklin  (Charles).  Memoirs  of  Charles  Macklin,  Comedian,  with 
the  Dramatic  Characters,  Manners,  Anecdotes,  etc.,  of  the  Age 
In  Which  He  Lived:  forming  an  History  of  the  Stage  during 
almost  the  Whole  of  the  Last  Century,  and  a  Chronological  List 
of  all  Parts  Played  by  Him.  8vo,  half  calf,  (hinges  repaired). 
Portrait.     London,  1804.  $12.50 

At  the  end  of  the  book  is:  Case.  Mr.  Macklin  Laie  of  Coven t- Garden 
Theatre,  against  Messrs.  Clarke,  Aklys,  Lee,  Jamc.^,  and  Miles.  This 
action  was  brought  'by  Mr.  Macklin  against  the  above  named  men  for 
hissing  him  during  a  performance  and  causing  him  to  be  dismissed  from 
the    theatre. 


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MEkofis 

CHARLESJ^ACKLIN, 

.    WITH   THE 

DRAMATIC    CHARACTERS,    MANNERS, 
ANECDOTES,   &c. 

or    THS 

AGE  IN  WHICH  HE  LIVED: 


An  Htstory  of  the  Stage   during  almost  the  Whole  of  the 
last  Century. 


A  Chronological  List  of  all  the  Parts  played  by  him. 


-The  Players  will  »hew  all ; 


For  they  arc  the  abstract,  and  brief  chronicles  of  the  time. 

SHAKlirtAKS. 


-»- 


LONDON: 

PRINTED   FOR   JAMES   ASPERNE, 

At  the  Bible,  Crown,  and  Constitution, 

Comhili ; 

1 

1804. 

v>*     ■ 

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THE  NEW  YORK     , 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

392220 A 

ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 

tli-D^IS  FOUNDATIOWS 

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INTRODUCTION. 


jPlJBLIC  curiosity^  almost  ever  wdce  the  first 
establishment  of  a  Theatre  in  this  country,  has 
demanded  some  account  of  the  lives  and  pharac'* 
tcrs  of  its  eminent  professors.  Men,  Who  haye^ 
been  so  much  '*  the  brief  abstract  and  chronicles 
of  the  times,"  acquire  )>opular  favour,  t>oth  from 
the  entertiunmrat  and  utility  they  afford ;  for,  as 
tfaejr  are  g^erally  not  inattentive,  obseryen  of 
nankindj^  and  represent  them  under  alt  their  se» 
vecal  designations^  their  own  characters  are  tup^ 
posed  to  bear  some  distinguished  impression. 
Qar  affections  often  keep  pace  with  our  cudostty ; 
and  the  person  who  has  improved  and  amused  us 
for  ft  gieat  number  of  years,  we  mpect  whilst 
living,  and  remember  with  a  melancnply  pleasure 

^    vhfn  he  is  no  more. 

^  '  '     '    '    • 

^        Upon  this  principle  it  is  we  introduce  to  the 
^    public^   Memoirs  of  the  late  Charles  Macklin, 

^  and 


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INTRODUCTION. 

and  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived ;  a  man  who 
is  not  only  entitled  to  our  notice  from  his 
being  in  the^ftJi^e^qf  t^o^eailjeqiiffience,   but 

from  his  being,  for  many  years  before  his  death, 

* 

the  Nestor  of  the  Stage.  "•HI*  character  still  gains 
on  pur  (Curiosity,  when  M^e  consider,  that  this  m» 
raised  himself  to  the  top  of' ms  profession 
almost  the  bottom  o^  society,  wit'fi  littre'  aitl'from^ 
gareutal  protection,  without  die  ordinary  meails 
of  jjupport,  ana  almost  without  any  otneVinstruc- 
tion,  than  what  the  native  energies  of  nis  mihd 
stimulated  Him  to  oBtaiii,  *        i     -     r 

•  We  have,  however^  to  regret,  tli*a£  1  compielfe 
life  of  this  value,,  and  this  exteiit,  was  Abt ^iveii 
by  himself.  A  regular  Bis'tor^  of  tlilf  Stage  has 
long  been  a  desiderdtum  amongst  ali  those  wtid 
are.  scientific   amateur^  of  the   profession;   aiid 

.'♦J    IJ,*^  '.i.»»    4*:^*    '-?.      .V     .t.      '^i      .,-.    ,/    (ixli:,    'I'i   '     ij    \j''iL 

though  this  could  not  have  been  fully  fexpectea 

from  Macklip,  much  assistance  towards  8  worK 

of  this  kind  might  have  been  given  Dy  nith;     A 

man  who  had  touched  the '  extremities^  o^tw^S 

ttd  was  very  nearly  entering  on  his 

have  possesseci  k  voluime  or  e\'ent8, 

Dt  of  an  individual;  ana  as  his  ac^ 

quaintance 


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qnMntanee^iA  tfee  9kiige  bad  jofpfecededthd 
retfretfttertt  of  Citber,  he  dduld  have,  fhim  tradik 
tion,  infontre*  lis  «f  Its  Hifeagcs  ftffjl  qbstomf  aincB 
the  beginning  of  the  last  century;  the  profes- 
ndiiH  *ia  i^rf^aWcHatttdfeft  of  the  piirtcifaKjifer- 
torititVs',  tfie  taleirtS^alhd  est3«hl*ibii.ia>«lTidi.  tint 
<lrilrba^t*'WrtUi*  Wei-e  hdd>,  xvitti  iHwrcharaptm; 
«fc-.  ■Mid'.liaWbWi  ttfiiiii**-, '  And  -^cfabe*,  bf  tb*  acj 
^ttal  liBclieHbe^V  tiigethb'-iritb  ■tti'fr't)togres3tiv«! 

1  ;!  ri'.',ti<^T>  f  '•.  i-'T  v/f'f  J  .'•  .'c  ;■■'•■'  ;■  •)  •  u 
'  Stt<?K'a'fcHto»y  ij^iutd  JJiA^e  .beett'-e^fertairfiti?? 
an*  ^cl^VJ<i««Me;'  afttl  slich  (jn  a  'gfreiti'degwej^ 
^6ilW'1«^  6ifefeglV6h%  lilaeklld,  had  be  b*gflS 
i!*l!flf'fti3<ttateffab''iitHftfe.  'Hfe  #*3:  t^ften  ii»w« 
gaWd  Wlft^  hi$  iRfi^ndfe,  utidtir  all  tltt  temptai 
t»Ws  «^f 'iWt'^rtt  l^eemi'y  slssfetance,  atid  «We  ttflfe? 
^i9ft^i^fif(ibs<!Hj^tion;  ahd  he^$  ofteti^ibtfiidtMl 
hi?=t^uM  teiiMrtafce'ii;  but,  ftom  a  ki*g  *«ntli 
ntlant**oflift'aird  ^od  liea!lcl»,  he  cttlaiilfttfed  loft 
Sfticlr'dfa  itfcfe  ^maneney  of  both :  hisi  answer^ 
iiirM!y-'w%/sdine\vhat  like  Ihe  excu'ses  6f  tht  OKi 
ihitn  to  Chatoti  in  lufeian's  E>iale^odff^  ^'  That  fe* 
had  a  law-suit  to  get  rid  of,  a  Comedy  to'fitflfeW, 
or  some  things  to  set  in  order,  before  be  could 


bring 


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brin^  his  mind  comjiosediy  to  umh  a  trork«*<^''  But, 
tiieiii  (aatd  h^,  rajising  hh  voice»)  when  these  are 
accompKshed,  hy  G — ,  TIL  set  about  itV 

He  at  the  ^ame  lime  would  lament  Hvi  wmt  oC 
inanuscripts  whicb  ht  once,  had  for  this  undei^ 
taking,  and  which  were  unfortunately  lost  an  hu^ 
]ia8»ige  from  Holyhe^  to  DtfbUn  many  years 
back :  but  theft  he  add^d»  *^  Even  thia  loss  shall 
not  prevent  me:  it  is  thid  ifish  of  my  friepds;  it  if 
my  own  wish;  and  I  have  materials  enough  left 
tfoshew  the  world,  Uiat  if  Ihaye  Uyje4l9[ngr  I 
bave  not  lived  altogether  idlyi  or  unprp(i^ly»*' 
But  thme  who  know;  the  human  hear^i  knowi  that 
such  Tesolutions  only  shewed  he  was  ihe^4^^^ 
bis  own  irresolution.  He  had  npt  courage  suffir 
cient  to  undertake  a  work  of  so  mi^b  ]l^|w>ui; 
pid  retrospection;  he  therefore  deceived. l^i^ijiselC^ 
by  puUi«g  off  to  the  tiext  year^  /^hf^  1^  found 
a  difficulty  in  dping  then.  This  prpcrastinationt 
tberefore,  annually  continued,  till  his  menRMfy 
lb<?gan  to  fail  him ;  and  then  it  was  in  v:aiii  to 
aolicit  for  wb^t  Natt^re  said  *'  could  not  ,be  qbf 
tWWd.^' 

The 


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INTmODUCTrON. 

The  Anecdotes^  kc.  here  offered  to  the  public^ 
tre  the  gleanings  of  many  years  intimacy  witK 
the  $ubject  of  these  Memoirs,  whose  best  conver*- 
satkm  was  in  this  line;  yet  even  drawing  from  this 
lource^  (particularly  hi  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 
wlien  his  memory  gave  way,)  much  caution  and 
comparison  were  necessary,  in  order  to  ascertaia 
the  authenticity  of  the  facts.  These  have  been 
as  much  attended  to  as  was  in  the  Editor's  power; 
and  as  such,  he  trusts,  will  not  be  found  unen« 
tertaining  to  die  general  observers  on  life  and 
Manners. 

To  these  observations  it  may  foe  necessary  to 

add,  that  the  anecdotes,  &c.  which  are  included 

tn  this  work,  were  first  introduced  to  the  world 

in  that  respectable  publication,  the  Europeait 

Magazine.    The  avidity  with  which  they  were 

^  perused,  and  th?  very  favorable,  nay  flattering, 

.  feeeption  which  they  met  with,  from  an  extensive 

,aiid  increasing  circle  of  subscribers,  induced  the 

compiler  to  put  them  into  the  form  in  which  they 

now  appear,  and  consequently  gave  rise  to  this 

volume,  whieh  he  has  carefully  revised,  corrected, 

altered,  and  enlarged. 

He 


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//IJfTHOaUJCTION. 

,'  He:h«§;afao{avaflecthimacIf  qf  thfe-asaiftiaricfe  of 
ifc.Litenajry  GeiHJcnwny  totvvhoto  n^  tHe  cha- 

-tacters  lleKnfiaiedr,  ^cl  evjenla  rccoakri,*^ferc  wUl 
ekliQiTB,  y^ho.  hns  made  thqae  reniirksi  aBdr  cot .'ee- 
3IQ118  iv^Jiioh  {lis  experieiioe.  suggestecj^  ^nd  his 
Ikaowleilgo  of  .the  authenticity  of  many  o£  ttre 
i;<e^ited  cijXLtmsrt:arrc3e&  warranted.  •      > 


n. 


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ADVERTISEMENT. 


AMONG  several  Lettei-s  which  the  Publisher 
has  received  in  Commendation  of  this  Work, 
from  Gentlemen  who  well  remember  the  Subject 
of  it,  and  were  professionally  acquainted  with  the 
OutlLhci  of  many  of  the  Characters  and  Circum- 
stances recorded,  he  felt  a  very  high  degree  of 
Satisfaction  in  the  petusal  of  one  from  that  ex- 
cellent.Comedian  of  a  forhier  Age,  Mr.  Moody, 
M^hom  those  that  have  seen,  must  recollect  with 
Gratitude,  for  the  Pleasure  ^hicli  they  hive  de- 
rived from  his  Performances. 

This  Gentleman,  who  was  one  of  that  Old  School 
of  Actors  which  he  mentions  in  the  subsequent 
letter,  though  now  retired,  seems  still  to  return  a 
-wsLvm  Attachment  to  the  Stage,  wliich  he  once 
enlivened;  and,  as  he  personally  knew  the  prin- 
cipal Figure  in  this  Biographical  Medley ;  was 
moreover  acquainted  with  many  of  the  other  Cha- 
racters that  form  the  Dramatis  Pcrsonce;  has  un- 
questionably been  present  at  many  of  the  Ace/^e* 
therein  exhibited;  and  has  also,  in  thsit  Mental 
Mirror^  which  glances  **  from  Age  to  Age," 
viewed  those  Performers  who  were  antecedent  to 
his  own  Times;  the  Publisher  is  happy  inlaying 
before  the  Headers  of  this  Work,  an  Opinion  of  its 
Merit,  founded  upon  such  Experience-  Tliis,  he 
thinks,  cannot  be  better  done,  than  in  the  Words 
in  which  it  was  communicated.  He  therefore 
deems  any  Apology  for  printing  the  Letter  alluded 
to  unnecessary;  as  he  h  certain,  that,  while  it 
stamps  an  additional  Value  upon  these  Sheets,  it 
Avill  also  afford  Pleasure  to  the  Lovers  of  tlie  Drama 
to  learn,  that  their  old  Favorite,  Major  OTla- 
HERTT, .  continues  to  enjoy  both  Health  and 
Spirits;  that  he  could,  perhaps,  stiU  brandish  his 
Cane  over  the  Head  of  Lawyer  Vahland,  and 
successfully  correct  his  professional  Errors ;  and 
-i  .  that, 


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that,  like  an  old  Coachman,  altliougiriie  has 
seen  his  Slage-Mastcr^  and  most  of  his  Company, 
s€i  down  at  their  respective  Inns^  lie  stilli  loves 
'*  THE  Smack  of  the  Wmi?.!' 

32,  Comkilt, 
Dec.  1,  1804, 

To  Mj\  Asvzk^s^^j.  Bookseller^  GomkiU. 
"M.Y  DEAR  SIR,  ' 

TEN  Thousand  Thanks  for  your  kind  Remem- 
brance of  me,  and  for  the  Book ;  the  best  on 
the  Subject  that  I  ever  met.  Make  my  grateful 
Regard  to  the  Author,  for  the  kind  Manner  in 
which  he  has  served  up  the  Old  School^  and  4:he 
delicate  Veil  that  he  has  thrown  over  their  Foibles, 
.  The  Book  has,  from  the  Beginning  to  the  End, 
the  glowing  Finger  of  the  Master.  His  Digres- 
sions (by  far  the  best  Part  of  the  Work)  are  the 
Digressions  of  a  Gentleman;  and  his  Anecdotes 
and  Stories  are  supported  by  Truth,  as  far  as  oral 
Chronicle  will  permit  me  to  say;  and  without  the 
smallest  Attempt  to  raise  a  ridiculous  Laugh  at 
Characters,  the  great  Majority  of  whom,  **  AH 
Qualities  know  with  a  learned  Spirit  of  Human 
Dealing.'' 

I  am  fearftil  that  his  Hero  will  not  meet  much 
Respect  fpom  the  rising  Generation  of  Actors ;  he 
has  been  handed  to  them  as  a  troublesome,  tur- 
bulent Chaiacter;  Half  of  which  your  Autlior  has 
done  away,  and  given  him  a  higher  Niche  in 
Theatrical  History,  than  any  other  Person  has 
ever  yet  attempted. 

Let  the  jaundiced  Mind  read,  and  he  will  join 
my  humble  Effort  to  hold  to  the  Public  a  Work 
worthy  the  Attention  of  any  Man. 

Your*s  very  truly, 

Barnes,  Surty,    ^  J.   MOODY;^ 

Nov.  21,  1804, 

TO  THE  BINDER. 

Place  this  Leaf  facing  the  End  of  the  Mrodtcction. 


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MEMOIRS 
CHARLES  MACKLIN. 


/     'I 


OF  MR.  MACKtlN^S  ORIGIN,  VITH  CONJECTURES 
REXAf  IV£  TO  THE  PERIOD  OF  HIS  BIRTH* 

SO  Thany  dlflTerent  accounts  have  been  given  of 
tbe  oHgin  of  Charles  Macklin,  that  it  would 
he  very  difiicult  for  a  person,  carefully  looking 
for  thte'ti^uth,  which  to  fix  upon.  The  following 
sketch,  however,  is  taken  from  himself^hove  tbiity 
years  agd,  when  his  memory  and  intellects  were 
ift  their  full  preservation,  and  which  he  at  difler- 
ent  times  confirmed  by  subsequent  recitals. 

Charles  McLaughlin  (fpr  that  was  hh  original 
jiame)  was  descended  from  the  McLaughlins^  of 
the  North  of  Ireland;  a  clan  as  much  distin- 

B  .  guished 

*  I  remember  oifice  totiave  beard  Alarklin  say,  that  the 
McLaughlins  considered  themselves  as  descendants  of  the  anci« 
ent  Kings  of  Ireland ;  and  th^t  in  his  time,  in  order  to  recognize 
t|iti^  dliiMice  to  royalty,  tb%bead  of  the  family  in  the  North  of 

IrelaDd* 


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2  MEMOIRS    OF 

guished  f5r  antiquity  of  family,  as  for  being  prin- 
cipals in  the  vajiotis  eivil  witrs  ef  tWt  kingdom. 
In  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  they  united 
with  the  Magees  (anotiyQr  considerable  clan)  ia 
opposition  to  Government  j  and,  after  several 
skifitjisKet  witJlitJle  tegular  troQpe,,  thpiric|de|s 
finally  submitted  to  Sir  Christopher  Chichester, 
who,  marching  them  up  to  Dublin,  hanged  twenty 
of  the  Chiefs  in  terrorem,   and  dispersed  the  rest, 

Mflickliii'3  ifmif^e^jate  ancestors,:  piftej;  thia,  sq^t 
tied  near  Der^y;  ,a^4i  at  the  CQlebra^p^,  siege  of 
that  city  in  King  William's  time,  he  had  three 
ttnck^  wi^hiii  the  waJb,  ^nd  thrpc  without,  why 
distiAgui^hed  tben^sekes,  though  on  ,  oppositt 
eid^s,  .ikj^ith  a  biaverj  (to  i^sg  the  old  pan's  phrjisfi) 
"  that  H^pt  up  tl^  hoqowof  )tj)e  J^lo^fl  of  %h^ 
M^l^mghlins."  Sowie  t}\t^^  ^fter  tjijs  b|s  fat^i* 
^ie<?,:  and  the  little  f^^jtifi  whicl^  1^  h^d  wag  given 
i)p  to  ^  near  relfatipn  ^  theirs,  w&9  wa^  a  PriHteir 
tant,  intrust  for  tjie  wj^PW  ^^  chil^r^iu 

Such 

Irclaii^,  once  a  jear  held  ftsalemn  (thou^  ttrstic^  court  j  to  which 
:all  thtt  rel^titfDS  and  d^peiiddits  ife^nirod.  "^  I:  hiivc  myM 
beejD  opc^ajt  this  mectHBg/'^  hg  coatiptiieJi  *  ^'1^9^  oqtM  4pt  Mp 
Jbeing  exceedingly  impressed  wifti  the  ceremony  of  my  introduc- 
tion to  our  Chief,  who,  as  a  reiation,  received  me  most  graci- 
ously. I  there  beheld  tha(  union  of  state  and  simplicity,  for 
which  former  ages  were  so  remarkable;  and!  observed,  that  tl^ 
Chief  had  all  the  great  officers,  and  every  other  appendage^  to  a 
court*  These  iheetings,  Sir,  were  known  to  Government;  buras 
they  were  perfectly  innoofent,  anrf  their  pixKcedlngs  inoffensive^ 
they  wlere  tolerated. 


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Suck  i$  tte  hmf  hi$t(>ry  of  his  fipinilf ,  as  ofteii 
related  by  limiseVl  The  fenod  «f  ^is^  birth  is  Bot^ 
perh^y  quite  so  certain.  The  report  was  during 
Im  li£^.(aiid  it  was  in  some  respect  odnfirmed  by 
bimself,)  that  he  was  born  in  the  last  year  of  tb« 
seventoevth  century;  btit  thb  account,  upon  a 
coQspairiitive  investigatiod!!,  is  not  founded  upon 
sufficient  author!  iy.  lo  the  early  parts  of  his 
life,  it  has  been  said,  that  he  often  declared  *'  he 
did  vk>t  predsel^  kuwf  bis  age;"  and  itotbing  can 
be  nooee  probabk,  considerii^  the  condition  of 
Ireland  towajfds  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  cen* 
tury,   and  the  obscure  and  unsettled  situation  of 

his  family:  *but  then  it  is  to  be  asked,  How  came 
the  precise  period  of  his  bii^th  to  be  afterwards 
fixed  upon,  and  detafifed  as  a  fact  through  the  re^^ 
naainder  of  his  life?  This  has  bee«i  partly  an- 
swered in  Memoirs  6f  hi*n,  already  published, 
wherein  it  is  stated,  '*That,  instead  of  1 699,  he 
was  bom  in  IG9&;  arid  that  his  taking  off  nine 
years  of  hU  rc*I  age, .  was  the  better  to  conciliate 
the  aflfe^tibiis  of  a  theatricalmistress,  who  was 
then  under  twenty.*^ 

Civing  this  anecdote  its  due  weight,  We  shaH 
offer  another  reason  why  he  lessened  his  real  age. 
Between  fiorty  and  fifty  years  ago,  when  speaking 
Oft  this  subject,  he  nsed  to  caH  himself  generally 
*'  a  Bian  of  the  kist  century;"  but  mentioned  no 

B  2  precise 


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4  '  umotki^  or       > 

precise  periody '  till  Iris  daughter,  the  late  Miss 
Mftcklit),  got  stone  celebrity  on  the  Stages  Hen 
be  begaa  to^r  the  period-:  or,  perhaps,  his  daugh^ 
ter  rather  fixed  it  for  bino,  in  order  to  makeiber* 
self  appear  younger.  Macklin  himself  indirectly 
confirmed  this,  as  healwaysacknowledged  *^that 
it  was  from  his  daughter  he  received  the  particut 
iar  information  relative  tolhis  birth*'* 

These  arc  the  rejisons  offered  why  he  mig^t  be 
induced  to  ^extenuate  his  agcf;   but|   in  respect  to 
the  real  period  of  his  birth,  we  have  much  stronger : 
documents*  •..,.':  *   ,       i 

;  There  \yas  living  in  the  city  qf  Cork,  about  the 
year  1 750,;  ^,  Nypip^n  of  t^e  nacip^  of  Ellen  By nue^ 
the  wif?  of  a  jpurneyiflan  printer,  who  w^&  afireV 
cousin  of  M^ckljn's  mot;her»  and  /vy^ho  lived  ip  th^ 
family  at  the  t,ipie  of  his  birth;  apd  this  won)2|% 
who  always  i)pre  a,  decf nt  and  respccfabjft  char^ 
ter^  ha$  oftefi  declared  tQOjany people,  (?ip4ij|par- 
Jic^la^  to  the  )ate  Mr.  Char^^^  ftathb^nd,  Editor  of 
The  General  Evening  Post,  am^nofsomereci^syrcl)! 
and  unquestionable  veracity,)  that  her  cousin, 
Gharles  Macklin,  .was  two  montlDi  old  at  the  lit- 
tle of  the  Boyne,  (July  1,  I69O;),  and  th^t  a  fftv 
days  previous  to  that  celebrated  battle,  his  m<^. 
tlier,  one  of ,  her  brothers,  and  herself, ,  travjelled 
six  miles,  from  Drogheda  to  a  neighbouring  yil* 


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CHABLES  MACKXiy.  «  $^ 

lagci  for  safely,  cftnying  with  theih  youtig/Chaf*. 
ley  (as  she  calleid  him)  in  a  kish;*  and  that  they. 
resided  in  this  village  some  years  afterwards. 

-^This  anecdote  is  partly  conlSrmed  on  the  te$li4 
metiy  of  a  strolling  player  of  the  name  of  IVare; 
who  was  living  in  London  about  the  year  1784^ 
and  was  then  82  years  of  age.  This  man  often 
declared  that  he  remembered  Macklin  as  a  full 
growd  man  when  he  was  a  boy ;  and  tha^  frorii 
his  love  of  rioting,  and  other  dissipations,  he  was 
distinguished  by  the  epithets  of  **  Wicked  Char- 
iey/'  and  **  The  Wild.Irishman/' 

To  these  testittionies  we  shall  add  another,  which,' 
thbugh  ft  dbes  not  fiiUy  confirtn  the  above  zc^ 
counts,  goes  a  great  way  to  corroborate  them- 
When  Mr.  Geo.  Monk  Berkley,  grandson  to  thefa- 
ttckte^Dr; Berkley,  Bishc^  of  Clbyne,  ^as^  student 
in  the  Middle  Temple,  from  the  celebrity  of  Macl6 
lin's  character  ai^  an  actbr  aid  writer,  he  expressed 
a  wish/to  /be  acquainted  with  him.      Macklin 
^xed  oh  ail  evening,^  audi  at  the  meeting  thustac^ 
cost^  hini:   ^*  Young-  inafa,   I  am  'happy  to  see 
you^Pkhew  your>fa!m6bs  gx^td£gcther  very  well 
V-We  werie  it  college  ttogether/  and  be  was  always 
ri^l^nMtbe tfcwre»/  tad  in  our  University;  but, 
:  \n..'.  v^-^  '  .  ;    ^.  ,  B;3:  >        <       '  alaer! 

"'  i  'Kiihf  fw«'mdker;ltas|et9,..f)«OQ4i»cri«p  iffi  hprse'y  h^\  , 
;     .1^;..  J  J       Ijkc  »  saddle,  to  carry  provisions,  &c. 


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6  HSMOIR8   OF 

aksl  he  has  long  jstnce  gone,  and  I  am  liere 
stilll"  \     ' 

*When  Mr.  Berkley  visited  his  father  in  the 
long  vacatioti,  he  told  this  anecdote  to  htm ;  at 
>vhich  he  was  much  surprised,  and  said^  *^  It  vm 
altnost  impossible;  as  the  Bishop,  his  &ther,  httd 
heen  dead  neat  forty  years,  and  was  then  turned 
of  seventy  1  He,  indeed,  might  he  a  fellow  vheh 
Macklin  was  a  yoiingster ;  bnt  jiot,  I  should 
think,  otherwise."  "  I  don't  knflw  (said  the  son) 
Macklin's  age ;  but  this  I  know,  that  his  manner 
of  calling  him  Siprttiy  lad^  iund  hits  often  repcatj- 
ing  it,  struck  me  so  forcibly,  that  I  could  not  but 
helie^  it;  and nt  the  same  time  frUed  me  \riit|*  so 
much  surpri&ge,  that  it  brought  me  bijck  to  the 
days  of  Noah."  ,        / 

The  two  first  of  theee  acisoiints  ^tit  related  to 

Macklin  by  the  Editor  of  tbcscanticdottis  about 

k  dois^n  years  beftxre  his  dearth,  to  ascertain  th^lr 

authority;  and  his  answer  was,  ^  WJky^  6ir,  the^ 

was  ail  EJien  fiy«ie iwholivisd  in  Gprki  Rnd w?8i 

a  rektjoq  of  mine:  Biit  l^time^ee— r(|)dlis|f|g)-r 

'"born  inthe^ttx  1690-^Ohil  id»wnitml.>tlfinlc**hc 

must  bc'mirtaktfn."f-^*'  BmA,  Sir,,  (said  ^e  Edittuv) 

do  you  know  to  a  certainty  the  timd  of ij^ourlpirfiii" 

"  I.  certainly  do  notCv  aflU  that  I  possibly  can  fix 

on  is,  (for  I  never  was  good  at  dates,)  that  I  was 

very  eariy  in  %fi?  iufbt imed  I  Was^boftt  in^th^  Iftst 

'^ ■•.">'  •    :  ;••  '^  -^  «''i^'^ '-'  ^  '''-i/     century ; 


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ci«tuty;  bot  the  pBrikular  year  "^wto^  me  hy 
my  datightCTy  who,  I  sitpf>o$e,  must  have  had  it- 
fVom  Bie;  and  sb^  bad  always  a  better  recollec- 
tion  tha©  her  iither.'* 

lu  respect  to  the  anecdote  told  by  TFjare;  he 
said,  *^  HcremenoJoered  hkn  very  well;  that  h* 
oftea  strolled  with  him  both  io  England  and  Ire- 
land ;  that  he  was  a  very  honest  fellow ;  and  that 
he  alAi^ays  lookied  npoU  him  to  be  hh junior  by 
9omc  years,  but  by  how  mdny  he  could  not  tell" 

So  that  it  appears,  on  the  subject  of  age,  Mack*^ 
Iki  generally  shnflded  off  the  question :  perhaps  h^ 
could  not  pn^rly  ascertain  it ;  or,  what  is'ttiora 
likely  to  be  the  case,  having  once  fixed  upon  a 
perk)d  for  tht  eceomrito4iitim  df  his  daugJit^^  he 
considejted.  it  as  no  iraprachment  of  his  genei^l 
.  yeradty,  to  let  it  pdss  tkuroogb  life  as  a  register 
of  hk.bktfa. 

From  these  cirtumstaBces  relative  to  the  age  of 
Macklin,  ^rt  ts  greater  Reason  to  inxi^nb  that 
.  he  irafr  born  m  the  yeit  1690  than  1699.  In  fa- 
vour of  thieifimt  peijod,  thete  are  docnmentsfrom 
person^  totally  distnteresteit  on  the  aul^ect:  for 
Jibe  latter^  a  lo^e^  uhtefetl<^  recollection  <^n  the 
part  of.  himself  ^  or  rather  the  unaupporfced  assert 
1^  tf  ,his  tbtugfhtdr.  Hdwever,.  b6tl^  accounts 
^  before  the  public  for  their  decision. 

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$  .  liiKMoriis  or 

Mackliri'is  eariiest  remembranc?  of  himscif,  was   . 
^\^hen  he  was  a  boy  betMcen  six  and  sewn  yeaw 
of  ^ge,  living  on  a  small  farm  with  hk  father  and^ 
mother;  the  former  of  whom  ^ta  tise  his  ocwa 
phrase)  was  a  rank  Presbyterian,  and  the  latter  a 
bigotted  Papist.     In   every  other  rfespect  they 
Ifved  cordially  together,  but  on  the  score  of  reli*- 
gton;  and  as  both  wei%  in  all  probability  moiis' 
sharpened  by  their  passions  than  tlieir  knowledge- 
of  the  subject,  they  bad  frequent  altercatipns, 
which,  he  said,  ifirould  have  ris^u  to  nu)re  serioun^ 
consequences,  but  for  the  constant  interpositioa, 
of  an  uncle  of  his  by  thbmother^s  side,  who  was 
a  Roman  Catholic  Priest,  and  a  man  qf'grea^han 
IDanily  and  moderation  in  his  principle^.  ' 

This  uncle  undertook  the  dare  of  hrs  nephew'^ 
education;  and,  as  he  lived  three  mil^  from  his 
Other's  dwelling,  young  CJiarles  had  to  travel 
these  three*  miles  every  day;  sometimes  not  so 
well  equipped  in  wardrobe  paraphernalia  as  would 
befit  a  modem  Academician.  He  often  said,  he 
benefitted  very  little  from  his  uncle's  gopd  intea? 
tions,  as  he  was  very  idle,  and  very  dissipattetk; 
sometimes  staying  whole  days  front  ^chooh^oa^ 
ing  /Ae  yb^v  (robbing  of  orchards,)  atad  otbe^ 
boyish  fi-eaks ;  so  that  on  hisf  father's  de?tb,/  wbidh 
happened  a  few  years  afterward;^  hefODuld  duly 
read  English  with  a  broadirislx  adeedt;  ibho(ai|^ 


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m  other  reiE^ts,  said  ^^  ^^  I  was  accbiifkted  a. 
v^jy  "cute  lad."* 

His  mother,  by  the  restraining  laws  of  Ireland 
at-  that  tifne,  which  gave  to  the;  next  Protestant 
heir  the , inheritance  of  every  landed  property  from 
4he  Popish  possessor^  provided  thd  latter  did  not 
conform  to  the  Protestant  religion,  lost  her  little 
hxtn  by  the  operation  of  this  cruel  law,  H^r  suc- 
cessor, however,  who  had  the  unwritten  laws  o£ 
justice  and  humanity  in  .his  heart,  took  bcraod 
her  children  under  his  roof,  and  gave  her  ever^r. 
kind  of  prrotection  till  she  married  a  second  time, 
and' got  into  some  little  line  of  iud/^peudencep 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Mrs*  Macklin  there 
'Hved  a  near  velation  of  the  fiesborclaigh  family,  a 
widow  lady,  of  considerable  fortune  taste  dud 
kumniity';  who  seeiag  yi^ung  Maseklifit  ruiwing 
about  her  ^dands,  and  observing  him  to  be  a  bpy 
of  some  ^irit^  ^sharpness,  and  enterprii^ei  hospitftT 
bly  took  him  under  her.  roof,  in  order  to  rctscuie 
him.  from  those  vices  and  follies  which  a  life  of 
idlei^ss,  pfcticularly  in  yoting  n^iodii,  t^.  but  too 
i^t  to  pirBdtece.'  :  Here  be  waa  ibrthen  iu»traoted 
ixiijeadisgr  jind  ivdttng;  ami  here  it;w;«i:  that 
.!Maeklin.(whQ  toften  expressed^  his  gratitude  to 
bit  bisnefaictreBs^wfbc  thia*  kiiidpfisa)  felt  thisrgnst 
ij»p«sfiid-a:of  Jij5  iieewsity  i^f;»t^ud^iii^fmt 
q^cflpcci ,  to?  od}iiwitiqn,.  ;and .  th^i  Qrcler.  af  wliiwd 
2  i  :.>'-;;  life^ 


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10  xixoni  or      ' 

Itfer  by  beittg  under  the^ example  imd  restriction; 
of  a  regular  family,  and  the  awe  of  ^  woman  erf 
her  rank  and  kindness. 

While  he  was  under  the  protection  of  this  kdy^ 
Ae  Tragedy  of.  **  The  Orphan'*  was  got  up,  durinjy: 
the  Christmas  holidays,  amongst  some  young  re»: 
ktions  of  the  family ;  when,  in  casting  the  parta^> 
(however  strange  to  tcll^)  the  character  oi  Mam< 
nua  was  assigned  for  young  Macklin.  To  those 
who  recollect  the  figure  and  cast  of  countenance 
of  the  veteran,  it  must  be  difficult  to  reconcile 
tiie  possibility  of  his  pefforming  thb  part,  at  any 
time;Of  life,  with  tlie  smallest  Atgtee  of  propriety  i 
however,  if  we  are  to  take  his  own  M^ord  for  it, 
(which  U  all  the  authorhy  that  can  be  adduced,) 
he,  not  onfjr  Uiokediht  gentle  Monimta,  but  per-f 
formed  it  widi  every  decree  of  applause  and  en*' 
ecnmigenieht :  the  play  was  repeated  three  time$ 
Vitb  gteat  applause  before  several  of  the  sur^ 
Tom^diHg  gentry  and  tenants,  and  every  time  ho 
fAt  himaelf  acquire  additbnal  reputation* 

'  If  wa9  this  accideiil:  ithat^  in  all  frobabiiity^ 
dttterm^ed^  Mackltn  to  lus  future  profession. :  Had 
sot  thk  play  been  casually  producedi  the  chancer 
Di%re  much  agamsil  hberep  thinking :of  the  Stage; 
but  this  little  part  (no  matter vhowweU  or; ill  pert- 
formed)  ^wused  and  dtfieeled  the  itneirgiesrof^hift 
mind  «o  that  patticnlai^^intf  and^SjtibougliriBfmj 

years 


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CHAItlBS  IfACKLIN.  t1 

jmi%  had  efaipsed  before  he  actually  commenced 
a  reguUr  peiformer^  the  Stage  was  what  he  most 
reflected  on  as  the  future  object  of  his  pursuits. 

His  friend?,  however,  determined  otherwise; 
as,  at  the  4ige  of  fourteen,  he  was  bound  appren«» 
tice  to  a  saddler  in  the  neighbourhood ;  a  man  of 
good  repute  for  respectability  in  his  calling,  and 
general  character:  but  Macklin,  having  gotten  a 
plater  taste  for  higher  life  than  the  sedentary  ha-^ 
bits  of  a  tradesman,  soon  took  a  French  leave  of 
his  master,  and  travelled  up  to  Dublin  on  foot, 
with  a  fow  sliiUings  in  his  pocket,  without  any 
previous  acquaintance,  Irtters  of  reoommendati<jfi, 
or  any  other  designation,  but  that  boyish  ram^ 
bling  iilea,  of  ^^  seeking  his  fortune  in  the  sat*^ 
tropoiis.** 

How  he  managed  to  exist  there,  Macklin  waa 
4tlways  sitent;  and  perhaps  it  would  have  been 
^fficult  for  him  to  Retail :  we  may  presume  it  must 
be  a  life  of  shift  amotigs};  hkc^uMirymenf  (as  pnv 
vincialists  or  particular  townsmen  are  so  called  in 
a  capita},)  tilt 'some  mR7re>settled  habits  could  be 
|>rdcured  forhiiiiu  All  th»t he  acknofv^ladged  on 
l^s  head  v^s^  that,  after  beingidomti  time  in  i))tab>- 
#tt,  he  got'  setded  as  a  bajIge^iMn  in  Trinity  €ol- 
^ege;  and,  aB  hfe  knew  a  littie  of  reading,  and 
wetting,  and  w^»  beside  a>lad'Of  keen  observatixHii^ 
tod(^:de$er}ii'm^4p2rit|  heonadf  l^mscifvery  axy 
^^^^'  cep  table 


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12  .    :  MEMOIftS  ar; 

ceptable  to  the  scholim  and  fellcwis,  t?hd  g9>m 
him  several  pecuniary  aids,  j^eside  hU,  sti|>ul4ted 
allowaiice^    '  .  ^   ; 

Many  erf*  the  old  ,di^itar}ea  of  the  Church  and 
Bar  of  Ireland  have  remembered  Mackliu  in  tbist 
situation,  and  in  particular  a  Counsellor  0'Calla«j 
ghan,  a  gentleman  of  great  respectability,  wbcr 
was  called  to  the  bar  in  1713;  M^hich,  allowing 
three  years  for  his  keeping  his  commons  in  th« 
Temple  here,  fixes  his  quitting  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  in  the  year  1710.  This  gentleman  often 
challenged  his  acquaintance  with  Macklin  atCol^* 
lege,  and  used  to  tell  several  anecdotes  of  hrni^^ 
vhfch  help  to  confirm  the  account  we  have  al* 
ready  given  of  the  supposed  period  of  his  btrtlx^ 
as  it  is  improbable  to  think  that  a  boy  of  eight  or 
Bine  years  of  age  (which  he  could  only  have  been, 
if  bom  in  1699)  could  be  capable  of  doing  the 
duty  of  a  badge-man ;  or  of  being  chargeable  with 
tI)Qse  irregularities  and  dissipations,  whiqh>  can 
-only  b^  the  errors  of  a  riper  age,  .        ; 

'  - '     *  / .     '■  ■'       '.  ;  -  ^T 

It  is  diflScult  to  fix  the  precise  tjraye  he  came  to 
£nglarid,  or  the  cause  of  it;  ai  few  cmigra^np 
we<d  made  by  the  Irish  a.t  that  time,  excej* 
amongst  those  pf  the  higher  classes  of  life  forxple*- 
Bure,  or  those  of  the  mercantile  for  business,  Wfc 
^e  no  authoritative  data  before. the  yeaj  JSW^ 
<rf  hiscomiogup  to  liandoji,  aftd  enga?gitig:>t^k 
,1  ;-;-;.:        '  *  Mr, 


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CHA'ftLES    llAC^Lllf.  1^ 

Mf.  Riieh,  the  Manager  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  for 
that  season  t  but,  though  he  had  been  strolling 
in  sevtral  of  the  English  Country  Companies  be* 
fore,  **  I  ^pokf^  M  familiar  J  Sir,  (said  Macklin,) 
and  so  little  in  the  hoUy  toity  tone  of  the  Tragedy 
ot  that  day,  that  the  Manager  told  me,  I  had' 
better  go  to  grass  for  another  year  or  two/* 
Macklin  took  him  at  his  word  at  the  end  of  thd 
season^  and  went  down  into  a  strolling  company 
at  Walesl 

Previously  to.  his  going  down  into  Wales,  he 
spent  d  fe%v  mtonths  in  London,  in  company  with 
a  i>ick  Ashley,  a  son  of  the  Dublin  Manager,  who 
was  a  man  of  a  gay,  dissipated  turn;  and  who, 
beim^  wdl  acquainted  with  the  to^vn,  introduced 
Macklhi  into  many  scenes  of  riot  and  intempe- 
ratfcel  In  their  frolics  at  the  gaming-table  one 
nigf^t,:  Macklin  wbti  above  fpuT  hundred  pounds; 
and  with  this  sum  (which  at  that  time  he  thought 
inexhaustible)  he,  and  a  few  of  his  companions, 
attihddd  by  two  ladles  of  the  town,  went  down 
to  St  Albans  for  a  few  days,  to  enjoy  the  plea-^ 
•ures  of  the  country.  One  night  they  went  to  a 
public  ball  there;  and  as  they  dressed  themselves 
at  least  very  expenshely^  they  were  at  first  much 
taken  notice  of i  but  one  of  M«>  ladies  getting 
into  H  dispute  about  priority  of  place  in  a  country 
dam^e,  her  language  and  temper  soon  discovered 
her  profession,  and  she,  with  her  companion,  were 

instantly 


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}4  HEI^OIRS   07 

instantly  handed  out  of  tlie  room,  and  the  gienttec 
men  desired  to  follpw.  "  We  at  firrt  tliougbt^ 
$iiV  to  bluster  it  oi^t,  (^aid  MackUn,)  and  talkoil 
pf  hojiour  and  satisfaction,  and  all  tjbat ;  but  nun^* 
bcrs  overpowered  u^;  and,  to  itvoid  the  fat?  of 
one  o^  our  companion^  who  got  a  ^ad  fmt  to 
leave  the  room,*  the  i^est  of  iis  made  the  best  of 
our  way  out  of  the  assembly-room."  ,  ' 

In  his  rambles  to  Wales  and  Bristol  about  tins 
time,  he  used  to  tell  of  many  frolics  and  adven- 
tures, which  indicated  a  strong  propensity  to  all 
those  pleasures  which  were  witWu  his  reach.  H« 
was,  by  his  own  account,  a  great  fives  player,  i 
great  walker,  a  great  bruiser,  a  hard  drinker,  ted 
a  general  lover ;  and  as  he  wa^  various  in  his  parts 
as  an  actor^  and  a  cheerful  comp^jiion,  he  W9$  M 
/much  sought  after,  that  aW  the  time  which  wa$ 
not  dedicated  to  his  profession,  was  spent  in  tJboac 
pursuit^.' 

'1  ■        .  *  ■ 

Whilst  he  waa  at  Bristol^  he  paid  great  attcm 

tion  to  the  daughter  of  a  gentleman  who  lived  near 

Jacob's  Wells ;    and,  after  muieh  solicitation,  a 

night  was  appointed  to  receive  him,  and  one  of  thfli 

windows,  of  th^  parlour  left  unbolted  for  the  pur-^ 

pose  of  bis  getting  into  the  house.  Unfortunately 

for  Macklin,  he  had  to  ^hy^H^mkt  and  Hark^ 

qwk 

♦  Hibernic^,  "  Kicked  down  stairs." 


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quin  that  night,  which  made  it  late:  on  his  setting 
out  too,  he  was  overt^f n  by  a  very  heavy  shower 
of  rain,  which  almost  drenched  him  to  the  skin; 
iiQ^,  tQ  pfi^e  vsiSi%^x^  fttill  worse,  just  fti  he  had 
raised  the  sash  of  the  wiodow,  in  steppiiig  in,  h# 
hftppeiicd  to.  Qverset  a  larg^  China  jar  full  of  war 
ter,  which  mwie  ^\tch  a  i^o«e  aa  to  alarm  the  fa^ 
mi^.  The  ywng  lady,  however,  w1k>  be&l 
jvM^«d  the  ^wJ3e  of  it,  was  the^rst  to  run  down 
IP  see  what  w^  the  matter;  when  die  adviaed her 
Jpver  to  make  the  bc*t  of  Ws  way  ctut  of  tlie  liou^ei 
i^  i)r4<r  to  save  bis  reputatioa  and  Iwr  owtu 
lilAeklia  obeyed ;  and  the  lady  lelt  her  escape  w 
a^^ibly^  tb^t  neSection  got  the  better  of  ber  love, 
fOMl  5he  never  afterwards  ${K>ke  to  him. 

To  do  Macklin  juistice,  be  used  to  tell  the  orv 
ia^ir^fihe  i>f  this  story  with  soooe  i>leasure,  hopiogr. 
that  Ibis.accidt&l;  might  have  saved  a  young  wo^ 
mfta  fhrm  a  life  of  d^grace  and  misery ;  and  feel^ 
it^  hf«»elf  ff m  from  the  reflection  o^  being  the 
att&Or  ff  sueb  a  mtsfortime. 

He  ofion  used  to  speak  of  the  merits  of  aeveral 
g£  bis  .eeemlemporary  performers,  of  both  houses, 
when  he  first  joined  Rich's  company  in  Lincoln's 
Inn  Eields,  which,  as  they  are  not  generally  known, 
M^  shall  im&t  m  the  course  of  these  Memoirs. 
1 

3B00TH. 


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tS  '     iiE»roiBs  i>f 


Boots. 


He  cofifirmed  the  opimon  we  have  of  Booth  fof 
his  ptib^  and  private  cliaracter;  and>  though  he 
repeated  blank  verse  in  the  solemn  articulate  n)£lti-> 
ner  of  that  day,  there  was  a  roundness  and  me- 
lody in  his  voice  which  was  remarkably  pleasing : 
his  figure  and  deportment  were  likewise  dignified 
land  commanding.  He  used  to  dwell  With  d^fight 
oh  his  performance  of  the  Ghost  in  Hamlet,  which 
he  mad«'  very  awful  and  pathetic.  In  this  per* 
formance  he  used  cloth  shoes,  (soles  and  all^)  that 
the  sound  of  his  stepshould  not  be  heard  oh  the 
Stage,  which  had  a  ch^racteristical  efiFect.  In  hii 
Othello,  however,  Macklin  gave  the  preference  to 
&iry,  who  'described  the  contFasted  passions  of 
iaoe  and  jeaious  rugt  in  a  manner  much  superipr 
to  all  the  Othelfos  he  had  ever  seen.  Cibber  coni 
firmed  this  opinion  :  and,  indeed,  those  who- can 
remember  Barry  in  this  part,  when  in^  tlie  men* 
dian  of  his  powers,  must  confess^,  (witlioat  beiti|^ 
able  to  draw  the  comparison  between  him  and 
Booth,)  that,  diroughoiit  the*  wholeof  his  per- 
formance, they  could  have  no  idea' of  e9^ellenC6 
-J^eyond  it.  .    4    ; 

Booth  was,  however,  at  times^  indolent,  aOid 

would  play  under  the  par  of  his  abilities,^  tiJl  roused 

by  the  appearance  of  some  critic  in  the  house, 

JL  who 


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CHARLES  MACKLIK.  17 

who  would  put  him  on  his  mettle.  One  uight,  in 
particular,  as  he  was  performing  the  part  of  Pyrr- 
Jius  in  the  Distressed  Mother,  rather  in  a  carelesii 
manner,,  about  the  close  of  the  second  act,  he  dts* 
coveted  Stanyan,  the  Author  of  the  Grecian  His^ 
tory»  and  the  companion  of  Addison  and  Steely 
tn  the  pit.  He  instantly  called  for  a  glass  of  wine 
and  water,  and  composing  himself  for  a  few  mi^ 
nutes,  entered  on  the  stage  with  a  spirit  and  dtg^ 
nky  of  deportment,  that  surprised  not  only  the 
audience;  but  all  the  actors,  which  he  contimted 
to  the  end  of  his  part  When  he  was  undressing 
himsefi;  lie  explained  the  cause  in  the  green-room, 
and  added)  ^^  I  don't  choose  to  be  handed  up  to^ 
jnonrow  at  Button's,  w  ^  num  losing  bis  theatrical 
p#ersf/' 

IC  :         *  '  ^         ■  '  ' 

*, 

Notwidistanding  a  quarrel  he  had  with  Quin^ 
he  always  spoke  respectfully  of  his  public  character, 
and  that  he:  was  justly  entitled  to  all  the  fkme  he 
acquired  in  bis  profession.  This  quarrel,  though 
accommodated  by  the  Manager,  ^wat  rather  ^km^ 
ned  over  than  healed.  Whenever  they  met  at  re* 
hearsal,  or  in  the  green-room,  it  was  '*Mr.  Quin,*' 
and  **  Mr,  Macklin;"  and  a  studied  deportment 
on  tiie  aide  of  the  former,  seemed  to  indicate,  tliat 
nothing  but  the  necessity  of  business  could  ever 
make  them  associate  together, 
V  C  An 


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:  An  accideht,  «drmey eats  after vrards,  putanjeiwl 
to  thisfocnipHty.  Tliey  both  attended  the fuberal 
of  a  brotlw  pelfornierj  and,  after  the  iritenhent; 
thfey^  witia  toftQy  others, .  retired  to  a  tavern  in  Co* 
vent  <jrard6li  to  spend  the 'evening.     Tbey  were 
both -noi' starters  ftotn  tibeir  bottle,  and  therefore 
Btaid  late;  insonrnch^  tJiat  at  about  6ix  o'qledkm 
tbe  in<t>rfiin^/:tfa€  .ctmspsoiy  dropped  oS  ond  bjr 
.o»4|  iand;.thfy:  \i<ere  left  atane  to^thfer.>    Quia 
kk>kjed  ranndi  and  &k  faiihself  not  a  little  embar*- 
Jn^Asdf  M^kiin>  iras  m  the  same  sdtdatioa;.  and 
for  fiootae  (iBkuiteb  a  <foad  ^ience  ensued.     Qtudi 
at  last  bs^okeigtound,  andd^ankMackiiii's&ealthk 
Macklin .rcturneid  k;  and  then  t^^re  wias  BiK)ther 
^auae;  aftiir  ^vboch  Quin^  m  if  ireOOvj^rlBg  irmn  m 
reverie,  thus  addressed  his  companion :  *^  There 
has  been  a  foolish  quarrel  between  you  and  me, 
Sir,  which,  though  aocon^modated,  I  must  con- 
fess, I  have  not  been  able  entirely  to  forget  till 
PflwC '  Tlie  fiQfiladcholy  occasion  of  out*  ineetitig, 
^^  :the  ciHziunstalitre  of  our  being  left  together, 
I;  thank  God,  haisrte  ikiade^  me  «ce  my  error*  If  ^ou 
dm^  theiiefore^  feiEg^t  it,  give  ftnre  yodiriiand;  and 
kt .  us  live  together  in  fi^dre  like  bi^other  per* 
fwmcrs."       \; 

'Mackliii  ibstantly  stretched  out  bis  hAhd,  tod 
assured  him  of  Ws  friendsliip :  after  which  they 
called  foe  a  fresh  bottle,  to  seal  the  reconciliation : 
to  this  succeeded  aaaother;  by  whiciLtinieQuin 

got 


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CHAMlEft'lfMtifLiy.  H 

gtrt  9ci  drunk,  11$  imi  to  be  ^able  to  ^ekk^of  m<we^ 
A  diair  wai  ^ent  for,  but  could  tiot  readily  b^ 
found ;  when  Macklitt^  ^alHttg  m  tbe4m>  waitW3f 
desired  them  to  place  him  on  his  back^  which  they 
did,  and  in  this  ina«n4?r  carfitd  Quitl^tiiufnphimt^ 
}y  to  his  lodgings  m  the  Pki^zas^  O^^ellt  Qaf^iiet^^ 

Tliotigh  this  wdoncilialioti  tbrtNv'  off  the  re^ 
Straittt^hicfa<^tti7ilia^  before  ueed  to^iiSfe  Mick^ 
iia,  it  did  tiot  ))r^y43fit  him  fVom  oceia^ott^y  TMk^ 
ing  very  sharp  obs^vations  dH  hil  |>ersM  ifld 
{^rrfoniumc^s.  In  hife  flfst  perfHrtnatice  Of  Shy- 
lock,  tbom^  struck  wit^  the  force  and  triith  «f 
the  rfpr6sentati(Dn,  lie  boutd  not  he<ii>^i^dahhhlgi 
^'If<T^^  Almighty  wtites  a|(»|^l^hatM!l»  thi^ 
man  mn^  be  a  Tiltain/^  Wh^^Mif^kMh  &iA\ilfdf 
txuyt^\  accepted  the  ^Sftof  l!ai^dtitj>l);  ttlePop^^ 
Legate,  in  the  revival  of  King  John,  (ti^Mfht 
was  entirely  unfit  for,)  Quin  said,  he  was  a  Cari* 
diaul  fn^  had  origi4l^lty  'beai'  «  ^l4sh  CWrk. 
And  «4icn  somebody  otice  observed  IhatMacsknto 
miglit  muke  a  ^gMd  Si^Mor,  hfttii^  iuch  ifff^ii^ 
*w^ui  WsCice;  ^^'Lffiksi  »r,"  fepUedQukii  »*I 
jee  ttodling  in  the  fHlO^^s  fiu:?,  but  ad-Mi'd  di^ 

.  At  another  ttvrte,  it  bei^g  obserV^^d  rtiat*Macter 
fin  was  a  gb^d  phUd^pker^  ^as  uneH  as  agodtt  ^/of, 
Qsrifitookfire,  4«dteplied,  "Thefelk>wtaUc*tibotft 
fi^kisoptiy'  4Uid  divwity  too  sonletimes,  I  grant 

C  2  you; 


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4 

SO  1«EM0IR5  OF 

you;  but  I  believe  it  „  will  be  found  that  he  is  a 
piviue  withpiat  Religion,  a  Philosopher  without 
^prftls,  aufi  au  actor  without  Grace." 

But  the  mos^  iU*natured  things  perhaps,  that 
Qmn  evec  9aid  of  him,  aud  to  his  face  too,  was 
upon  the  following  occasion :  when  Macklin  wai| 
bringing  out  his  Tragedy  of  Henry  the  Seventh, 
or  the  Popish  Impostor,  on  the  stage^  ^^i^  told 
bini4t  lirouldjiot  succeed;  and  the  eveiit  tuhiing 
p^%  pretty  lic^rjly  as^  he  predicted,  Quin  said, 
.^;  ,WeH,  Sir>  what  do  you  thii^  of  my  judgment 
»PMrt?'r  fSWhy,  I  think,''  says  Macklin,  "  po- 
Irtitfify;  n&kdom^  justice.'*  "  I  believe  they  will, 
Si<t/  r^plje4  Qui>i;  *'foV  now  your  play  is  i>w/y 
^mned^  iljjUt  p^itfrity^illhave  the  satisfection  to 
*pow,  that;  ftJQthi play  vxd  Author  met  with  the 

Quin  had;  wany  eccentricities  of  temper,  as  is 
if^l  rl^nown,  eape<jiiyy  onewhich  seems  to  have 
e8capjs4:  all  his;  bi0graphers;  and  that  was  an  aur 
pual  js^pur^ion  be  used  t;o  mak^e  for  about  two 
j[i|Onths  before  the  opening,  of  the  winter  theatres* 
He  called  these  his  autumnal  excursit)my  and  his 
mode  was  as '  follows :  He  selected  some  lady  of 
jeasy  virtM^  amongst  his  acquaintance,  iand  agreed 
with  l^r  to  ^ccopipafiy  him  on  this  tour,  which 
was  only  to  Ipt  ^as  far  as  one  hundred pountb  would 
sparry ,  them., ,  Quin  reserved  this  5uin  for  the  oo- 

casion; 


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CHARLES   U^CKLtS.  iV- 

caston ;  and  on  this  tbey^  set  out  witK  Hbtle  »^o 
premeditatioBy  but  what  accident  suggested..  At 
all  the  places  they  stopped  at,  Quin  gave  the  lady 
,  his  name,  for  the  better  convenience  of  travelling ; 
and  when  the  money  was  nearly  ^peht,  they  ^o^afc- 
a  parting  supper  at  the  Piazzas,  Covent  Garden,- 
where  he  paid  her  regularly  the  balance  of  the 
hundred  pounds,  and  then  dismissed  her  nearly 
in  the  fdlowing  words:  **  Madam, , for  our  mu- 
tual conveiftence,  I  have  given  you  the  name  o£ 
€luiii  for  these  some  weeks  past,  to  prevent  the 
stare  and  impertinent  inquiry  of  the:  world.  There 
is  no  reason  for  <;arrying  on  this  farce  here:  here 
then  let  it  end:  and  now.  Madam,  give  me  leave 
to  U99fuin  yoU)  and  restore  to  you  your  own  name 
for  the  future/*  Thus  the  ceremony  ended,  ^  and 
with  as  much  ^ang  /raid  as  any/of  the  modem 
Fiench  divorces. 

«  Quin  had  been  at  an  auction  of  pictures  some 
time  before  his  death,  when,  old  General  Gurse 
came  into  the  room.  •*  There's  General  Guise," 
Said  somebody  to  Quin ;  "  how  very  ill  he  looks  !'* 
"Guise!  Sir/*  says  Quin;  "you're  mistaken;  he 
is  dead  these  two  years.'*  "  Nay;  but,"  says  the 
other,  "  believe  your  eyes— there  he  is."  At  this 
Quit!  put  on  his  spectacles;  atid,  softer  viewing  him- 
from  head  to  foot  for  some  time,  exclaimed^ 
"Why  yes,  Sir,  I'm  right  enough;  heha3  beea 
dead  these  two  yeats^  it's  very  evident,  and  has 
now  onty  gotten  a  day^rule  to  see  the  pictures." 

C  3  General 


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sa  ^i^no^iis  Of       , 

Ckpeti) '  Oui»e  watt  ftt  tbis  d)ijr)e  ae  feel^Ie,  that 
hwf  used  to  be  aupported  up  the  lopg  flight  of  »tep3, 
to  JU0g;fw4'»  auction  room^  by  hia  owa  aermi^t^. 
^nd  09€  of  Laiigferd's  rac%  t^ rwhojaiie  wed  tm 
cfccJaim,  *s  t^y  wero  aj^coidin^  ^^  Pdnwici  Sirs, 
ifydu.tetipftefeU,  rUkf^ckyoudcwmr 
'-:■.(,.'       ^  ... 

/  Quifiy  through  Hfe^  aitpilorted  bb  iniepeniemA 
9f  afmractdtj  porWp$,  far  better  tlian  most  enw* 
Aent  pi«rfotti)iers*  ,  Ho  had  not  the  ttciout  com-» 
plbnicrot  of  Cibber,  to  gaiii  aud  prederve  the  eOfrtf 
pa»y  bf  the  great  vof Id;  ior  the  olwequiou3nc3« 
irf  Qarricid     Ha  know  tho  force  of  bis.  own  mind^ 
which  at  Ifa^t  wa*  on  a  piyr  with  tii^se  he  lived 
wkh ;  avd  he  preserved  that  |iower  wkh  le^peot 
and  iodependeiice.  The  common  run  of  the  6r«l 
(cm  aa  tbia  late  Kitty  CUve  u$ed  emphatieally  tQ 
call  them,    **  the  damaged   Quality")  !«'fre  no 
objects  of  his  choice;  he  therefore  principally 
•ought  oompaniona  from  the  middle  orders  of  lif^ 
lemarkjabkfof  taste,  karaing,  and  understanding} 
Or  those  po^aedsed  with  the  milder  vhtnea  of  tho 
heart.     He  reserved  a  fortsune  autil<Henit  for  ^ 
inddig€fnce  of  tlpds  kind  of  life:  and  though he^ 
perhaps^  pursued  the  sensual  plesti&ureft  too  far  fof 
imitation,  both  by  conversation  and  enjoyment 
he  Appears,  oii  the  wliole,  to  have  been  a  very 
eminent  actor ;  an  ajccurate  observer  of  life  and 
manners;  and,  in  point  of  ia^tegrity,  and  bene vo^ 
knee  of  heart,  a  good  and  praise-worthy  man. 

Midi 


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CHARLES   MACHLIN.  tS 


MRS.    OI.DFI£i0« 


If  cr  fartt  ww  in  those  parts  of  comedy  which 
i*«^piired  vhacky  and  htgh-bred  manntars;  and  in 
these,  Maekim  has  oftea  said  he  tterer  semt  her 
equalled.  He  was  present  at  her  fy^  reprcacnta^ 
tioA  of  Lady  Xownly  in  17fi8:  and  though  the 
^ole  of  t^t  pleasant  and  stasible  comedy  was 
receired  with  the  moat  unbounded  applanse,  Mrs. 
Oldfield  formed  the  centre  of  admiration,  from 
her  lookn,  her  dress,  and  her  admiraUe  per fbrm<^ 
anoe.  Most  of  the  pet  formers  who  hare  played 
this  part  eince  her  time,  he  complained  iiad  too 
much  UimiHes$m  their  manner,  under  an  idea  of 
its  being  more  cm/  aiul  well  bred;  but  Mrs.  Old* 
field,  who  was  trained  in  the  part  by  the  Author, 
g»re  it  all  the  r^ge  of  fashion  and  vivacity:  She 
rushed  upon  the  (tage  with  the  full  consciousness 
of  youth,  beauty,  and  attraction;  andanswerpd 
aH  her  Lord's  questions  with  9uch  a  lively  indif- 
ference, as  to  mark  the  C9ntra$t  as  much  in  their 
manner  pf  speaking  as  of  thinking :  but  when  she 
came  to  describe  the  superior  privileges  of  a  mar* 
wed  above  a  single  woman,  she  repeated  the  whole 
of  that  Kveiy  speech  with  a  rapidity,  and  gaiett 
d^  ccgur^  that  electrized  the  whole  house.  Their 
applause  was  so  unbounded,  that  when  Wilks, 
who  played  Lord  Townly,. answers  ^^ Prodigious!** 
the  audience  applied  that  word  as  a  co^nptimenl 

C  4  to 


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S4  MEMOIRS   OF 

to  the  actress,  and  again  gave  her  the  shouts  of 
their  approbation, 

,  He  confirmed  what  Cibber  says  of  hcjr  in  his  pre- 
face to  The  Provoked  Husband;  'Hhat  her  natural 
good  sense,  and  Uveiy  turn  of  conversation,  made 
her  way  so  easy  to. ladies  of  the  highest  rank,  that 
it  is  less  a  wonder,  if,  on  the  stage,  she  sometiioies 
was,  what  might  have  become  the  finest  wom&n 
in  re'aljife  to  have  supported."  Macklin  had  of- 
ten sem  her  at  Windsor,  and  at  Richmond,  of  a 
^  summer's  morning,  walking  arm  in  arm  with 
Duchesses,  Countesses,  and  women  of  the  first 
situation,  calling  one  another  by  their  Christian 
names,  (as  was  the  fashion  of  those  times,)  in  the 
most  familiar  manner.  *'  The  women  then,  Sir," 
said  the  veteran,  **  talked  louder,  laughed  louder, 
and  shewed  all  their  natural  passions  more  than 
the  fine  ladies  of  the  pi^eisent  day." 

Though  Mrs.  Old  field,  as  is  well  known,  had 
her  intrigues,  they  were  those  of  ^enriiweii/ more 
than  interest.  Previously  to  her  connection  with 
Mr.  Mainwaring,  she  was  much  sought  after  and 
solicited  by  the  then  Duke  of  Bedford :  her  af- 
/ection,  however,  was  so  much  in  favour  df  the 
former,  that  she  was  on  the  point  of  surrendering, 
when  tlie  Duke  called  upon  her  one  morning,  and 
not  finding  her  at  home,  left  a  paper  on  her  dress- 
ing-table, inclu^ling  a  settlement  on  her  for  lifc^ 

.  of 


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CHAELE8   itftCJOlIir.  ^ 

of  sis  hmitedpmdsai/vtd  .WkmdAtLJiUm^ 
waring  nexticalM,  and  preawS  anocteuoafmqliou: 
of  his  happiBe^s,:  ^he  caiid^l(3r«iQQDf« 
gards  fpr.lum,'btft:toldrrJkiitn^ii"jHi>  was*aiirJiiH; 
Jucky  fdlo*',  fpr  that  afomAthiQg  had  happened 
the  <4ay,  befow,  whick,  mu^.  postpone  thdir  «« 
tended  hj^ppiness***  ;H6.|>te5§?d:h«E^!tok|iQirithe 
cause;  but:«be  would  not  trfl  him, tjll^ome^day* 
afterwards,  when  $hft  hftd  returned  the  settlement 
to  the  Dukfi,.  aud.*cqui|ted;,^self  in  aHthoM 
points  which  trended  on  h^r  independence; 


HRS.  ponitER. 

He  complained  that  Gibber,  in  his  Apology  for 
his  Life,  did:  not  notjice  Mr§;  Porter  with  thatlle- 
gree  of  pr^is?  whi^^hhermlents  justly  entitled  her 
to.  Thorugh  plain  in  her  penon,  with; not  nuich 
sweetness  in  her  voice  from  nature,  yet,  from 
great  asiuduity  in  her  profession,  with  an  excel* 
lent  understanding,  and  a  good  ear,  she  acquired  ' 
an  elevated;  dignify  in  hfr  n)ien,  a  full  •tone,  and 
a  spirited  propriety  in  all  characters^of  heroic 
rage.  In  the  pathetic  parts  of  tragedy  she  was 
no  less  eminent,  as  she  performed  the  parts' of 
Hemiione  and  Belvidera  for  many  years  with 
^reat  applause. 

The  fower  of  mellozving  the  voicCy  from  constant 
assiduity  and  attention,  though  it  appears  ditH- 

.      ^cult, 


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aff  MSVoiBt  or 

eol^  mndtomaaf,  atafintblwh,  almost  inpos^- 
sible^  1ms  oftiea  beta  attended  irith*  sacccss,  ai 
appeaA'ftMi  d»itady  <tf  the  Grrciaii  and  Roman 
actomy^at  wdl  a$  fVom  our  own  obsenratkm  on 
some  modfrn  FerfonMrs.  When  Mackfin  irst 
•  0airMn.  Danper  (s^rwardstlie  celebrated  Mrs. 
Bkiny,  and  late  Mrs.  Crawford)  appear  npon  tlM 
Yoi^lc  stage,  ber  tones  wvre  so  ^n/Zand^iscor^fanl^, 
that  even  so  experienced  a  judge  as  he  was, 
bought  she  would  never  make  aft  actre^;  y^t 
such  was  the  progress  of  her  improvem^it  under 
the  tuition  of  the  siher-taned  Barri/j  that  her 
Lady  Randolph,  Belvidera,  Grecian  Daughter, 
&c.  &c.  exhibited  some  of  the  finest  notes  of  the 
tender  and  pathetic. 

Of  Mrs.  Porter's  Lady  Macbeth,  Macklinused 
to  dwell  with  particular  pleasure :  he  said  k  was 
better  than  Mrs.  Pritcbard*S;  "  and  when  I  say 
that,-*  added  the  veteran,  "  I  say  a  bold  word; 
but  she  had  more  consciousness  of  what  she  was 
about  than  Pritchard,  and  looked  more  like  a 
Queen. '^    And  Davies  informs  us,  that  be  had 

been 

*  Cicero  iafor/os  us,  tkat  the  principal  actors  would' newtr 
•peak  a  word  in  thf  moraiug  before  tkey  had  txpectorated  mo- 
tbodically  their  voice;  letting  it  loose  by  degrees^  that  they  mjgbt 
not  hurt  the  organs,  by  emitting  it  with  too  much  precipitance 
and  violence.  And  Pliny  points  out,  in  several  parts  of  his  Na- 
tural History,  no  less  than  twenty  plants,  which  were  reckoned 
specifics  (ot  that  purpose,  ^       ^ 


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hem  toM  qI  an  unsucoe^^ul  e^^pfiMEievt  onco- 
imde  to  iiHroduca  Lady  Maclxetb'si  mrfrite  0»4 
fitmting  sc^Qr  which  Garricktlioiightwfavwte* 
aft' actress  «4.  Mrs.  Pi?itchiM*d  c(ml4  not  attomptt 
MmIU»l  a|^9M  abd¥t  the  inabitity  gf  Pritchardj 
but  was  clearly  of  opinion,  that  Mrs.  Porter  could 
hwe  cw^it  with  lan  audi^oce  to  i^^uce  tbi^m  t» 
f  iMUtfe  the  hypQQriiy  of  auch  a  $Q?a^. 


Ton  ^  W  AtKlR, 

m  be  was  wn^tautly  cajl^,  (the  sonouch  cdl«^ 
braled  origkial  Macheath  in  The  Beggar'*  Qpiera,) 
waa  w^U  fcupwn  to  Macklin  both  oii  aud  off  the 
Hage.  He  va^  a  young  mtxi^  rather  risiog  in  the 
m^dhcre  parta  of  connedy,  whea  the  following  ac* 
ctdcnt  brought  him  <uit  in  Macbeth.  Quin  was 
firat  designed  for  this  part,  who  barely  sung  well 
eoough  to  give  a  convivial  song  in  company, 
vbichy  ftt  that  time  of  day,  was  an  almost  iadis* 
pensible  claim  on  every  performer;  and  on  tbia 
tccouu^  perhati^  did  not  much  relish  the  bii^H 
uess:  the  high  reputation  of  Gay,  however,  and 
the  critical  junto  who  supported  him,  made  him 
drudge  through  two  rehearsals.  On  the  close  of 
the  last,  Walker  was  observed  hunjming  some  of 
the  ^n^s  behind  the  scenes,  in  a  tone  and  liveli* 
ness  of  manner  which  attracted  all  their  notice. 
Quia  laid  hold  of  this  circumstance  to.  get  rid  of 
3  ^  the 


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28  ifEifoiR*  6t 

die  |>ar<^  and  exclaimed,  '*  Aye,  tfiere's  a  mim 
i¥ho  is  inuch  more  qualified  to  do  you  justice* 
than  I  am."  Walker  was  called  (m  to  make  the> 
eitperimentj  and  Gay,  who  instantly ,  saw  the 
dififerenee^  accepted  him  as  the  hero  of  his  pieces 

V  ,  ■  '  ' 

»  ;  ,     ^        , 

Whilst  on  the  subject  of  The  Beggar's  Oprtia,' 
any  little  circumstance  relative  to  this  celebrated 
piece,  we  trust,  cannot  but  be  entertaining  to  the 
amateurs  of  the  drama;  and  as  such,  we  insert 
the  following;  well  knowing  how  perishable  the 
anecdotes  ofmodern  times  are,  which,  from  being 
too  often  only  committed  to  memory,  die' with 
'  the  present  possessors,  and  are  lost  to  posterity* 
How  Httlel  for  instance,  do  we  know  of  thefami^ 
liar  life  and  habits  of  Shakespeare^  who  lived  in  ail 
age  when  history  began  to  assume  a  creditabl^ 
shap6,  and  whose  high  and  transcendant  talents 
should  liave  commanded  the  attention  of  th6 
whole  literary  world  1  yet  that  little  would  have 
been  less,  were  it  not  for  the  researches  of  Rowe, 
who,  perhaps,  ^W/  in  time,  snatched  those  matet 
nib  from  perishing,  and  left  them  as  a  basis  for 
his  succeeding  biographers  to  bnild  upon.  ^ 

This  celebrated  opera  was  first  brought  out  at 
the  Theatre  in  Lincoln's  Inn,  in  the  spring  of  the 
year  1728,  and  the  characters  were  as  follow. 

.^  ^  .  -    '     \*    MEW* 


^       V 


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zed  by  Google      ^ 


CHASLKt   IIACKLIK. 


99 


LockityV' 

,rilch,^ 

,  Jemmy  Twitchcr,    - 
Crook-fingered  Jack, 
Wat  Dreary,  • 
Robin  of  Bagshot,  - 
Nimming  Ned, 
Harry  Paddington,  - 
Mat  of  the  Mint,    • 
Ben  Budge 
Beggar  -     -  - 
Player, 

'    Cpn&tables, 


Mrs.  Peachum^ 
Polly  Peacham, 
Lucy  Lockit,..^' 
Diana  Ti^pes, 
Mrs*  Coaxer, 
Dolly  Trull, 
Mrt,  Vixen, 
Betty  Doxy,  - 
Jenny  Diver, 
Mrs.  Slamalcm, 
Suky  Tawdry, 
Molly  Brazen, 


MEN. 

Mr.  HmuLt.^^ 
•        •         Mr.  HaLL.  t ' 
Mr.  Walxbe. 
Mr.  Claek. 
Mr.  H.BuLLOC%i^ 
Mr.  HouGUTOir. 
*•        Mr.  Smith.  ' 
Mr*  Laot. 

-  •     .  Mr.  PtTT. 

Mr.  Eatov. 
Mr.  Spillse* 
Mr.  MoEGAir. 

-  '  -        Mr.  Chapmav. 

Mr.  MiLWARD. 

Drawers,  Turnkeys,  &c. 


WOMEN. 


Me8.  Maetiv. 
Miss  rBNTOH. 
Mrsi  Eglztok. 
Mrs.  Maetiv^. 
Mms.  HoLinAr. 
Mrs,  Lact. 
Mrs.  Rice. 
Mrs.  Rogers. 
Mrs.  Clark. 
Mrs.  MoeOak* 
Mrs.  Paliw. 
Mrs.  Sallee* 


)? 


Iv 


Thomas  Walker,  the  original  Macheath,  was 
the  son  of  Francis  Walker,  of  the  parish  df  St 
Anne's,  Soho,  and  was  bom  in  the  year  1698. 
He  was  bred  under  Mr.  Medow,  who  kept  a  pri* 
yate  academy  near  his  fatlier*s  house. 

Havin  g 


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Having  an  early  incliiwtion  for  the  stage,  he 
first  t;ried,l;us  success  jn  a,Mr..  Shepherd's  <x)fnpa- 
ny,  where  lie.  was  fifst  found  out-by  Mn,  Booth, 
acting  the*  part  of  Paris,  in  the^DroU  of  *^The  Siege 
of  Troy,**  wfio  saw  in  him  such  an  early  proinise 
of  talent,  that  he  recommended  him  to  the^Ma- 
nager  o£  Jprury  JLane;  where  he  nuide  his  ^f%f.  ap- 
pearance in  the  character  of  Lorenzo,  m  "The 
Jew  of  Veni4e^^  about  th^  year  171^. 

The  fotl6wing  year  we'findhim  at  BruryXanc 
Theatre^  in  the  part  of  Charles,  jn  ".The  Non- 
juror," a,  Comedy  founded  on  Moliere's  **  Tar- 
tuffe,"  and  tltfrtd  by  €oltey  Cibfeer.  This  gave 
him  his  first  establishment  as  an  actor,  which  he 
supported  >Yith  increasing  credit  till  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1728,  when  accident,  as  we  have  be- 
fore related,  hrought  him  out  in  the  character  of 
Macheath,  under  the  management  of  Mt.  Rich, 
Lincoln's  Inn  Fields  r  so  that,  as  it  was  ihtn  said 
of  him;  Booth  found  him  a  hero^  atad  Gay  dub- 
bed him  a  highnmyman. 

The  appki^^  whieh  he  obtained  in  Maebeath, 
checked  his  progress  as  -  a  general  actor.  His 
company,  'from  this  circumstance,'  w^as  so  eagerly 
sought  after  by  the  gay  libertine  young  mea  of 
fashion^  th^t.  hp  w.as  soarpely  ev^  iQber,.insqr 
much  that  wearetoldby  the  con tempor^y  writers 
of  that  day,  that  he  wa^  fiequently  lender  the  acj- 
cessity  of  eating  Sandwii^hes  (or,  as  they^  werp 

then 


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* 

then  called)  anchovy  toasts)  bduD^  1^  9oene8, 
to  alleviate  the  fumes  of  the  liqttDr. 

He  was  not,  however,  altogether  without  Jiis 
hours  of  study  and  retasement,  as  Vre  find  bimi  a 
few  years  afber  his  success  in  ''The  Beggar's 
Opera, "  sitting  down  to  an  alteration  of  some  pUrt 
of  D'Urfey's  Works.  Tom  D'Urfey,  the  well- 
known  dramatic  poet,  having  wrote  two  plays 
under  the  title  of  MasmneUOf  founded  on  the 
celebrated  rebellion  of  Naples,  byThonxasAnello, 
a  fisherman  of  that  city,  Walker  took  some  pains, 
in  the  course  of  a  summer  vacation,  to  shut  him- 
self up  in  the  Theatre,  fo>  the  purpose  of  reduc- 
ing them  into  one  piece.  This  task  he  performed, 
and  brought  it  out  the  following  winter  with  some 
success.  A  ballad  at  that  time,  written  by  Leigli 
the  Actor,  and  Author  of  a  Comedy  called  **  Ken- 
sington Gardens,'*  takes  notice  of  this  circum- 
stance in  the  following  stanzas: 

**  Tt>iA  WAlker,  bk  credkots^tieMihig  to  cbouBt, 

L&e  aa  honest,  good^nattiT'd  yo9Utg  Mlow, 
Resolv'd  aU  the  summer  to  st^y  in  the  house. 

And  lehcafse  l)y  himself  Massianelia:^ 
But  as  soon  as  he  heard  of  the  Barop*s  success, 
He  9tri4>t  off  his  night-gown,  and  pot  on  his  dttess,    ' 
And  cri«d,  "  D— mn  my  bl — d,  1  'wiH«trike  for  no  ten.'' 
So  he  caU'd  o'er  the  hatch  for  Will  Thomas.* 

Will  Thomas,  &c. 

"  Go, 

*  A  waitet  at  the  Coflfee-house,  !Portiigal-strcet,  opposite 
the  stage  door.    *  '' 


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.nOfK^  utiiTtiy  ypung  IJoilV?  flttidtlib  uiHtat  ybong  nian^ 
<<  I  beg  he'd  iftvite  n^^t^'^^iiaer; 

^'  I'll  be  as  diverting  as  ever  I  can ; 

-    "  lwi}\,  by  the  faith  pf  a  sinner. 

^*  171  mimic  all  Actors — ^the  worst  and  the  best ; 
;     a  ^I*tf  smg  hiiA  k  song— IH  crack  hint  a  jest ; 
i  f  m^ialBe  him  i^cVbtf fer  thaa  Henley  tie  print/'* 

\    ,   ..  ,.  Will  Thomas,  &c. 


tt^alker  was  the  Author,  pf  two  other  dramatic 
^ijeces,  VIZ.'  '^  The  Qualcer's  Opera  ;*'  and  a  Tra- 
gedy, called  ^;The^f2^eo{Ti]\d\ny.''    Tlie  first 

.of  these  was  ^acted'  at  Lee  and  Hooper^s  Booth, 
Baftholomew  Fair,  1728,  immediately  after  the 
run  of  "  The  Beggar's  Opera/'  the  warm  sun- 
shine of  which  hatched  this  bantling  into  iife,  and 
gave  it,  under  the  patronage  of  the  popular  Mac- 

'heath,  a  temporary  protection. 

The  other,  '^TheFateof  Villainy/' was  brought 
out  at  Goodman's  Fields,  1730,  with  very  indif- 
ferent success.  When  he  was  discharged  Covent 
Garden  Theatre  many  years  after,  which  his  re- 
peated ,  dissipations  rendered  indispensibly  neces^ 
sary,  he  carried  those  two  pieces  with  him  to  Ire- 
land, and  prevailed  upon  the  DuWin  Manager  to 
bring  out  the  last  under  the  title  of  *^  Love  s^nd 
loyalty/' 

I>roveUy 

•  The  celebrated  Orator  Henley,  who  was  laught  to  xe^A 
•      by  ^Yalker. 


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CHABL£$   MACKLIK.  $$ 

Nx>velty  drew  an  audience  the  firsjt  night;  but 
the  second  being  given  ont  for, his  benefit  ^n4 
not  being  able  to  pay  in  half  the  otpences  of  the 
hou^e,  the  doors,  by  order  of  thje  Manager,  were 
ordered  to  be  kept  shut  "  But  that  precautipn 
was  needless,  (says  Chetwood,  the  Promptprj  who 
tells  this  anecdote,)  as  very  few  people  came  to 
kiqiiire  the  reason  of  it"  .  > 

This  last  disappointment  broke  m  so  heavily  on 
a  constitution  previously  shattered  by  continual 
dissipation,  that  he  survived  it  but  three  days ; 
dying  in  great  distress,  in  Dublin,  in  the  year 
1744,  and  in  the  forty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

Davies,  (Garrick's  historian,)  who  knew  [Wal- 
ker personally,  says,  "  He  had  from  nature  great 
advantages  of  voice  and.  person :  his  countenance 
yas  manly  and  expressive;  and  the  humour,  ease, 
and  gaiety,  which  he  assumed  in  Macheath,  and 
other  characters  of  this  complexion,  rendered  him 
a  great  favorite' with  the  ptiblvc.  ^He  knew  little 
scientifically  of  music,  other  than  singing  a  song 
in  good  ballad  tune ;  but  that  singing  was.  5up^ 
ported  by  a  speaking  eye,  and  inimitable  action.'* 

/  *  Bavies  enters  into  the  mejit^  of  several  of  his 
cTiaracters.  **  In  Falcortbridge,  (says  he, )  though 
Garrick,  Sheridan,  Delane,  and  Barry,  have  at* 
tempted  it,  they  all  fell  short  of  the  merits  of  Tom 

D  Walker. 


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S4  MKMOIRS  b¥ 

Walker.  •  In  bim  felone  wei*  fiwind  the  6*vwal  re- 
ijuisitei  fM  tl«S  dWricter:  a  strong  and  muscdlar 
persoti,  a  bbhd  mtl-epid  look,  manly  depwtmefrt, 
Vigorous  action,  ahd  a  humor  which  descfen^dted 
to  an  easy  fitmiHarky  in  conveying  a  jeit,  or  sar- 
fcasih,  with  uncommon  peign&ncy. 

"  When  Falconbridge  replies  to  Safisbui^'6  taufit 
of  galling  him, 

<' You  kttil  battier  gall  fWDeira,  5att^tiry» 
If  tboubii)t  ftow^.oo'iQ^^  or  rtjr  tjiyfoot^. 
Oc  teach,  tb^  hasty  spleen  to  de  me  shaipe. 


Jt  teach,  t 

:'ll  s/rike  I 


I'll  strike  thee  dead ;" 

Walker  uttered  these  words  with  singular  proprie- 
ty: he  drew  his  sword,,  threw  himself  into  a  no- 
ble attitude;  sternly  knit  his  black  brows,  and 
gave  a  loud  stamp  with  his  foot;  insomuch  that^ 
pleased  with  the  iPlayer's  commanding  look  and 
vehement  action,  the  audience  confirmed  the 
energy  of  his  conception^^^  with  tlieir  most  un- 
bounded approbation. 

,  When  this  l^ragedy  (Klng^ John),  was, first  re- 
vived at  €k)Yent  Gard fen  Theatre,  one  fiowmaiii 
whq .  had  beeu  previously  a  dyjer,  acted  the  parj 
of  Austria;  when  in  reply  to  Falconbridge^s  re- 
peated insutt,    •  '      ^ 

**  Ha«g  a  cair^sk&i  on  those  iBcreajot  ilmbs/' 

,  whether 


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instead  <tf  irtfc^mg  iUe  wply  as  he  ought,  lae;  in  a 
^d,  vulgar  tone,  pi*Qttou«fced  it  thte  i  '  ^^ 

Of  this  the  audience  at  first  did  not  observe  the 
impFQ^iety  j  but; :  Wt^lker,.  in  tb§ :  ^tftrdk^  ,by 
chaogiftg  the  wor4>  bpfficke^  ,tfi  .pnek^t^  iffiip^^ 
Bpwman>  miafeofip, . iI<»ok,  action,.  ^»d.tnrtP,jQf 
v<Mce,  S(^  ridi<juk>u;Sliy.  httWPrOus^'  a^  all^QH!  Q«Sft 
voUed  tl)c  audience  with  lighter.}  w]^c|  ^^tiithtf 
*^nqfci  .lpn}e  g4ve.?u(?h  lou^lapp^aHfte  toW^lfefir,  id 
quite  cpftfoMiid^d  poior  Bo^ma^.utThe  ifttpt:vsfl< 
Bowman,  though  a  jolly  compamon,  a  writer  of 
ba<^?h«»a^ijan  m^j  \^he  aH|h^  ef  fi  >^%jnQver 
iK2ted^.  aad  arvery  feQi«e|s<;,m»n„  was;  very  fjeficiei^i 
in  ^th^  j^rofjgssipn.of  act^^gu  he  cfit^red  fr^w  the 
stage  &ooi^  aftej-j  ai?.d  filled  the,  pl^fcQ,cEf^Upierinr 
tendant  to  a  brewhouse  with  becoming  propriety. 

In  fieverfl  oth^r  part^  of  Tragedy,  Walker's 
lookj  deportment,  and  action,  gave  a  distin- 
guished gl^re  to  tyrannip  rage,  and  unc<)rrimon 
force  to.  the  vehemence  of  anger:  his  Bajazet  and 
Hotspur  have  scarce  been  rivalted»_         *        "        . 

"  Ht  was  the  only  Actor,''  cantiiirics  XHiViesi 
**  I  Ficmember;,  that  couJd  give  catosequcnoe  ta 

D  2  such 


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96  ii£K{>|R|liqf 

^ch  Under  parts  as  Worthy^ ,  v^  ^*  %h^  He^ruitiilg 
Officer/  afid  Harcpurt;  ia  .^-•Tlie  Country  Wife/' 
Indeed,  in  tlw.g^y  libertines  eitl^^rof .Gon)edy  a? 
Tragedy,  he  >«^as  a  most  pleasant  Actor;  and  of 
PolydorOi  in ^' The.  Orphan,",  and  Bdmour,  in 
*^The  Old  Bachelor,"  it  was  donbtfnl  to  say 
which  he  excelled  in  most." 

. ,.  .^ .  -  ^        ' ;      '   ■  A     '  "*^    i\ 

.  But  these  talents,  pleasing  and  popufer  as  they 
were,  by  continual  debaucHerles,  lost  all  their  at- 
tractions; and  '^heni  he  was  discharged  Covent 
Garden  Theatre,  it  may' strictly  be  said  of  him, 
x^  he  had  previously  discharged  those  qualities  which, 

\  V^        a  one  period  of  his  life,  hfed  rendered  him  so 
much  the  favourite  of  the  theatrical  *^orld» 


/ 


There  "ijs  a  mezzotinto  of  Walker,  in  the  cha* 
racter  of  MaCheatJi,  rather  licarce,  now  to  be  seen 
^'         at  some  of  the  old  print  shops,  which  ^as  reck- 
oijed  by  Davies.a  very  striking  resemblance* 


1  V^    HYPBESLV,    THE   ORlglNAL  PEACHeM. 

6f  the  private  life  of  Hyppesly,  little  is  known ; 
but  of  his  merit  as  a  Comedian  there  are  many 
favourably  testimonies  from  several  of  his  con- 
temporaries. **  Hyppesly  was  a  Comedian  of 
lively  humour,  and  droll  pleasantry,  which  he 
often  pushetl  to  their  full  extent ;  but  he  would 
1,    .;  -  generally 


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CHARLES  MACiClI N.  ^  . 

gcttar^lty 'fitdp  short  bn  the  brink' ©f  excess.  He 
inay'bestrictfy  denominated  ja  sober  Shut er^  vrho, 
4J[iougii  otherwise  a  Comedian  of  infinite  mirth, 
4t>ften  d^ne*ated  into  biiflfoontrry;*' 

Hyppesly  pleased  every  body  but  the  Actors  of 
IJis  own  thne,  who,  t^ith  an  envious  malignity, 
wouid  often  jWJmpait  the  weakest  of  his  perform- 
ances to  the  best  <rf  Colley  Cibbcrand  Ben  Jon^ 
son;  men  who  in  some  parts  were indisputabljr 
his  superiors ;  but  no  Comedian  ever  ex^elted  him 
in  describing  the  excesses  of  avarice  and  amorous 
dotage.  Me  supported  an  indifferent  Comedy  of 
Tom  D'p^rfey's,  now  absolutely  forgotten,  called 
^^a?he  Plbtting  Sisters,**  by  his^  incomparable  re- 
presentation of  Fumble,  a  ridiculous  old  dotard.: 

Corbaccib,  in  Jonson's  "  Volpone,**  is  a  strong 
portrait  of  covietousness,  a  vice  which  predomi- 
nates iti  the  man  when  almost  all  bis  faculties  of 
body  and  mind  are  extinguished.  Corbaccio  can 
neitlier  seei  nor  hear  perfectly.  Hyppesly 's  looks 
told  the  audience  that  he  was  a  deaf  man,  for  liis 
dim  eyes  seemed  to  inquire  out  the  words  which 
were  spoken  to. him.  In  this  character  i  it  was 
acknowledged;  that  he  excelled  his  great' oohipe- 
titbr  Ben  Jonson.  '  ;.  . 


:    Fldellin,  in  Shakesj^eare's  ^*  Henry  the  Fifth," 

was  ajiothep  of  his  favourite  parts.     Here  he  re- 

'  D  3  presented 


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08  Ufm(^lM  QWr     . 

pk'feseD*«t,th6r<el3l(?)!terlc  $pitii,:  mA  mmxte  a^^tif% 

Author  designedr-rtfe^i.braw.pflfoe^^  m^  gftllw* 
soldier,  marked  with  some  harmless  peculiarities. 

,  vHeillikewifte/ejj^cfiHedifi^:  |^efeiOpvGardri»er,  in 
iA:Jtew5f  tte!EightlteJVA^HioK:*hQ«g¥^/^ 
«iqi)^mtili<tos  ctefccieri;  k gemnVi^ girentoaome 
}(iw/ Cpttiedift^^^^^^  in  Ih^^xitrpme. 

ShAter  eisd:.  a[Jas\Ydlhga«*;it.ieyjeiylBx«r^O)Q^  :cf 
ti'iGk[.aa4.,feufl&Hmer5r<j  ffciiLt)Jiy^>pe$lyj  tfeowgh  he 
'jeould  »tfjD  fymg0  xht  itribtite  of  mirtbi  due  to  the 
^Iteriefi'Jn  «oriievpj«s»ftg€b  of  this  |>art^'|)rcservje!d 
HewQrtg;^  qf  {*bei  de4o;riitf  ^ppfopriatevtOthBiCh^ 
f ^eteii4rf!aJt^whrip^ftb(l  FrJYjr  Couiitellori'         j  i 

^Sir,>WtIfUl  WitivjSfiM  ii^iWja«ot^ 
tersy   iq  jiwbich  he  wa^^no  iiuiitotorrofiauotber 
tpflan- $;  .matiaeF, : . but  >iolelj! . directed  by  the  force  ^ 
;Qf)bi^;oM^ii  gembs?:  for  ibbmigh:  he  .was -nQt  so 
.jAugJiaWe  a^  figure  i$;E[af per  afc  Dmry,  Lane^  yet 
;he  excejjedhiu)  injeomic^^iritiand  patiiuaJfanhtrioar^ 

Hyppfisljrr'S^is  rbeKewi.  wasMheJaBbAcjtorAvJio 

^perfewrm^'  thc.part  ^of  oAjitonio;  the  fodlisl^:  dch 

baucheid  Senator  in  **  Venice  Pjesefvedv"'aridin 

the  solilpquy,  where  he  displays  the  ridiculous 

*i^l()qufena^,*Qf  tlie  ;chara^^r^  alK^aiys  obt^hed;great 

^pplau^e,  1  It,  13  i^ojwr  above  halff  a  oeritury  sinee  " 


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the  whole  of  tljis  ridiculfH^  ^i^^e  wa^,f4U  oiit,^ 
whioK  though  it  wa3  a  teM;  of  ijaye  licentjlpu^.age  Iq 
N^hich  it  was  wnttiepi,  was  at  9II  times  a§  disgj-acf^ful 
t(^.  the  dn^iua  as  it  was  to  the  rules  of  decency  and 
marality. 

It  is  no  wonder,  then,  thf  t  a  ni^  of  this  vaf 
lipus  humour,  and  dramatic  ^hilily,  shoul(^  be  se^^ 
lected  for  Peaehum;  and  though  we  remember, i^o 
particular  encomiums  on  him  in  this  part^  (th^ 
Hero  and  Heroine  drawing  off  so  muc^i  pf  thf 
public  attention,)  yet  the  general  prai^sbestowe4 
op  the  Opera,  and  all  the  original  P?fformefs^ 
and  this  continuing  a  favourite  part  wif^  )iim  tf 
the  last,  there  is  every  presumption  to  suppose,  he 
at  least  acquitted  himself  witfe bis  uraal^rourfllence. 

Tliere  was  a  little.  Interlude,  called  "Hypp^sly^s 
Drunken  Man,''  which  he  always^  produced  ajt  njs 
benefit,  and  in  which  he  i^s^id  to  have  greatly 
excelled.  Shuter,  after  Hyppiesly^s  deatl^,  hrpught 
it  out  frequently  for  his  benefit  with  suicdess.  It 
was  the  soliloquy  of  a  drunken  mail  who  adepts 
the  character  of  sobrietyt  ,. 


y'       HALL,    THE    ORIGINAL    LOCKIT,, 

John  Hall  was  originally  a  dancing-hiaster,  whp 
hsd  acquired  some  money  by  his  profession,  and 

P  4  lifterwards 


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16  '  MEMOIRS   OF 

afterwards  became  a  proprietor  in  Old  Smock  Al- 
ley Theatrt,  Dublin,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  George  the  First,  tdong  with  John  Leigh,* 
a  person  of  some  education,  and  whose  figure  and 
address  gained  him  the  appellation  of  Handsome 
Leigh.  Not  profiting  much  by  the  trade  of  Ma- 
nagers, Hall  and  he  came  over  to  England,  and 
got  an  engagement  at  the  New  Theatre  in  Lincoln's 
Inn  Fields,  under  ihe  management  of  Mn  Rich. 
Leigh  made  his  first  appearance  in  Captain  Plume^ 
in  The  Recruiting  Officer^  but  not  with  any  great 
success,  if  we  may  judge  of  the  taste  of  the  town 
by  the  following  couplet  on  the  second  night  of 
fcis  performance^ 

'^  TIb/ right  to  ww^Tficruits^i  for  faitU  they're  w«|ited ; 
^'  For  pot  one  acting  soldier's  ber&^'tis  granted.*' 

e  hear  nothing  till  he  figured  away  in 
ch,  from  his  person,  rather  inclined  to 
it^  a.  knowledge  of  the  slang  of  the 
it  was  then  called^)  and  a  proficiency 
quired  hijn  great  reputation. 

iflis  quondam  Brother  Manager  Leigh,  though 
no  very  great  Actor,  distinguished  himself  as  an 
occasional  P]ay-writer  and  Ballad-monger;  and 
the  Author  of  the  ballad  which  ridiculed  Walker, 
took  thp  opportunity  to  have  a  fling  at  Hall,  )vbom 
Jie  thus  despribes  in  the  following  stanzas ; 


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'    '  JadK  Hidlt  ;Wfaa  Wat  thet  jvst  W9k^i  (rm  A^^ 
Said,  turiung  about  to  Grace  Mpffelj^*         :   i    , 
**  TvifouW  vex  any  dog  to  see  pudding  thus  creep, 
**  And  not  have  a  share  in  the  profit.** 
**  If  you  have  not,**  says  Grace,  ^*  yotfrc  not  Mr.  tfaf!;*'    ^ 
^  And  if  I  have  not,  it  shall  cost  me  a  (all ; 
^*  For  half  a  loafs  better  than  no  bread  at  all; . 
r  4^pd  io  rij  o^  w\  for  Will  Thod^aa, , 

«  Will  Thomas.*^ 

..'ill,:. 

'<  Go,  tell  my  young  Lord  I  can  teaclv  bku  to  donee,    "  ^^ 

•'.AWio' I'm  no  very  great  talker; 
**  III  shew  him  gpod  manners  just  landed  from  Frafice : 
'"  That's  more  than  he'll  learn  from  Tom  Walker  I 
^  I  am  a  rare  judge  of  good  eating  and  sense ; 
*•  And  then  as  for  English — I  understand  French."    ■ 
« I'll  tell  him  so,  Sir,"  srtys  Wia  Thdraas,  .        • 

\  "WiirThomaaJ' 


J^ 


ORIGINAL   FOLLT    PEACI^UM. 


The  last  century  has  not  produced,  perhaps^  t 
^eater  iQ8tai|ce  of  the  change  of  fortune  in:a!^ 
individual,  than  in  the  character  before  ua^:  it 
presents  us  with  a  woman,,  who,  in  the  language 
t)f  llie  law,  mxs  no  bo4fy*s. daughter,  bred  up,  in 
the  early  parts  of  her  life^  at  the  bar  of  a,  public 
coffce-houie ;  afterwards  introduced  upon  the 
stage;  with  a  handsome  person,  and  attractive 

accomplishments; 

.    •  Gf^aoe  Moffet,  daughter  to  Mr.  Hall's  second  wife,  wh# 
kept  the  Bell  and  Pragon,  in  Portugal-street. 


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accoin[4f^mebts^;  ttuA'^yei;  vhh  Ml-^thts^tevda 
to  seduction,  conducting  hcrstlf  tHth'  that  pro- 
priety and  conduct,  ipis  to  attain  the  ijrst  rank  in 
the  oorintry,  with,  the  e^lt^^nj  ^  apprpbatiw  of 
the  public.  .  ,  .        , 

Lavinia  Fenton  (W^  ^hisf  waaf  ce^mm^ttlydirfed 
ftoih  hqr  childhood  up  to  her  marriage)  was  the 
daugkier.  of.  a;  Mr.  fiaswick*  a  Li^u.tmapt 'in  the 
Royal  Navy,  and  urasHbora  in  Ihfe  yiear'1708. 
Not  lltyhg' ifter  her  birth,  herrndthemdrriedMr. 
Fentdn,  who  kept  a  coffee-house  at  Chiring-cross, 
.who,  perhaps,  fijj^dmg  it  mure  respectably  to  give 
his  daughter-iivJ^^w  the  n»n>e  of  Fentpa,,  fban 
h$r  rtal  father's  name,  she  was,  soon  after  the 
marriage,  known  by  no  other  name  than  that  of 
Lavinia  Fenton. 

Her  genius  was  almost  entirely  the  gift  of  na» 
ture:  she  discovered  a  taleiit  fbtsi'Qgiag  almost 
coeval  with  her  speakiifg;  and  she  improved  it  op 
much  by  contiivual  practice  as  she  gtcw  up^  that, 
at  a  very  early  age^  her  adopted  father  took  iao^ 
tice  ^f  it,  and  got  her  itittvucted  by  9ome  oF  the 
best  piasters.  She  was  6aid  to  have  possessed  a 
fine,  wmpte,  melodious  voice;  and  as  Italian  single 
ing  was  little  ^rultivatcjd  at  that  time,  and  perhaps 
out  of  the.reaoh  of  her  father's  finances,  she  was 
principally  educated  in  the  English  ballad,  in 
which,  flom  thd  reputation  she  has  left  behind 

her, 


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CHAELEB   KACKLIK.  jIB 

lier,  on  tbe^atrtfeotity  of  the  best  judges  of  tibat 

jday^  she  musthwe  greatly  ««eHod. 

-  ■  •        '  t\'  ... 

Wkh  ^eae  talentey  and  in  so  consptcudns -a  »r 
tuation  as  that  of  a  cofiee^iosise^  itis  no  #onder 
that  she  readily  found  an  entr^  ui)on  the  stage. 
Being  introdaced  to  the  Manager  of  febe  ttay-^^ 
naiket Theatre  lieinstantly  engaged  her;  not^it 
^ajqtean^  sdtogetfaer  as  a  dinger;  as  her  deiut>^ 
ithia  Theatre  was  in  Monimia,  in  the  Orphftn, 
-vkich  jiappened  in  the  year  17S6,  when  she^waa 
Jhut  eighteen  years  of  age.  j  t 

Ske  soon  was  considered  as  a  Tiaing>actrefits^ 
and  obtained  from  the  town  a  very  consid^able 
share  of  applause,  accompanied  with  some  valua- 
ble presents,  which  was  the  mode  of  conferring  fa- 
(Vours  oil  the  Perfiarmers  of  those  days,  without 
any  impeacbmentof  the  latter's  characters,  either 
•for  .meanness,  infidelity^  &c.  ^They  were  cort- 
isidered  as  pledges  of  public  esteem,  and  as  such 
jhewn  by  the  Performers  to  their  fiiends  and  ac- 
qnaintemces. 

Independently,  howcv^,  of  the/ public  favour, 
fiiie:  fadutl  ^many  admirers  of  another  nature,  and 
Aimangst  the  rest,  a  young  libertine  of  very  high 
irank,  who  fell  so  desperately  in  love  with  her, 
(that  he  offered  to  relinquish  all  the  pleasures  of  the 
|»wn,  iri,  which  he  took. so  distinguislied  a  lead, 

and 


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''^     ■  I  ■     * 

Jmd  TCtireLinth  fieriirito  thcxrooBtryJ  upon  awjr 

terms,    short.-of  TuarriiJge,    she  ^^vtould  propose. 

This  oflfer,  which  was  well  known,, was,  however, 

*]iejccted  with  dbdain^rand  by  it'  iiw^iitry  x^dhsi" 

dei:5^bly^dcd  tobcr  isepiitation.     ' .   .    /       .]/.' 

-vSion  after  this  die  ajppearcd  m}the>^hnmc^T  aX 
Cbercy;  lia  f^  The  Bealix's  :  Stritt^gen*,^  xmhj  so 
Inach  advantage  from! figure^  simplicity  a^atc)^ 
iifiss>.;illat  Rich,  the  Manager  of  CoventGardcJi 
iHieatre,. -drew  hef  from  the  Haymarkdt  by  the 
tempting  offer  of  fifteen  shillings]  per !  meek;  at 
which  salary  she  remained  till  the  beginning  of 
ith^i^eaf.l^as^.  (Xhe;ycar  of  the  Beggar's  Qpeta,) 
il^bicdofjimay  be  considered  as  the  great  aera  of  ber 
futoiue fortune...         >  -       .    ,  .  .  ,.    : 

•  /•  ■■  fi    i  *',      *■      *        '-*  •   .       i  •■  .'  '         -     •  .  -^  '^ 

*  iQf  the  astonishing  success  of  this  Opera.  .00 
much  ,has  been  already  said,  that  .it  would  be 
tiresome  torepedt  it;  iv^e  shall  therefore -only  meii- 
iioa  ;>one  circum8tan:C6,  .hitlicrto  little  known-; 
wh?ch.is^  that  Richy)the>^. Manager,  in  order  to 
secure  the  liew  Polly,  (Miss  Fenton,)  raised  her 
salary  to  double,  which  made  it  amount  to, thirty 
9hUimgs  pfer  week*  And  here  it  is  ciirious  to  re- 
gard ,  the  difference  of  tinges  aa  it  respects  the  state 
iof  tnttsic  and  gjenefal  state  of- society.  In^the 
yeftr  )728,  a  first  rate  singeri^could  only  obtain 
thhiy  «A^*///«^^ -j^r  :week,  (Iwhicb,  according  it 
th^*ijtnibdi'  of playiffg  weebsiiithe.seaaQn,  amounts 

to 


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to  fiw\tjii-Jm  .pmnds  pdr;  ji«i,>^^iUt  a  fin*  ritt 
sioger  ia ,  th^:  r yeat,  1  aQirv^w^* thbu^t^^wbttliy  <o^ 
Ui :  AcbitratiQu  betwf  <t^  tm»  ilvaL  Managers;:  fconU 
tending  who  should  have  her,  at  the  rate  ofltimA 
thousand  pounds  the  season,  and  a  clear  benefit! 
*    '  "  ...»    J  •  -    •      .^   .         -  ' 

,  WMt  mmt  iiiitcrea&e^  i;^  laiiglbrty  diffdtctiqe  ii 
still  inore -eunou».  It  cannot  be^tluedifiinrenee 
m  ihp  pleyvk^y  of  monfcyj  asIitrjtflfecAs  rioifc^dier  ar- 
ticles i9  tb$o^iAe  propoi^Qn:  it  c^tunotibe  the 
gfeat  superiorijy  of  .talertt^  for.  ti<mgii  Mfs^i  Bil^ 
Hngtcjj),  we  »(}^it^  luay  be  a  much  bdtter  auid)h]ore 
scientific  singer  than  Mi^^^iFiewtdn,  ydt  the  latter 
was  the  best  theatrical  singer  in  her  day.  Where 
tljen  li{?$,  the  differed  cft?\Atesi  We-fear  l«r|>tice 
it  under  ijts  proper  headj  it.sfjuSit.be  trawfierrcd  to 
the  siipefiqr  folly  a*d  dimpationi^fntkMifgoseiit 
yaqe,  who-  wjli  bear  this '  monstrous  tax  dn^heir 
pl^asuies  witliout  the  least  cojisidjprationof /what 
it  is  in,^in,sically  wortl^  pr  how  far  t^Kjy^  ardabU 
to  afford  it.  :  .iik*  ' 


f  * 


A\^at?yer-  ftljiss  Feiitq«'$^  fpal  afeilities  were  as  i 
singer  or  actress,  we  may  venturfe  to  pronounce^ 
from  the  universality  of  her  fame,  and  the  pane- 
gyrics ^ft^hidi  a^  jeft  betfindt  <>f  ber»  that  no  aetrfess 
jvas  ever  more  the  rfge  of  the  public  than.sht 
y(f^:  The  fan  shops  and  prjkit  sbopa  exhibitttl 
^54f  figure  evf  ry  d^y ;  a^  the  Tbeatre/  for  w*^- 
thrjfc  representations  the  first  ^wson,:  every  nigfbt; 

[  All 


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4S^  XSHOIRi  Of 

A3iitii4io  nsw  aad;  beii;d  lier,  v^en  htr  ^imitet^f 
itoomuich  Unit  she  yas  guarded  hctjmj  evepy  tiight 
she  went  &om  the  Tfaeati^^  by  setemi  cbttfidiMtiat 

fitsctids*  "^ 


She  was»  however,  deaf  to  all  amorous  propo- 
lalv  t^  the  Duke  of&dton  paid  his  ciddFesseis  to 
her^  wrhoj  dioughv  a  marHed  man,  irad  actualFy 
m  Icore  ^with  her^  and  oonvinced  her>6  itiuch  €tf 
tiie  sincerity  of  his  passion,  and  probably  with  a 
fiiture  promise  of  becoming  a  Duchess,  (if  ereiits 
^oidd  give  him  >thait  chance,)  that  she  dt  last 
yielded  to  hi$  solidtatioDs. 

WJiat  were  her  origiiiat'  t^rms  ^h\i  Hie  Dufce 
JST  iaot  exactfy  knd^^.  Swift,  who  .wrote  from 
the  ccfinvon  report  of  that  day,  in  a  letter,  datetl 
ethiJaly,  17e»,  says^  *^  The  Duke  of  Bolton  has 
fun  away  with  l^\y  Peachum,  having  settled  font 
hundred  fper  year  on  hef  during  pleasure,  and, 
upon  disagreement,  two  hundred  more."  Perhaps 
something  like  this  might  be  true;  but  the  exact 
termavwerendvar  known,   aft  a  separation  never 

<  She  lived  with'  thtd  Nobleman  twenty^hree 
yearsia^  his  i^i^tresl^  but' in  such  a  manner,  as 
tojattract  neithe^eli^y  br  ^e|^roachi  (if  we  exc^ 
thfeiCirmt  of  attaihhi^  fe*rself  to  a mafried  man.) 
MibfDtjche^s tidying  in  J751,  the  Duke  imme- 
.  -'.        •  3      ,  diately 


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CHA1tS.ES   MAC^tlN.  47 

dSMefy  mpemAMistlEaAoti;  and,  thcni^  raised 
to  this  btj^  hofiour^  ^die  never  onoe  fot^ot  whtd 
ike  o\v«d.to  beriieaefactor.aiicl  to  Fortune,  j  Sbe 
eiijoytcUltUifr>digf«ity  nine  years,  dying  in-dieycar 
1760,  attheageoffifty^WK 

^e  iK^s^lmrred  at  Greenin^ich  widi  all  appropri- 
ate/  bmioiirs ;  >  and  her  grand^daughtcar  fay  lim 
Diito  bdx^e  mavriage,  is  noir  a  Bu-oikess  of  tkia 
kingdom. 

The  Duke  of  BalKm  is  said  to  have  often  de- 
clared, that  he  was  first  captivated  by  the  plain- 
tive <and  bewitching  manner  in  which  FoUy  fiuikg 
the  following  addnsM  to  ha  &ther : 

"  Oh  1  ponder  w^ll-— be  not  seven; 

So  save  a  wretched  wife! 
For  on  the  rope  that  hangs  my  dear, 

depends  poor  Polly's  life," 

We  'sfball  dose  th^  account  of  this  celebrated 
character  with  the  following  euldgiuim  given  of 
her  by  a  very  late  respectable  authority,  Dr.  Jo- 
seph WarMn,  who,  in  a  Hole  sobjohied  to  one  of 
SwifVs^  lettem  to  Gay,  thus  speEiks  of  her.    . 

^'  She  wa^  (says  he)  a  v^ery  accomplished  and 
fiM)Bt  agteeable  companion ;  had  much  wt<^  ^od 
strong  sense,  and  a  just  ta^te  in  poUte  literature^ 
Her  p^non  ivas  agreeable  a^d  wellmade^  4:hoiigl^ 

1  think' 


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48  KEUOIRS   OF 

I  think  she  could  never  be  called  a  beaujty*  I  have 
liad.thefileistire  of  being  at  table  witli  hdr,^  n^hen 
her  courersation  was.much  adftiiredcby  thefkiEft 
characters  of.  the  age^  particiilarly^odd  jUocd  Ba^ 
thurst  and  Lord  GranviUe.**  .  «    ,         . 

Jdacddin  said,  her  dress  lYi  Pdlly  was^  very,  like 
tibe  ^plidty  of  a  modera  Quaker;  aiid:thef<^ 
plinth  we  bav^. seen  of  her  conikm  thisa^^rt^n. 

.        '  liuCT    LOCKIT. 

\  The  original  of  this  character  was  a  Mils.  ;Egle- 
ton,  the  wife  of  an  Actor  of  that  name,  cominon'r 
Jy  called  "  Baron  Egleton,"  for  taking  upon  him 
that  title  in  France,  where  he  soon  squandered  a 
small  patrimony.  "  His  person  (says  Chetwood) 
was  perfectly  genteel,  and  he  was  reckoned  a  ve- 
ry pleasing  Actor;  but,  through  a  wild  road  of 
life,  he /finished  his  journey  in  the  twejtfty-ni»th 
year  of  his  age.  -   .    i  • 

—  ^  •  • .  ■  *     '        .      '    .  ■^^'     '  1 

*^  Hia wife,  previously  to  her  perfprmaiice  of  Lu^ 
cy,  was a.Coniic  Actress,  mucji  admired  byjU^best 
judges,  and  therefore  came  strongly  recommended 
foTthia  pairti  in  which  she  succeeded  «6  well  as 
fonsj^afla  ,the  palm  of  acting  with  Polly,i  thougli 
XBOt^  -  pedafeips,  the  general  admifation  of  tlie  towiu 
*dwi/J>uke  of  Argyle^  who  w^,  tlwughjli.f^ 
1  T  one 


.4!i 


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CHARLES  KiiGKlLIK.  '  49 

jbiie  of  tbe  beit  jiidgidsand  |)atiioris  of  theStage^ 
took  a  partiQular  pleasure  in  seetng  Mr^  Egleton^ 
aBd  alfr^i^  spoke  of  her  m  the  handaome^t  terms. 
"  Wittoti  giicit  shaife  ofimerit,.  .(says  I^ariies,)  she 
waa  exlre«n^ly;  diffidca*^;  and  laevcr/  attempted  a 
liew  charade^  botwijfethei  utmost  apprehension 
of  her  feilinglto.please  tiheauidieirceJ'j    .;  >  . 

She-  wmtkd  ^raderiocy%  l^asrever,  to  ifegulate 
those  :t^ebt$*9'  aiidijiOi  seedrp^the  io^tinuanoe  of 
public  approbation;  ^ijiwbdtbc^frdnk  herself,  ov 
from  the  example  of  her  husband,  like  a  second 
Ariadne,  she  died  enamoured  of  Bacchus,  about 
the: year  1334/)    ^'h.-y?''  ^a^'>  'i  r     ,     \-    . 

■;  1  biir,    ^^•^.  '    NAT.  SCLABKE' /  /.. 

was  the  original  Filch  in  this  Opera,  who  lived 
above  fifty  years  after  its  first  representation :  his 
cast  was  generally  in:  the  under  parts  of  Tragedy 
and  Comedy,  and  in  both  he  had  reputation.  His 
Filch  Av'is,/ perhaps,  the  best  since  his  time;  being 
much  assisted  by  a  i6eag;re  countenance^  a  sham^ 
bliijg  gaiti  and  a  thorough  knowledgeof  the  slang 
latigjuage.        i  ,>    \   '■  ^ 

His  chief^mploymcttt,; after  tlie  run.  of  the  Beg- 
gar's />pera,  was  as  au  li'ijdet. Harlequin  t6  Rich,' 
whom  hq  much  resembtedii  size  and  figure,  and 
whicji  gave  rise  to  the  foUbwing  whimsical  acci-: 

.    E.  .  '.       dent. 


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50  >    MBUBlVtBX>V 

dent  One  of  the  Actors  liaving  hafl  nittiQ^wmSs^ 
>irith  Clarke,  during  thenepres^Mkumi^f  a  Pan- 
tomime, ^^aited  till  he  d^ouldifind'«t«^op^rtumt3r 
of  shewing  his  fe^entment^o  Jtlnkokilyj  Hkh  be- 
ing in  the^  way  of  ihi$  aftgi^i^rsoti^ft)  he  came 
off  1^  stagey  he>  tfei»ii%  it  Mp$k  Gitike^  straok 
him  such  a  blow  o»  the  breast^  ;as'fpra  tkne  ide-* 
^  prived  him  of  the  po^ye^  of  breathing.  -The  man 
itisismtly  made  e^g^y  afology^^r>bisi  Inistoke. 
*^But  pray^  Mttster^i'fsaysolliicli,  S*^^  ^atipwwo^ 
cation  could  Clarke  {>0baibtj^  giveyou  tpt strike  ^a 
■hard?":;        '    ,-  -r  '-::.:  :    I  \ -■  t:\.,..:u:->   ^Ji    :; 

Some  years  before  his  death,  Clarke  retired:  to 
Hammersmith,  where  he  lived  at  ease,  and  of- 
ten treated  hi's  visitors  :with  good  ale,  and  much 
theatrical  anecdote. 

;  f  . J  -■  .       _    .  ;    -;  '!>'  /  /  .  ^/  .  'a   ■'-•: 

was^  the  origirtal  Mrs*.  Peachum,  as ;  well  as  the 
otiginal  Diana  Trapes;  bothof  which  characters 
she  filled,  imjtb  great  reputation  till  her.deatb. 
Mrs.  Macklin,  we  believe,  succeeded  her  in  Rfrs; 
Peachum,  as  she  was  long  in  the  possession  of  the 
part^  atvd  we  hear  of  ino  intermediate  succestor. 
*'  Thfc  Dramatic  Censoi-,'?'  a  work  published  about[ 
thirty  years  ago,  speaks  of  her  and  Macklin  in  the 
fbllowing  manner:  *^That  for  strong  kaowled'ge 
of  the  world,   and  a  just  cynical  turn  of  humour^ 

Mackliii 


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€HAE££8   MACKIIM;  5t 

Mackliii  and  his  wife^  in  tj^  parte  of  Peacbum 
and  A^3^  Peachum,  stood  untivaUed.'* 


;  '    ■    .  ./}»'.'•  I. 

Though  Clarke  was  not  one  tf^^th^  dramatU 
p&son(R  of  the  Beggart  Opera,  he  wa^^the  origi-t 
nal  composer  of  the  air, 

u  "Pi,  'womaa  that  seduces  all  i^ankind  )'* 

and  on  this  account,  as  well  as  the  singularity  of 
his  fate,  deserves  some  notice  here;    . 

•  ■ 

Jeremiah  Clarke  MrasOrigtnalTy  bred  to  music, 
and  had  his  education  in  the  Chapel  Royal  uiidef 
the  celebrated  Dr.  Blow,  who  seems  to  have  had 
a  paternal  affection  for  him.  Early  in  life,  Clarke 
was  so  imfoTtunate  ad  to  conceive  a  violent  and 
hopeless  passion  for  a  very  beautiful  and  accom* 
plished  lady,  of  a  rank  far  superior  to  his  own; 
and  his  siiffeVjngs  on  ttts  account  became  so  in- 
tolerable to  him,  thM  be  resolved  td  put  an  end 
to  his  existence.  ftiEl>  was  at  the  house  of  a  friend 
in  the  country  when  he  took  np  this  fatal  resolu^ 
tion,  and  suddenly  set  off  for  London.  His  friend 
observing  his  dejection,  without  knowing  the 
cause,  furnished  him  with  a  horse,  ^nd  a  servant 
to  attend  him.     . 

In  his  way  to  town,  a  fit  of  despair  suddenly 
seizing  him,  he  alighted,  and,  giving  his  horse 

F  S  to 

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52  *      ilElfOlRS 'OF    --'^ 

to  tlic  servant,  ^venfe  mto  an  adjoinkig  fidd,  in 
the  corner  of  which- Was  a  pond  surroundcfd  With 
trees,  which  pointed  out  to  his  choice  two  ways . 
of  getting  rid  oC Jtife;* .  Hesitating  for  some  time, 
which  to  lake,  he  at  last  determined  to  leave  it 
tj^cha^feev^nd  taking  a  piece  of  money  out  of  his 
ppcjket,  tossed  , it  up  inline  air,  to  decide  it.  The 
money,  however,  falling  on  Jtsicdgein  tjie  clay, 
seemed  to  forbid  both  ways  of  destruction;  and 
it  had  sucn  an  ieffect  upon  him,  that  he  declined 
it  for  that  l^ime,:  and  rega4Hing  liis  horse,  rode  ta 

town.  ^  :,     .,;  V'  .      •  *  -[ 

»  • 

His^nd,  however,  was  too  much, disordered 
to;/eceive  qopxfort,  or  take  any  advantage  fix)ni 
the  above  omen:  and,  after;  a  few  months  worh 
put  in  the  utmost  dejectipn  of  ^iritsl,  he  shot 
himself  in  his  own  .house  jn  $t.  Paurs.Chtinclv-. 


^  The  kte  Mr.  Jqhii  fteai^ing,  ^  Oirgaiwsfe •  jof  i  St; 
E|jLinstan>.  Chiirot>,  a  scMajfrof^Dr.  fikivi^,  and 
plfister  tp  jjie  late: Mr.  Stanley,  the  w^llrknowii 
Ijlind  organist,,  :who,  was  mt^nately  acquainted 
with  Clarke,  hiy>pei>ed  to  h§. passing  by  the  door 
as  the  pistol  w^4at  off;  d.p(d,  upon  enteriiig  the 
house,  found  his. friend  a»d  fe|lcf>v-6tadeat  in  the 
agonies  of  death.  ,  .'.'-.. 


*C)^ 


Clarke  was  likevvise.  the  original  composer  of 
Dry  den's  celebrated  Ode  on .  St.  Cecilia's  Birtlv- 


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CHABLCr  HACKCIN.  63 

day*     He  is  supposed  ta  have  done  great  justice 
to  tbi;s  Ode,  particulaxly  in  the  pathetic* 

.  ^     "Th^migbijr  Master  sinirataspc 
That  love  was  in  the  next  degree, 
Twas  but  a  kindred  sound  to  movei; 
For  pity  melts  the  mind  to  love.'* 

**  But,  though  free  from  licentious  harmony,^ 
says  Dr.  Burney,  "  mild,  persuasive,  and  correct, 
yet  he  is  seemingly  incapable  of  violence  of  any 
kind/'  This  Ode  was  re-composed  by  Handel  in 
1736,  to  more  advantage,  and  had  a  jiarticulat 
run ;  though  M^e  have  heard  the  late  Dr.  Ami 
censure  some  passages  even  of  this  composition, 
apparently  with  great  force  of  criticism. 


CONTINUATION  OF  REMARKS. 


Tlie  character  of  Peachum  was  drawn  aft?r  the 
model  of  Jonathan  Wild,  a  celebrated  tliief  ani 
thief-taker,  who  ^iad  suffered  <!eathfai- his  noto- 
rious villainies  aTjout  three  years  before  Jjlie  pro- 
duction of  this  Opera ;'  and  Peachum  perusing  his 
Tyburn  list,  was  notliing  more,  than  the  daily 
practice  of  Wild.  Gay,  however,  ty  frequently 
comparing  highwaymen  to  courtiers,  and  mixing 
other  political  allusions,  drew  the  attention  of  the 
publifc;to  ,tlie  character  of  Sir  Robert  Walpole, 
thetirnme 'Minister,  who,  like  most  other  Prime 
^  •'  E  3  Ministers, 


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54  UEUOTRB  D»w 

Mimsjteiv^  h^  a  strong '  party  agftinet  him,  who 
constantly  took  qare  to  ttfaks  or  fip4  a  coi»pari« 
son  between  the  two  characters.  A  particular 
anecdote  of  thw  nature  i^  told  of  Sir  Robert, 
which  shews,  what  friends  and  enemies  have  long 
since  agreed  in,  viz.  that  he  possessed  a  fund 
of  good  humour,  which  could  scarcely  be  broken 
in  upon  by  any  accident;,  with  a  thoropgh  l^now- 
hd^  of  the  Eoglish  character* 

^  in  the  sc^np  where  Peachum  and  Lockit  arc 
^lescribed  pettlipg  their  accounts,  Lockit  sings 
the  song,      ;     :^  r  . 

^^  W^en  vou  censure  ^ke  age,  &c" 

which  hadi  such  an  effect  on  the  audience,  that, 
as  if  by  instinct,  the  greater  part  of  them  thre\e 
their  eyes  oh  the  stage-box,  where  the  Minister 
was  sitting,  and  loudly  cncared  it.  Sir  Rahert 
saw  this  stroke  instantly^  and  saw  it  with  good 
liumour  and  discretion;  for  no  sooner  was  the 
sdiig  finished,,  than  he  encored  it  a  second  time 
hijnself,  joined  in  the  general  applause,  and  by 
this  jneans  brought  the  audience  in|:o  so  much 
good  hiimour  witK  him,  that  they  gave  him  a  ge- 
neral hu^za  from  all  parts  of  the  house. 

B\it,  notwithstanding  this  escape,  every  njght^ 
find  for  Rianv  years,  afterwards^,  that  The  ^Bipggari 


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Open  Ta3  farougfat  put^  ]Sfock)m  u»ed  io  fay,  ^ 
Minister  (Sir  jlobert  Wai^)^)  o«ve;r  cmid  witi 
eny  saiiifu^tion.  fe^  paesebt.  at  iS3  repiMeiitatiQ% 
on  acooimt.of ,  tb^  many  fiUusioA^  wbi^h  :^  au^ 
diebce^tlK>«gbt  rdSurred  tQ  .hh  ch^mieUr*  Tht 
first  .'sotag  ^as  thougfajt  to  point.  liO^  .bitiT"Th« 
name  of  JM  JSoc^y^  wbeoever  «ie»^^fm«^  ag^ift 
raised  the JtMgh  against  him:  mid  tlM^^uairfW^g 
9ccne  between  Peachum  naA  Iiockit,^  m$  Mw^ 
underatood  at  that. time  U>  allude  jto. a; j^qent 
quarrei  betMreen  the  two  Miiiistere,  twd-Towusr 
bendvand  Sir  Bobert;  ibat  the  tioiMC  wa4  in  4^a^ 
vulsions;  jof  appianftc^ 

We  have. often!  asHcd  MAi^klm  the  €au$0  oCrtbi^ 
quarrel. between  the  two  MmiUts;  but  h&^opld 
Bol  rienicthber,  nor  perbafijs  did  he  ever,distitijQjtly 
know.  ,Thn  kte  Lord  .Orford,  however,;  has  e«r 
'pUned  it ;  .Binl,  a$  the  tmtaaction  is  rather  cufi-^ 
ens,  rve  abaU  relate  it  in  th|a  place^ 

••  Wk^k^t/afiber  quitting'  the  Palace  in  ome  of 
'those  triohferenees  wherein  he  differed  Wx^  Lord 
Toirnaberid^  soon  after  m^  hfan  at  Cd,  Sfclwyni'^ 
iOtetdandiOGiutt,  in  the  presence  of  tlie  Duke  of 
Neiroafetiey  Mr.  Pelham,  Col  m4  Mrs.  Peil^anj. 
The  conversation  turned  on  a  foreign  npgocia- 
ti«Hi,  iditehjj  at  -the  d**ire'«f  >  Waljlxxlei  had  been 
ieliEH}uisiie^..  ilUwnshendy  howeyer^  still  required 
Itbl^ttberlmeajMute.isbotthliibe:  mentioiutd  ip^  the 
J  E  4  '  House 


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56  ;    MB4l6fiEr  or 

il^useof  Commdm/  at  the  same  time,  thsrtp  Ac 
House  bhduM  'be  infornied,  "  thait  .it  was'^veti 
aip.**  Walpote  objecting  to  this  proposal  >ts/inexT 
pedietft/Towiishend  said,.**  Since  you  object^  and 
the  House^^  Oomitioiis  is  more  yo^v  aifeir  thah 
ininc;-"I*sha!li  not  persist  in.  my  opinion;  fesatasl 
ii6w  give-^fty,  I  catmot  avoid  obsensing^  that, 
upon  rhybomur,!  think  thait  mode  ^>pn>tdednsg 
would  tetVe  been  ftwMt  advisable/- -Walpole, 
piqu^  iat  this  expression,  lost  his  i  timper,  --•  and 
said,  **  My  Lord,  for  once,  then,  there  is  no 
man's  sincerity  which  I  doubt  so  ihocfa  as  yours; 
and  I  never  doubted  it  so  mocba^  when  you  arc 
pleased  to  make  such  strong  expressions."  Towns- 
h«mdy  inceii$6&  at  this  reprciach,  wized  him  "by 
the '  cdUki^-^ir  Robert  laid  hold^  o£  hi s  in  return^**- 
end  both,  vtt  tlie  same  instant,  i}iiitted'thciir  lidda, 
;and  kid  their  hands  on  their  swordsw :  ^  Mrs.  Sd- 
-wyn,  alarmed,  wanted  to  call  the  gttardi  but  w»5 
prevented  by  Pelh^m,  who  made  ifcoip  lMrt\«en 
them ;  though  the  contemptuous  expressions  used 
on  this  OGcasion  tfend^red  alt  attSmptst^  heal  *the 
'breach  iaelfectuaii  Ibis  circrumstanoe hoppimed 
Jn  the  latter  end  ^tlie  year  1727,  apid. The  Beg- 
gar's O^^a  pame>oi^t^it|  1728..  JLoxnUrownsimnd 
f etired  from  al}  employments  ia thfc yearl7a<l." 

It  is  therefore  na  wi»ftd<r  tiiat  :&:  poTitiical  ^11^ 
Kceiau  of  Jthis  coAseque^ice  >skottk[.he.|>ceter¥edljby 
0ayi  ^i^'Us  ther  Mi^iiterc)iy^asjiu>trjmily,  inittiical 

'       -^  to 


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to  hhn  and  bis  party,  bat  to*  thcgcnerality  of  the 
DatTon;  the  audience  triumphecL  in  this  act  of^hu* 
mitiation,  and  kept  up  tbe  rtdicule  of  the  stw^ 
fot  many  yeacs>  which  opon  aay  other  occasion 
-would  have  died  away. 

.    Ma€ikliai)>#as  .furesent.  kt  the  first . representatba 

^  The  :Beggarr's>  Opera,  aind.confirmed  .what  has 

been  often  reported,   tiiak  its  sucqess^was  dQ^ubt>> 

ful>  till  qi):et  the  opening  of  the  secdiid  acSt^iMihen, 

aftertbe/cborus  song  of  *'  Let  us  take  tbe  ioad/' 

ithe^appkuse  was  «js  universal  as  unfaounded.       > 

-'     ^'  .  '.,/  :        ..      ■      '.  ..  .;       ^        '*  -^      .-  i 

'    The  original  Polly  only  continued  pti  tlie  «t^ 

the  first  season,  the  Duke  of  Bohdn  having  taken 

ikt  off  the  July  foUowmg  her  first  app/^aranea 

Her  successoir  wajs  a  Misa  Warren,  vtho  had  thfe 

same  good  luek,  being  immediately  taken  fcom 

tbe  stage  by  a  geiuleman  of  fortune..    Sh^  was 

:afkerw^nils  followed  by  several  performcra  of  vari* 

0US  pi^ensions;  Misst  Norris,  .Miss  Falkher^  and 

Mrs.  Chambehs.     Mass  Brerit, .  afterwaiids  Bin^q, 

isung  it:  better,  land  brOii^ht  more  moiiey .  by*  ftr^ 

than  an^  mn^§  th«.first  seasonof,  itsexhtbitioit. 

Mrsi  AwioftJ^o  had  great  musical  merit,:  afchad 

iMadaxn^sMaia,  who^  m  mfrepomt  €f:vmee^>  per- 

fhaps,  excelled  tliem  allr-bttt  tlie  iincouthnessidf 

jKogUsljlAWOrdA  eonrwn^from  a  foi*ig^>  SKnitfa, 

ikndaredr  the  dia]o|7ite  tijtca^me^;  and'  oonsequdntljr 

ipudi  ArmPged:tll^!i'e*Jity  ^^ 

.  . :    '  ^'.  Mrs- 


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Mrs.  Cibbec  waRJto  the  feyr,  heart,  dnd  ear,  ali 
that  the  Poet  cotUtd.wiah  for:  tfce  Mmpiicity:  of 
ber  tones,  and  tbe  seimbility  df  her  oouatenaiice^ 
engaged  evtry  auditor  id  her  fs^oar. 

.  The  Macheaths  since  Walker's  time  of  most 
distinction^  were  B^ird,  Lowe,  Vetrhoto,  :^nd 
.Webnter^  fieand,  iri  conjancfion  with  thaeFoHy 
of  Misa  Brent,  rim  ^a:  whole  season, : almost  ^w'ttk 
as  much  celefarity  asiii  the.origsital  cost*  •  But 
JQ^d)  though  iiisr  singing  and  person  >itzl?reiia 
charai!i£r^  was  deficient  in' speakings  aa-nfellastin 
the  bold  -flashy  gentility  of  deportment  which  be* 
iongs  to  tbe^  character.  Lowe's  kriNCfi^cwaft  «till 
andr4  happy,  but  'his  expression  tie«^^)cbaract€a^ 
itia:  Venion.  was  reckoned  a  goodMatbeath  in 
Jiis  time,  but  in- onr  opinion  much  iMrer«^rated :  his 
miLsical  ktiowledge,  no  doubt,  iwas  mow  than 
^ual  io  the  part;  but  neither  his  veite  or£guHs 
•vtas^  that  of  a  higfiufaywum.  Vernon,  too,  was  a 
ieoxcomh  of  the  first  water  j  and  whatever  part  he 
phyed,  he  was  for  shewing  himself  more  than  his 
author.  Wcfcster  was  ^i'dutthe^  clmraieter:  a 
.fine>  sweet^toned,  manlj^  voie6,  genteel  j  depott* 
iment^  &c.  which  madei  forcible  limprfesaions;  hiit 
in  his  acting  be  was  tGk>«iuch  of ^age/ntimm  fdr 
Macheith.  Tl^  man  who  Kvest  mostly  .^Hfitb 
.wfmm  of  the  tawny  laindmm of  thermdi'  i^ndt 
Hkely  to  acquire  any  «tli@r^maQiiei*s  th^aa  bnhl 
forwanJ  look,  and  *a  fm  familiar,  impudbnce; 
.,  -1  Webster 


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Welitte#  eoiild  'tot  exactly  con)t>ass  tbH ;  ^asfiiest 
£ur  he  fatted  in  the  eye  of  critie^  examination.^ 

Inclcdon,  the  best  English  singer  in /the  jbaUaA 
line,  perhaps,  the  stage  was  eyit  in  po8S£!ssi6nf  o^ 
wants  sraiewhat  of  figure,  and  a  certain  dosidioB 
of  character,  to  set  oflF  the  chieftain  of  a  band' of 
robbers;  who,  like  the  chieftains  of  the  early 
ages;  aiie  suppoied  to  be  elected  to  that  isitnatlon 
for  superior  courage,  figure,  &c.  Sec.  But  the 
best  ackno^vkdged  Macheath  since  ^tlxe  days  of 
.Walker,  was  a  man  little  known  in  the  present 
day,,  of  the  name  of  Wilder.  He  had  been  origin 
nally  a  singer  at  Vauxhall,  and  went  to  Ireland 
about  the  year  1758.  His  first  appearance  at 
SmockrAiley  Theatre,  Dublin,  was  in  this  cbarao- 
ter,  in  which  he  gained  such  reputation,  &at  be 
performed  it  seventeen  times  successively  that  sea- 
sop,  and  nearly  as  many  more  the  next,  beside  on 
somoifi:  exc^Dsions,  where  he.  met  with  the  sanie 
^e<)ttragemem%  •  -  :    - 

.  His  praise  was  not  undeserved— He  possessed  a 
,fioe,|i9ia]|ly,  i:olMisit  figure,  a  marking  eye,  and  a 
decisive  step,  that  at  once  told  the  hero  of  the 
road — his  voice  was  suitable  to  such  a  figure, 
ttrpug  and  muslfDal — but  without  those  flouriaihes 
which  spience  i*,  too  apt  to  practise  at.  the  expenoe 
of  xiharacter.  Wilder  continued  in  Ireland  above 
thirty  years  with  various  success  as  a  general  per- 
former, 


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60  .  MCMOxi»f  or 

fem»sr, ,  but  evidently'  the  be^^^Micheath  of  hm 
time;  asid  toirards  the  letter  end  of  tUat'^pericM^ 
quitted  the  stage  to  follow  the  business  he  wm 
bred  to,  which  was.  thaH  of  a  ftbene  painteb.;  THe 
was  itr  London  about  seven  years  agoy  Iqokifn^ 
6trobg^nd  healthy  for  fais  4ge;'  And  {^risapstnsay 
beijiiringnow.  ^  :\    ;         i      > 


i  Ta  ihis  Openl  there  was  n^d  music  wigitmllyinv 
tended'  to.atecompany  the  ^songs,  till  fti^^b,  the 
'Manager^  suggested  it  on  the  second  fakirehcaii- 
laL  .ffhet  junto  of  wits,  who  regularly  attended, 
-one  dBLTid  all,  objected  ^  to  it ;  ind  it  ^m  given;  up 
'iilL  the  Duchesiof  Queensbury :  (Oay's  staqnoh 
Ijatitxncss)  accidentally  hearing  of  it^  Attended 
-herself  the  next  rehearsal,  when  it  W$s  tried,  dftid 
iiniveusally apj)n?ved of*  , -^  ■    ^ 

:  The  first  songv/MTie  Modes  of  the  C6ur«f 'irais 
•written  by  Lordi Chesterfield;  ^'  Virgins  areiJkfe 
the  fair  flow;er  in  its  lustre,"  by  Sir  Charles  Hai*- 
bury  Williams ;  -  When  you  censure  theage,*'  by 
jSladft;  and  ♦^Gamesters  and  Lawyers  are  jugglers 
'alike, "  supposed  to  be  written  fey  Mr-vFo^tesfeUe, 
rthertrMasterof  tlie^RoUsv"^^   *  -^    />,...>.  .» 


.  ii  ,The  receptiou « this  ^  celebrated  Opera  ftiBfr  w^'tti 
oini  )Ireland,  .Scotland,  anjd  Watei^i  is  too  A^ell 
.,;,,:].-;•.->         :    \)    '   ..-.'■;,     m"     .1  J.  V,  tiitiDwn 

*  The  above  information  came  through  the  medium  of  the 
•       -  *  ^  ^  late  Dowager  Lady  T^-iwid, 


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CHAiltES   ilACKJllN.  d^ 

knoVil  to  tieed  recital.  In'ILomlon;  nothih'g' 
stopped'  Its  progress  through  die  bourse  of  the  sea- 
son, but  thi  beheflt  hij*;hti  of  the  performers ;  ahtf 
even  oh  one  bf  these  nights, '  when  k  performer 
was  suddenly' YSken' sick,  and  they  were  obliged 
to  give  but  another  play,  or  dismiss,  theatidifence 
would  not  suffer  any  other  play  to  be  substituted 
but  "  Thef  Beggar's  Opera, "*  though  it  waJs  tfien 
in  the  thtrty-sixth'rirghtof  its  rtin;  and  the  |wif-' 
formers  were  6bfigfed  ttf  comply,  ■  ^^ugh  fcotftrrft^ 
to  all  riile,  or  fcHciiuyiehce  wonltf  not  have  staidi 
—See .  6fey's  'Ekter  to  S\vnft,  MaVch  i>Oth,  'Vfifs! 

^  the  sUccess'bf  this  Opera,  we  art  fift'fcwlse 
confirmed  iit  the'cUfet'oni  of  ^* Authors  selfingtick-i 
ets  on  their  benefit  nights;  (a  custom  Whicti  mo^ 
dem  vanity  seems  to  have  banished  from  the  stage 
sittce  the  exTiibifion  of  PMIoclea,  wrkten  by 
M'Namara  MoVgannf, '  Esq.  in  1753;)  As  in  a^let^ 
ter  of  Gay  toSwift,  dated  February  15;'  1727^^? 
he  says;  ^*  To-tdght  is  the  fifteenth  time  of  actrn^ 
"  The  Beggar^s  Opera,  and'  it  is  thought  it  mil 
run  a  fortnight  longer.  I  niaAe  ho  interbs'i 
either  for  approbation  or  money,  nor  kdth  any  ho* 
dy  been  pressed  to  take  tickets  foi^  my  benefit ^  not- 
withstahdihg*  which,  I  shatf  make  an  addition  ^to 
my  fortune  of  between  siJl  and  se\Tn  hundred 
pounds/'  '    '' 

'.  When  Walker  was  performing  Macheath  the 
sexcnty-second  night,  he  happened  to  be  a  little 

imperfect 


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imp€n;f{^t*in  the  part,; which  Ri(?h;ob3erving,  call- 
e4  putto  hiiD,  pji  l^is  return  frpm  thje  stage,  **  Hol- 
lp%f  J^i^ef"^!  ihmk  your  metf^y  oaght  to  be 
P^f^tyigoo^  )^y  Uiis  time."  "  Ai|d  so  it  is,"  said 
"^ajkfiirj/^'bu^  zr-M^s,  Sir,,  my  iiiemQrjr  ]§  not  to 

la^tfftr^v^r,",'    .  ■> ,.        ..; .  ;  »  , 

;  Ijljorjagei  nor  time,  have  been  able  tp:  stale  thf 
cb^raptpi?  ,of  4il4»  celfbrated  Oper?.!  Every,  spe? 
<5|fi?i)^*PflrfpWjBrs  fbav?  attei^pted  it,  {torn  tfeu 
Tb^jtrea  Royal  to  Barns  andPvppet-sbows.  Not 
Ip^g^r  ago  than  the  year  1790^  it  was  played  at 
Barnstaple  in  Devonshire,  when  Macheatb  had 
but  0ne  €y€;  Polly  but  vne  arm;  the  songs  sup- 
ported in  the  orchestra  by  a  man  who  whistled  tp 
tli^  tunes^  whilat  the  Manager  cou|d  not  readv    ^ 

Mrs.  Pritchard,  in  one  of  her  summer  rambl^s^ 
went  with  a  large  party  to  see  *' The  Beggar's 
Opera"  at,  a  remote  cbui;itry  town,  where  it  ^as  ,so 
n>angled»as  to  render  it  almost  impossible  to  resi^l 
laugbingat^omepf  the  passages*  Mrs.  Pritchard^, 
perhaps,  njiight  havp  indulged  in^  this  too  muchi 
considering;  ppe^of  her  profession;  however,  sh? 
escape^,  ynnotice^  till  after  th?  end  of  the  pei^ 
fftrp[>aijc?;.  It  was  then  necessary  for  her  and  her 
company  to  crosis  the^tage  to  go  to  their  carfiages 
— ^The  only  Musician  who  filled  the  orchestra  hap- 
pened to  be  the  Manager,  and  having  no  other - 
:     ^.  way 


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way  of  fifaewing  Ids  revenge^ .  be  iramedmtely  $traeli 
up  the  opening  jtuucft-f  :    ..w 

f  Thipugbh^H  riw  ^yi^oy^w^^  «f  lift;, 

"  Eapb  n^khb^iur  abuses  his  brother."—*    *         ,  - 

This  had  such  an. effect  on  Hrs.JPritphard,  that 
she  felt  thj^  rehuke,  and  threw  prowdero  a  crown 
for  his  ,W,i^^^as.  wellj  as  a  tribute,  of  her  own.  hu- 
miliation. :.    ,    .  ' 

>       '       •. ,       i:  ..r;'    ^f.    '[    U   -f  '    . 
,.  M)Lxc^i:afi  ha^Jt^fjen  said  of  *;^Tjie  Beggar's  Oper 

fa/'  (ai;i(i,it  A  one  of  those  lucky,  l^ts  which  can- 
not  he  too  nmcjh^^jraisea^^  we,  fe.ar  the  representar 
tion  of  it  has  done  infij^^ltely  moTe  harm  than  good. 
It  is  difficult  to  raak'ejiji^ei:^  pf  wit,  and  a  refined 
way  of  thinking  a^ree  |:o  tlji^ .  because  they  see- 
the jut  of  it  clearly,  and  therefore  inlagine,  that  a^ 
a  satire,  it  has  its  effect  upon  the  follies  and  cor- 
ruptions 0|f  the;  tiwesj;  l^ut  they  will  notat.tlie 
same  time  ask  thenisejves,.  How  do  the  lower  glasses^ 
which  ,c9iinpo,se  an  audience,  feel  it?  Why,  .they 
see  nothing  but  the  splendour  and  gallantry  of 
^(lacheath,  and  the  yicesof  a  prison,  &c.  wh|ch 
are  all  rendered  so  familiar  as  to  wear  away  the 
real  deformjty;  heiice,  the  petty  thief  cqmea 
home  from  the  Opera  generally  with  having  bis 
ambition  whetted  to  rise  in  a  superior  style~he 
longs  for  his  Co  vent ,  Garden  ladies,  and  the  di- 
]ifersions  of  the  town^  as.  well  as  the  Captain;  but 

theii 


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54  iCEHdins  or 

then  he  must  wor)c  up  .to  that  situation  ^t^  uxd 
hence  his  industry  becomea-his^rtm.    ; 

But  in  quefstiww  of  this  sott,  facts  best  speak 
for  themselves:  the  late  Sir  John  Relding,  whose 
judgment^must  be  decisive  in  these  matters^  once 
told  the  late  Hugh  Kelly,  on  a  successful  run  of 
^'The  Beggar's  Opera,"  •*  that  he  expected  i 
freslV  cargo  of  highwaymen  in  consequence  it  his 
office;"  and,  upon, Kelly's  being  surprised  at  this; 
Sir  John  assured,  him,  "  that  ever  since  the  first 
representation  of  this  piece,  there  had  been,  on 
every  successful  run,  a  propbrtionate^  number  of 
higiiwayiTien  brought  to  the  offlct,  as  he  would 
shew  him  by  the  books  i'ny  morning  he  took  t]ie 
trouble  to  look  oyer  them. "'  K^elly  had  the  cu*- 
riosi'ty,  and  found"  the  observation  to  be  strictly 
true. '  /  '  ,  ' 

Perhaps  tlie  only  practical  good  this  Opera  may 
have  produced,  is  the  refinement  of  higltwaymenl 
MaeheAth  is  not  a  man  of  blood,  nor  do  we  find 
his  imitat(yr$  have  be^ti  so  savage  In  their  depre- 
dations as  before  this^  production;  The  above  is 
partlV  an  observation  bf  the  late  Mr.  Gibbon,  the 
Historian,  and'webdi6ve  well  founded.  ' 

Swift  attributes  ''the  unprecedented,  and  al- 
itiosl  incredible,  success  of  this  Opera  to  a  pecu-^ 
liar  merit  in  the  writing,  wherein^  what  we  call 

■     ''  th« 


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CHARLES   HACKLIK.  65 

the  point  of  humour  is  exactly  hit;  a  point  (he 
observes)  which,  whoever  can  rightly  touch,  will 
never  fail  of  pleasing  a  great  majority ;  and  which, 
in  its  perfection,  is  allowed  to  be  much  preferable 
to  wit,  if  it  be  not  the  most  useful  and  agreeable 
species  of  it.** 

We  cannot  close  our  observations  on  this  Opera, 

without  noticing  a  criticism  of  Dr.  Johnson's,  in 

answer  to  the  two  opinions  that  were  formed  of 

it  at  that  time.     The  one,   ^*  that  it  placed  all 

kinds  of  vice  in  the  strongest  and  most  odious 

light;"  and  the  other,  "as  giving  encouragement 

not  only  to  vice,  but  to  crimes,    by  making  the 

highwayman  the  hero,  and  dismissing  him  at  last 

unpunished.'* 

* 
"  Both  these  decisions  (says  Johnson)  are  sure* 

ly  exaggerated.     The  play,  like  many  others,  was 

plainly  written  only  to  dwert,  without  any  moral 

purpose^  and  is  therefore  not  likely  to  do  good ; 

nor  can  it  be  conceived,  without  more  speculation 

than  life  requires  or  admits,   to  be  productive  of 

niuch  eviU     Highwaymen  and  housebreakers  seldom 

frequent  the  playhouse^  or  mingle  in  any  elegant 

diversion ;  nor  is  it  possible  for  any  one  to  ima:- 

gine  that  he  may  rob  with  safety  because  he  sees 

Macheath  reprieved  upon  the  stage." 

With  great  deference  to  Dr.  Johnson's  general 
meritj^  we  believe  there  never  was  so  inconsiderate 

F  a  criticism 


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V 

66  MEMOIRS   OP 

a  criticism  dropt  from  the  pen  of  a  great  man; 
That  Gay  wrote  this  Opera  to  satirize  the  cour- 
tiers through  the  medium  of  ordinary  characters, 
both  the  songs,  as  well  as  the  dialogue,  evidently 
tell;  and  the  accounts  we  have  of  contemporary 
audiences  applauding  and  applying  particular 
passages  to  particular  per&ons,  are  additional 
proofs  of  it :  nay,  the  Court  itself  was  so  sensible 
of  the  satir^,  tjbat  khey  would  not  suflfer  the  Opera 
of  "  Polly"  to  be  represented,  (supposed  to  be  a 
counter^part  to  The  Beggar's  Opera,)  because 
they  dreaded  similar  effects, 

*'  That  highwaymen  and  housebreakers  seldom 
frequent  the  Theatres,"  is  another  error,  equaljy 
gross  as  the  former,  as  none  are  more  fond  of 
amusements  and  <tis;jipations  than  people  of  this 
descrtptiori :  they  fly  to  them' as  reliefs  from  thinks 
ing*;  and  such  an  opera  as  this  mm&t  doubly  ex* 
cite  their  attention,  from  their  being  better  ju(|ge^ 
of  its  merits.  . 

In  respect  to  Dr.  Johnson's  last  observation^ 
"  that  a  highwayman  will  not  be  induced  to  rob 
because  he  sees  Macheath  reprieved  on  the  stage,*' 
we  so  far  agree  with  him;  as  nothing  but  the 
grossest  ignorance  can  suJ>pose,  that  a  dramatic 
reprieve  is  equal  to  that  issuing  from  the  Crown : 
but;  the  character  of  Macheath  in  general,  pro- 
duces little  less  bad  effect,  as  his  gay,  spriglitly 

manners. 


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CHAHIES    MACKlIN.  ^f 

manners,  handsome  appearance,  his  being  beloved 
by  the  women,  and  looked  up  to  by  his  as3o<^iates, 
hold  oat  a  very  seducing  idea  of  the  character  to 
those  more  than  half  disposed  to  it  already,  frqpi 
their  ignbratrce,  idleness,  and  profligacy* 

,  On  the  whole,  'then,  \v&  cannot  hut  coneludfei 
that  the  Poet  wrdte  v/Hh  a  morai  purpose;  though 
we  believe,  at  t^e  siafm^  tfme,  it  unfortunately 
happens,  riiit  courtiers  are  not  in  ^general  sHamed 
by  the  satire,  nor  higlrtraymett  amendied  by  the 
representation.      .         -    j      ;     .      '■*   -n 

Harmg  now  fini'^hei  Wery  thing  we  lia*  tiS 
say  on  The  Beggar's  Opera,  W  retbrn*  toi  tik  Idfl 
of  MackKn,  a»nfd  his  con^J^pdfett^Si  ^ '   »      ' 

Macklin  always  paid  great  respect  to  the  merits 
of  this  performer.'  His  /b/^^d  was  in  the/ grave, 
dry,  humorous  parts  of  comedy,  w^ich  he  said 
he  played  better  tluiii  any  m^^u  be  ev^r  s^w.  He 
was  ftlwavs  in  eamtMt  with  -his  partf  aodd  to  see 
him  on  mt  stage,  hi  whaftever  chai*a<*ttrnie  ap- 
peared, he  guve  the  iinpfessi6n  of  it^ /feeing  so 
much  his  riatu'rat  tiirn,  ^that  he  entirely  los't  sight 
of  the  player. 

F  2  Johnson 


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0S  M£lIOia8   Of 

Johnson  was  an  extraordinary  actor.  Victor 
says  of  him,  that  be  *'  was  a  comedian  allowed  to 
have  the  sterling  vis  comica.  He  was  most  hap- 
pily adapted  to  all  the  characters  he  appeared 
in.  He  was  one  of  those  comedians  who,  like 
the  incomparable  Nokes,  could  give  life  to  many 
comedies  that  existed  only  by  Extraordinary 
performances*  Marose^  in  the  Sik$U  fVomanj 
wa^  one  that  died  with  this  great  acton  His 
steady  countenance  never  betrayed  the  Uast  symp- 
tom of  the  joke  he  was  going  to  give  utterance 
to.  His  deceut  mien  (never  exaggerated  by 
dress  or  conduct)  made  him  at  all  times  the  real 
m^VL  he  represented."  (History  of  the  Theatres^ 
Vol  II,  p.  63.)  Lil^e  the  late  Parsons^  of  Drury 
Lane  Theatre,  he  was  both  a  painter  and  an  actor^ 
He  died  Slst  July,  1742,  aged  77. 

Lloyd,   in  his  Poem  of  The  Actor,  speaks  of 
him  thus : 

Old  Johnson  opce,  tho'  Gibber's  perter  veip 
^ut  meanly  groups  him  with  a  numerous  train,  , 
"  With  steady  face,  and  sober,  hum'rous  mien, 
*  Piird  the  strong  outlines  of  the  comic  sc^ne; 
'  What  was  wfit  down,  with 'decent  utt'rance  spoke, 

Betray'd  no  symptom  pf  the  conscious  jokes 

The  very  man, in  look,  in  voice,  in  air ; 

And  though  upon  the  sfage,  appeared  no  player. 

The 


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CHARLES   MACRLIK.  69 

The  only  one  Macklin  could  compare  him  to 
on  the  modern  stage  was  the  late  Dick  Yates; 
but  he  was  mellower  than  Yates,  studied  his  parts 
more  accurately,  and  understood  more  of  the  sci- 
ence of  acting. 

Of  many  of  the  inferior  performers  he  used  to 
speak  with  the  veneration  of  the  laudatores  tempo- 
ris  acti,^  but,  upon  the  whole  of  the  various  con- 
versations with  him  upon  the  stage,  it  evidently  ^ 
appears,  that  it  has  been  much  improved  since 
his  time,  in  respect  to  scenery,  music,  decorations, 
and  general  business;  but  a?  to  principals  In  tra- 
gedy and  comedy,  it  is  but  too  evident,  wd  are  4t 
present  miserably  distanced. 


DERBT    CAPTAINS. 

A  Derby  Captain  being  a  phrase  much  used  by 
Farquhar,  and  other  comic  writers  of  his  day, 
Macklin  explained  it.  There  was  a  house  in 
Covent  Garden  for  many  years  remarkable  for 
selling  Derbyshire  ale,  which  was  cheaip,  and 
much  drank  at  that  time  by  the  neighboui-s,  and 
others  who  frequented  the  house.  The  long 
calm  which  succeeded  the  Peace  of  Utrecht;  re- 
duced a  great  number  of  officers  who  had  been 
in  the  Duke  of  Marlborough's  wars;  and,  as  they 
Md  but  a  scanty  provision  to  live  on,  those  who 

F  3  settled 


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70  MJiMOIRg   OF 

si€ttled  ia  London,  and  particularly  thoae  about 
th6neiglibourh9odx>f  Cov^nt  Garden,  found  great 
Conve»i4!nc6  in  frequenting  this  house;  which 
tb^y  did  in  time  to  the  amount  of  such  numbers^ 
that  they  were  called,  by  way  of  cant  name,  *'the 
Derby  Captains."  Macklin  ha§  often  drank  his 
pint  of  Derby  ale  here,  attd  used  to  tell  many  co- 
mical stones  of  his  countrymen  laying  siegQ  to 
tbe  widow  who  was  th^  mistress  of  the  house,  and 
who  was  supposed  to  be  very  -wealthy.  One  of 
tliepi  at  last  married  her,  and  kept  on  the  busi- 
ness several  years  afterwards. 

Coveut  Garden,  according  to  his -account,  was 

then  (from  the  year  I73O  to   1785)  a  scene  of 

much  dissipation ;  being  surrounded  with  taverns, 

night-houses,  and  brothels.     This,  and  the  vici^ 

nity  of  Clare  Maiket,  were  the  rendezvous  of 

niost  of  the  theatrical  wits,  who  were  composed 

of  various  orders.    The  ordinaries  of  that  day 

irere  from  6d.  to  Is.  per  head:  at  the  latter  there 

were  two  courses,  and  a  great  deal  of  what  the 

world  calls  good  coinpany  in  the  mixed  way. 

There  were  private  rooms  for  the  higher  order  of 

wits  and  Noblemen,  which  we  find  confirmed  in 

the  life  of  Dr.  Ratcliffe,.  where  much  drinliing 

was  occasionally  used.     Tlie  bjutchem  of  Clare 

^larket,  then  very  nuraerou$,  were  staunch  friends 

to  the  players;  and,  on  every  dread  df  ariot  or 

disturbance  in  the  house^  tlie  early  appearance  of 

^hose  formidabk  critics  m^de  an  awful  impression, 

Macklift 


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CHAELES    MACKLIN.  71 

Macklin  entered  into  all  these  eccentricities, 
and,  from  the  strength  of  his  constitution,  and 
unceasing  love  of  society,  rendered  himself  emir 
nently  dashing.  He  belonged  to  a  club  which 
held  a  weekly  dinner  at  St  Albans,  much  about 
this  time,  called  **  The  Walking  Society."  It 
mostly  consisted  of  the  performers  of  both  houses, 
who  piqued  themselves  on  their  walking,  and  who 
obliged  themselves  never,  on  any  account  what- 
soever, to  ride,  or  go  in  a  vehicle,  but  to  walk 
the  twenty  miles  backward  and  forward  the  same 
day.  This  club  generally  commenced  in  Passiou 
Week,  and  continued  till  the  end  of  the  theatri- 
cal  season.  Macklin  frequently  said  he  felt  no 
inconvenience  from  these  long  walks ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  he  believed  they  added  to  his  health. 
He  was  then  very  robust  in  his  constitution,  very 
active,  and  always  very  determined  in  point  of 
spirit.  - 

Tlie  manners  of  the  town  and  country,  he  said, 
were  very  distinct  at  that  period,  to  what  they 
were  towards  the  close  of  the  last  century.  A 
countryman  in  town  was  instantly  knowri  by  his 
dress  as  well  as  manners ;  the  almost  uniform  ha- 
bit being  a  complete  suit  of  light  grey  cloth  or 
drab  colour,  with  a  slouched  hat,  and  lank  hair. 
Few  persons  living  sixty  or  one  hundred  miles 
from  town,  ever  saw  London ;  and  even  the  coun- 
try shopkeepers,  >vho  lived  at  this  distance,  ge- 

F  4  nerally 


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72  liEMOlRS    OF 

netally  had  their  goods  seiit  them,  and  their  re- 
quests complied  ^th,  in  consequence  of  written 
orders.  i 

The  City  and  West  end  of  the  Town  keptequal 
distances.  No  Merchant  scarcely  lived  out  of 
the  ^rmer;  his  residence  was  always  attached  to 
his  counting-house;  and  his  credit  in  a  great  mea- 
sure depended  upon  his  observing  those  circum- 
stances. Macklin  remembered  the  first  emigration 
of  the  Merchants  from  the  City;  about  fifty  years 
ago,  was  to  Hattdn  Garden ;  but  none  but  men 
who  had  secured  a  large  fortune,  and  whose  cre- 
dits were  beyond  the  smallest  censure,  durst  take  ' 
this  flight  The  Lawyers,  too,  lived  mostly  in 
their  Inns  of  Court,  or  about  Westminster  Hall; 
and  the  Players  all  in  the  vicinky  of  the  two  Thea- 
tres. Quin,  Booth,  and  Wilks,  lived  almost  con- 
stantly in  or  about  Bow  Street,  Covent  Garden ; 
Colley  Cibber  in  Charles  Street;  Mrs.  Pritchard 
in  Craven  Buildings,  Drury  Lane ;  Billy  Havard 
in  Henrietta  Street;  and  Garrick,  a  great  part  of 
hrs  life,  in  Southampton  Street.  The  inferior 
Players  lived  or  lodged  in  Little  Russel  Street, 
Vinegar  Yard,  and  the  little  courts  about  the  Gar- 
den; ^*  and  I  myself,  Sir,  (added  the  veteran,) 
always  about  James  Street,  or  under  the  Piazzas : 
so  that  (continued  he)  we  could  be  all  mustered 
by  beat  of  drum;  could  attend  rehearsals  without 
any  inconvenience;  and  save  coach  hire;  no  in- 
considerable 


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CHARLES    MACKLIX.  73 

considerable  part,  let  me  tell  you,  of  a  former 
player's  annual  expences.  But  I  do  not  know  how 
the  change  has  been  effected ;  we  are  all  now  look- 
ing for  high  ground,  squares,  and  genteel  neigh- 
bourhoods ;  no  matter  how  far  distant  from  the 
Theatre,  which  should  be  the  great  scene  of  busi- 
ness; as  if  local  situations  could  give  rhythm  to 
the  profession,  or  genteel  neighbourhoods  instinc- 
tively produce  good  manners. 

**  The  audiences  then  had  their  different  com- 
plexion likewise :  no  indifferent  or  vulgar  person 
scarcely  ever  frequented  the  pit,  and  very  few 
women.  It  was  composed  of  young  Merchants 
of  rising  eminence,  Barristers,  and  Students  of  the 
Inns  of  Court,  who  were  mostly  well  read  in  plays, 
and  whose  judgment  was  in  general  worth  attend- 
ing to.  We  had  few  riots  and  disturbances:  the 
gravity  and  good  sense  of  the  pit  not  only  kept 
the  house  in  order,  but  the  players  likewise.  Look 
at  your  Prologues,  Sir,  ini  those  days,  and  in 
times  long  before  them ;  and  they  all  deprecate 
the  judgment  of  the  pit,  where  the  Critics  lay  in 
knots,  and  whose  favourable  opinion  was  constant- 
ly courted." 

Whilst  upon  this  conversation,  he  was  asked, 
^'  Well,  but,  Mr.  Macklin,  have  not  we  our  Cri- 
tics now  as  well  as  then?"  "  By  G — d,  Sir,  if 
you  >ave,  you  must  look  sharp  for  them ;  for  I 

don't 


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74  '  JtfkMOIRj>    OF 

doa't  know  where  they  are  to  be  found.  But  stop, 
let  me  see,  (pausing:)  O  yes,  Sir — there  are  a  few 
doers  of  Newspapers,  who  call  themselves  Critics, 
that  may  still  be  found  in  upper  boxes,  pigeon- 
holes, and  lurking-places;  but  their  criticisms  ne- 
ver come  out  in  the  pit,  or  in  the  lobby,  as  for- 
merly, when  the  play  was  over.  No,  Sir,  they 
reserve  them  for  the  Newspapers  of  the  next  day; 
where  they  come  out  in  columns^  Sir — columns^  of- 
ten as  disgraceful  to  truth,  as  they  are  ignorant 
of  the  rules  of  science." 

None 'but  people  of  independent  fortunes,  and 
nvoWed  rank  and  situation,  ever  presumed  to  go 
into  the  boxes ;  and  all  tlie  lower  part  of  the  house, 
laid  out  in  boxes,  were  sacred  to  virtue  and  deco- 
rum. No  man  sat  covered  in  a  box,  or  stood 
up  during  the  representation,  but  those  in  the 
last  row,  where  no  one's  prospect  could  be  inter- 
rupted. The  women  of  tlie  town  who  frequented 
the  pla}  houses  then  were  few,  (except  in  the  gal- 
leries,) and  those  few  occupied  two  or  three  upper 
boxes  at  each  side  of  the  house:  their  stations  were 
assigned  thern ;  and  the  men  who  chose  to  go 
and  badinage  with  them,  did  it  at  the  peril  of  their 
character.  ''No  boots  admitted  in  those  days, 
Mr.:  Mackliu— -No  box-lobby  loungers?" — *'No ! 
Sir,  (exclaimed  the  veteran;)  i^tithtx  boots,  spurs, 
or  horses — we  were  too  attentive  *'  to  the  cunning 
iof  the  scene"  to  be  interrupted,  and  no  intrusion 

of 


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Charles  macklin.  75 

of  this  kind  would  be  endured :  but,  to  do  those 
days  common  justice,  the  evil  did  not  exist:  rakes 
,and  puppies  found  another  vent  for  their  vices  and 
follies  than  the  regions  of  a  Theatre." 

.  Macklin,  as  we  have  before  observed  in  the  be- 
ginning  of  these  Memoirs,  was  early  in  his  reli- 
gious principles  bred  up  between  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic and  a  Presbyterian;  his  mother  being  of  the 
former  profession,  and  his  father  of  the  latter ; 
but  being  partly  educated  by  a  priest,  a  brother 
of  his  mother,  ^he  incHned  to  her  religion ;  and 
when  he  grew  up  to  man's  estate,  continued  it; 
as  much  as  a  man  may  be  said  to  belong  to  any 
religion,  who  was  so  careless  as  he  was  about  its 
ceremonies  and  injunctions.  He  became  a  con- 
vert to  Protestantism  about  the  age  of  forty,  from 
the  following  acciclt:nt. 

As  he  was  strolling  one  day  through  Lincoln's 
Inn  Fields,  he  saw  a  little  book  upon  a  stall  called 
"  The  Funeral  of  the  Mass."  This  book  struck 
him  from  tlie  singularity  of  its  title,  and  he  bought 
it  for  ninepence,  took  it  home  with  him,  and 
read  it  two  or  three  times  over  very  attentively; 
the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  he  deserted 
his  mother  thurch,  and  became  a  convert  to  the 
Protestant  religion.  "  And  so,  Sir,  (said  a  per-r 
son  present,  as  he  was  tetlHng  this  anecdote,)  yoq. 
ftr^  now,  I  suppose,  a  staunch  Protestant."  ''  Yes,- 

Sir, 


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76  MEMOIRS  or 

Sir,  as  staunch  as  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
and  on  as  pure  principles." 

At  what  particular  period  Mackliu  married^  .we 
don't  exactly  know.  It  might  be  supposed  that 
it  was  between  the  years  1734  and  17S6;  as  we 
find  Miss  Macklin,  his  eldest  daughter  by  that 
marriage,  playing  so  early  as  1742,  the  Duke  of 
York  in  Richard  the  Third,  when,  in  all  probabi- 
lity, she  must  be  at  least  six  or  eight  years  old. 
Mrs.  Macklin's  maiden  name  was  Grace  Purvor; 
she  M'as  the  early  and  humble  friend  of  Miss  Saint- 
lowt,  afterwards  Mrs.  Booth;  and  we  believe  tht 
friendship  continued  till  the  death  of  the  former. 
Macklin  used  to  tell  some  little  anecdotes  relative 
to  this  courtship,  and,  amongst  the  rest,  the 
followino:. 


'o* 


His  Grace  John,  Duke  of  Argyle,  who  was  a 
great  Patron  of  the  Theatre  and  principal  Perfor- 
mers, Mas  a  visitor,  amongst  many  other  persons 
of  high  fashion,  that  used  to  call  upon  Mrs.  Booth, 
both  during  her  husband's  life-time,  and  after  his 
death,  t*  In  these  visits  I  perceived,  (said  Mack- 
lin,) or  thought  I  perceived,  he  cast  a  hawk's  eye 
on  Miss  Purvor.  Now,  Sir,  as  I  meant  Jtonour- 
ably  by  her,  I  thought  I  had  a  right  to  explain 
myself  on  that  Subject:  so.  Sir,  the  next  time  his 
Grace  called,  I  took  that  opportunity  to  tell  him, 
that  r  was  afraid  he  was  my  riv^l,  and  in  that 

ease 


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CHARLES   MAC  KLIN.  77 

cas^  there  was  room  for  a  great  deal  of  fear;  but 
that  as  I^  meant  to  make  her  my  wife,  if  I  could 
obtain  heiv  consent,  (which  I  was  sure  he  would 
not,)  therefore  I  hoped  his  Grace  would  not  in- 
terrupt the  union."  The  Duke  took  this  remon- 
strance with  hb  usual  good  breeding  and  afTabi-^ 
lity ;  ajssured  him,  he  would  be  one  of  tl^  last 
men  to  interrupt  his  happiness;  and  afterwards 
dropt  coming  to  the  house  till  Macklin  was  mar^ 
ried. 

This  marriage  was  very  profitable  to  Mackltni 
and  we  believe  in  other  respects  very  accommoda- 
ble.  It  must  be  confessed,  i$he  **  had  a  hard 
ruled  husband  to  manage,"  from  the  temporary 
intracticableness  of  his  temper;  but  having  no. 
inconsiderable  fund  of  good  nature  at  bottom^ 
with  upright  intentions,  from  all  that  ye  can 
learn  of  their  union,  it  was  tolerably  happy.  He 
submitted  a  gpod  deal  to  her  in  stage  matters; 
and  her  advice,  no  doubt,  often  cooled  the  sud-^ 
den  intemperance  of  his  passions. 

Of  what  value  she  was  estimated  on  the  The^ 
tre,  may  be  collected  from  sopae  old  ?tage  anec- 
dotes* In  1748,  the  elder  Sheridan  engaged  them 
both  to  perform  in  Dublin,  at  the  very  consider- 
able salary  of  tight  hundred  poun^  per  annum  for 
two  years;  but  this  extravagant  engagement  never 

was 


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78  MEMOIKS    OF 

was  finished,  owing  to  the  dissentions  between 
the  Actor  and  Manager. 

•  The  principal  parts  which  Mrs.  Macklin  wa^ 
remark-able*  for,  were  Lappet  in  The  Miser,  Lady 
Wrangle,  Lady  Wrolighead,  tlie  Nurse  m  Romea 
and  Juliet,  and  in  "all  characters  of  that  com-* 
plexfon.  She  was  beiide,  according  to  her  hjis*' 
.band*s  account,  a  woman  of  much  reading,  good 
strong  sense,  and  knowledge  of  the  world.  She 
excelled  likewise  in  narration^  particularly  in  sto- 
ries of  dry  humour,  which  she  told  so  well,  and 
with  so  little  affectation  of  any  merit  in  the  tel- 
ling, that  old  Cibber  to  the  last,  used  to  look  in 
upon  them  of  an  evening  to  gossip  with  her^^  and 
hear  her  anecdotes,  which  he  always  listened  to 
with  pleasure,  and  repaid  with  applause. 

*When  Macklin  succeeded  Theophilus  Cibber 
a»  Prime  Minister  to  Mr.  Fleetw'ood  in  Drury 
Lane  Theatre,  his  experience,  his  advice,  and  hu* 
mility,  so  gained  upon  the  Manager,  wlib  did  not 
know  much  orthe  great  task  he  was  engaged  in, 
that  he  stood  forward  as  his  principal  adviser  and 
director  in  afl  tlieatrical  matters.  By  these  meatfa 
he  gained  an  opportunity  of  shewing  himsdf  ill 
many  chai^acters,  which  his  rank  and  standmg 
otherwise  would  not  have  entitled  him  to:  some 
of  these,  no  doubt,  gained  him  consicJerable  and 
deserved  applause;  others,  we  think,  must  have 
3  sunk 


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CHARLES    MACKLIN.  7?) 

Sunk  him  in  the  opinion  of  good  judges ;  saich  as 
his  Mercntio,  Lord  Foppington,  and  others  of 
tbis  cast;  for  at  no  time  of  life  could  Macklin's 
figure,  taste,  or  natural  vivacity,  bear  him  out 
in  such  characters.  He  wa«  judicious  enough,  it 
is  true;  assiduous,  ajud  well  studied ;  but  he  must 
have  wanted  the  peculiar  felicity  of  ea^lbition^ 
xrithout  which  the  true  impressions  of  a  charac* 
ter  can  never  be  brouglit  forward.  Even  in  his 
Sir  John  Brute  (which  we  liave  often  seen  him 
in,  and  which  was  reckoned  in  tl>e  catalogue  of 
his  strong  parts)  he  wanted  mellowness  and  soft- 
ness :  instead  of  the  dissipated  and  surly  Gentlemm^ 
it  was  rtie  iU-manner^d  brutish  Mtchank,  in  the 
habit  of  getting  drunk  every  night  at  the  ale- 
house, and  on  his  return  beating  his  wife:  the 
poet,  no  doubt,  has  draM^n  the  character  coarse 
enough;  but  still  Sir  John  Brute  is  a  gentleman 
from  his  birth  and  education,  though  **  shorn  of 
his  manners,"  by  his  love  of  drinking,  and  the 
indulgence  of  ill  temper.  Garrick,,  with  that  ad- 
mirable art  which  rendered  him  so  justly  pre-emi- 
nent above  his  fellows,  caught  the  true  spirit  of 
this  character — ^by  giving  a  softer  shade  to  all  its 
vices  and  irregularities,  without  once  losing  sigWt 
of  the  original.  :         ' 

Though  MackKn's  inthnacy  ^vith  the  Manager 
opened  the  way  to  his  profession  with  more  raj^ 
dity    than    otherwise  he^  could   have: done,    he 

was 


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dO  IIEM0IR8    OF 

near  paying  very  dear  for  this  in  anather 
line.  Fleetwood,  as  it  is  well  known,  though 
originally  a  man  of  large  fortune,  had,  by  his  ex- 
cesses and  imprudences,  (amongst  which  his  turn- 
ing Manager  may  perhaps  be  a  principal,)  about 
this  period,  became  so  considerably  involved  in 
debt,  that  he  made  no  scruple  of  obtaining  money 
or  security  from  every  body  he  could.  Though 
conscious  of  his  incapacity  to  repay  any  sums  he 
borrowed,  he  still  borrowed  on ;  his  best  friends 
were  no  exceptions  to  his  arts;  an.d  Mack- 
Jin,  though  so  near  falling  a  victim,  perhaps 
for  ever,  to  his  deceptions,  often  used  to  say,  th^^t 
the  person^  the  address,  the  manners,  and  soliciia^ 
tions^  of  Fleetwood,  when  under  the  necessity  of 
borrowing,  appeared  so  artless,  so  unpractised, 
and  so  delicately  embarrassed,  as  made  his  attacks 
irresistible;  and  none  but  those  who  had  repeated 
experience  of  his  merely  acting  this  part,  could 
escape  his  solicitations. 

He  had  often  borrowed  small  sums  of  Miacklin, 
such  as  twenty  or  thirty  pounds  at  a  time,,  with- 
out ever  repaying  him,  bu^  frequently  mentioning 
his  obligations,  and  assurance  of  repayment* 
**  These  sums,  (said  the  veteran,)  sometimes  bor- 
rowed from  me  after  a  snug  benefit  night,  and 
sometimes  after  a  lucky  run  of  play,  (for  I  was 
a  gambler.  Sir,  at  that  time,)  I  did  not  much 
mitid  to  press  him  for;  considering  them  as  nest 


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CHAELES  MACKllK«  M 

iggs  ill  his  bands,  and  a3  a  kind  of  secil/i^  far 

,  my^  eirgageni^tsi  at  bis  Theatre/ which  ^Y^^ 

that  time  were  considerable:  but  I  soon  found, I 

Was  a  chicken  in  point  of  worldly  knaMed|g;(  to 

nay  Chief:  whibt  I  thought  I  was  trenchtngr^i^ 

self  in  my  i>rofi^§ion/  he  wa»  plotting  my;  rui^ 

not  that  he  had  any  particalar^ant}pc^thy;^<^:nie^ 

Sir;  far  from  it;  but  somebody  wa?  to  sayefhim 

from  a  temporary  embarrassment,    and   I  wae 

found  to  be  the  most  convenient  scap^'geaC"  > 

—     ■  .  '  •  ■       ■    ,    ■      '  ^       -.   .,f' 

Tliefactwa^,  that  Flj?etwood,   finding  himsetf 

hard  pressed  for  a  considerable  sum  of  nfone}^ 

for  which  he  mu$t  either  go  to  prison,  or  give 

security,  prevailed  upon  Macklin^  in  me  6f  those 

irresistible  hours  of  solicitation^   to  become  \m 

bondsman :  the  sum,  we  believe,  was  no  less-  than- 

three  thousand  pounds.  ,  .       ' 


MaCkliB  spoB  saw  his  ^i^r;  hut  it  wa*  toOjiate 
to  remedy  it:  he  found- the  Manager  pk»ngi«g,it»- 
to  difiiculties  more  and  mdre  every  day,  iind  &<»- 
sequently  saw  less  hopes  6f  hii*  being  enafeled  ft> 
tjike  up  this  bond.  Full  of  these  glocwy  recep- 
tions, he  went  down  to  Bristol',  to  perform  the 
summer  afterwards;  M'hen,  towards  the  close  of 
the  season,  hearing  sonfe  fresh  anecdotes  of  Fleet-* 
wtJod's  eitAarrassment,  he  resolved,  oti  his  return 
to  London,  to  make  dne  desperate' plishtcf  dlseii- 
,  ,         O  "     [^     gage 


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68  UtU^M  Of  :  ' 

gage  hi*»elf  from  aft  affair  wbich  veiy  seriottsfy 
meBaced  the  futupe  liberty  of  bis  liffe. 

*  '  U^on  hi«  Vetarn  to  Londot^,  lie  bcuJ -settted  his 
TiJatiof  o^ratiott,  ^fc^hkh  wai  either  to  frighten 
^Sft- Manager  so  a$  to  get  himsdf  rel^seel  from  hi» 
WcJuHty,  {if  that  wa»  possible  amongst  his  frietwis 
at  that  time,)  or  to  break  all  squares  with  him, 
>ftnd  seek  bis  redress  at  law.  In  conformation  to 
the  first  plan,  on  his  arrival,  he  called  at  the  Ma- 
nager's house,  where,  being^told  he  was  attend- 
ing the  late  Frederick  Prince  of  Wales:  in  vicw- 
Jf^fhe  curiosities  of  Bartholomew  Fair,  he  hasten- 
4wl -iiristantly  to  the  spot,  and  felt  b,  presmfiviint^ 
that  thi^  very  circumstance  might  turn  out  to  his 
^dvantnge** 

When  he  had  got  to  Bartholomew  Fair,  he 
soon  discovered,  his  Manager,  who  was  accompa- 
nying the  Prince  and  his  mke  by  toi^h4ight  to 
the  several  booths^  Here  he  assumed  the  actw^ 
imd  calling  up  as  much  terrm^  and  alarm  into  his 
&ce  as  he  could,  pulled  the  Manager 'fey  the 
-sleeve,  dJ&d  told  him,  ."  he  must  &peak  with  liinu" 

Fkcitvood. 

*  At  thU  period^  the  drolls  of  BartholoratwFair  coBtinued  for 
t^ree  or  four  w^eks;  and  it  was  not  tboi^ht  beoeMii  tbe  amuse- 
I^QDts  o(  many  of  the  highest  raoj^  and  fashion  to  see  the  humours 
of  this  pl^ce,  where  broad  laugb^  the  varieties  of  life,  and  some- 
^mes  the  buds  of  genius,  were  particularly  displayed.  .  It  was 
here  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Pritchard  gave  the  first  speciment  of 
h«r  admirable  talents  for  the  stage.  r 


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-^■VWiat^s  thcmatter?  -  oj    ;u./     •.  A-   vj.r.     -.vJ. 

jS/ad:/m.^^Matter  fitttnigikl  ^kiitifyitind  sdm^ 
ingfy  t6tryielL)\.  1  Iki^  jost  bnokeiMt  of  Bris^ioil 
jaU^  where!  bidUeve  I  haJ^lcMledithrjaiMr  in^iny 
letoape,  alnd  liBrc-i^ati;'^;'^<  >  <Ji  u-xji/  '»''^'  ;')!•  Vi-^'t 

FAettwood. — My  rfearyriew^i  rmifcelurtity  «0i^ 
for  this  accklcotj  hmi:h(f^\(Mi  i>f^Ueve^^^^t 

-^4flrcA/m.— Sir,  I  have  no  time  to  trifle — Iiwas 
put  into  Bristol  jail ibr! a) snail ^sliiir^'J^Oltirsd  on 
;py  wifo>ideln9GTj,/iand  lh?i(ioiikc*>j|^^  bad 

86II300,  .  Obi^is  situation  I  received  a  letter  from 
the  holders  of  the  bond,  for  which  I  am  security 
foffiyoui^^demandjng^fdyment;:  or  thtreartetin  j^me 
with/  iinpHsonmeiit:^  ^\i4udii!  jifu^kntHvt  n)iffg<  ^to  a 
man  ib.  myn  cirdomstances,  be  >!&>  in^ritotfmeift 
for  Ufcn4l  ikmt6oxtlbiQWjv^\2Mi^i^ 
be  rcleittcdfnorii^niy  himdin  i^i^t^  '\ow5i  '^o  i^Jo,^! 

pose  yourself;  I  will,  in  a  little  time,  do  every 
Ithyig  in  wy  poirieiDtolrdiotieyott;'^/  i  >   -  J.  .  t 
^  4^A/iu.-n-Ii0fin't  inaitjt  by  0w;djifiit;Hl|;iiiiu$it 
J^e'dcm^.tjiitandjr,!  Qf^Fil**4-^iA.    ^^hrDiVi   -jj;!;!  t 

$ider  tite;Pnpce  is  jul5til>efore-iwJ  tnd  i  ahoulillbt 
fUimd  if  fae  shbidil  owfhear  tbis^  c^ v«Mitk>nJ  ^  ^  «i 
Mficktin;  y(jkemikgty^ i  «^  iwi  ino^eSsed  ^f^gi,'}-^ 
J>^VLt  tdllwmetof  Priiiocf  or  Eiflp^wi»<j*ulcl  ^o* 
D-^J*  .iitouitiiavpftfciBiaifaliiiifcettleiikltaji^^  ot 
ni  blow  ye«4  tifyadf,  tiwrktt  to  the  I>^  *; 

G  2  "     ,  Fleetxvood. 


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Mac  J  my  deer  MaCy  compose  yoursdf  a  iSWrir. 
Ever^  vthii^  \steil^  W,  Justt^A  dir^tly,  NoW^  da 
igfttht)me;sMd  Jmeit  nw^  at^^i^IBiifec^  ofG^^tsin 
'0am  Mwk^.i)&sliiB^i^^  and  ,^©u 

may  depend  upon  it  every,  thit^diianise.  settled 
^y<?Dul-ij5ati«factiobV.:  ;vx\  , ,  v        _,       ,      , 
JIfiK*//#i.rrr!Nc^  triflings  Sirf  Can  I  depend  ok 

iioi^-fti^^^i-rMoifciC^tftmlyr  /  i  1  i^l  o:  .  ..j.j 
f ) r  MO(^^^''rM^\v  Siiv '  I'U  gp w  yoii  Ae  nieetitJgfL 

rv  -;.  :o'.  J  ^^L  .'/■  V.     1  .^^.-^^ :-..:  .[E^citlMackliii.^ 

0 li .We ; :baw Ahiiown  the :  above  iconve^tion ' i tdh 
^laBogatyif  ftMJtithejpiirpiaBfevof  hetter  ekiciclaUt% 
jtlWiitii^oiiqM-WJkeris:  it:i$!itt.flab$tanx:e  vrfiat  wfe 
(JtaMmftenJ^einiiirji^  anbiiaddHby  diose 

looks  of  ttrror  and  alimm^^  wUoiivnb  imsm^icduM 
•a«W)nijfe^l?6i'|g^ttean,liifnffetf;^   Jf .  i/  -,  ;      *    >\ 

Fleetwood  waso^imetbalota  iiii&iproiiirsie;  '^mid 
A0Wigbt;i»^t^birtj^  ai  bi»i^^oisfc|mi^ticuiaVafl^^^^ 
timate  friends,  Mr>r-^itfdst,;  tbt  Solid torp'Mi*!. 
^yaj^  Afi^^Eiul Whitirfaekdi fchd Poet,  v ^Sfecklin 
4dldlb<ft!€*^,>n»^b*^h^iti  ^dJactjwajs  a  piiiabfe  ,om; 
butiidiwkfvtiae^  ^iaggeratbas  tetfidai^  adtbi,' md* 
e^T^-^^m^.i^.,M}^\  OfmyAny^i  hutrFI^petnibbiV^^feel 
fi^r ,  bU  >i^wtiki^»j;  ihep  bowiByfer^vjheard  ilhhri  Vi{£ 
gre^t[^see*Mrtg  ^^omiyteraifen^  aind  Ithdb  dsktA 
him  to  f>oUf  ©Ut  apjllitfe^he'cauld  possibly  "assist 
.^-    -     r.  I'  ' '  him 


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CHARtES    MAiJKLfN.  8^ 

him  m.  To  this  Mackliri  replied,  '*  thst  K  he ' 
could  any  >^ay  get  him  telea«(rtl  from  the  bond, ' 
the  5janl  he  oweii  in  Bristol  wae  riot  above  thirty^ 
pounds,  which,  perhaps,  he*  Could  bor#ow, '  s^  asf^ 
to  regain  his  Hberty;  and  as  to  the  jailof^ 'Hl^byy' 
Sir,  (said  he,)  we  have  hitherto  been  upon  such 
intimate  terins,  that  if  the  fellow  happen?  to' be 
more  frightened  than  hurt,  I  myself  will  becmtte» 
his  surgeon."  '  i      » 

•    ■       I  ■  •  ■  •  r 

To  this  Fleetwood  could  make  iifo  reply;- but 
putting  his  hand  to  his  bead,' and  resting  it  on' 
the  table,  seemingly  in  great  agony  of  mind,  re- 
mained sotne  minutes  in  this  situation.  At  lasty 
Paul  Whitehead  broke  silence^  and  asked  Mack- 
Kn,  ^^  Wliether  his  being  released  from  the  bond, 
\^oy}d  perfectly  content  him  ?'*  Macklin  ans^ered^' 
"  Most  certainly." — **  Why  then  (said  Paul^  you 
^hall  be  contented,  for  I  myself  will  stand  in  your 
shoes,  and'  be  responsible  for  thefdebt.  'Mr.  For* 
rest,  (said  he,  turning  to  him,)  will  you^be  so 
good  as^  to  call  upon  the  lenders  tO-ii&brrdW,  ^ac-J 
qutiint  'them  /of  thi^'  cii^cumstandt,  and;  i^t  MrJ 
Macklin  be  reteased  from  all  bis  engdgfertierifer  /, 

Fleetwood,  liearing  *  this,  =itiimediat<^ly^  'sfftuftg 
from  iiis  teverie,  and  throwing  his  arms  aboirf 
the  neck  of  Whitehead,  *ed  fears — ^^c^lled-feiirf 
his  friet>d— 4iis'  savidu^-^^i'^prbtedtor,'  -k'^.'^'icc) 
^*  By  QHpdy  -  (said  thfe  vete»ran;  ^^iii*  tdliiigtl^ii  ato^' 
'^-  G  3  ry,) 


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ry,)  I  meter  ^fc^w"  ** JintiSr  pwee  of  actjngiAmy 
lile :  how'^v^r^  it;  w^  a  rw^iVy  to  me;  for  I  never 
firft  $i>  happy Jjeft)?!?;,  ib^pmucK  :t}iat  I  got  dwnk 
vnth^  t]i#n^  atid  kept  ■  it  up  tUl  six;  o'qlqck  in  the 

vEvfi^  rt^iftg  wa$  stttlbd  the  nfext  day  as  White*. 
hfia4  iftteiitJ^^j  the  creditors  Arere  very  glad  to 
exchange  the  Actor  for  the  Poet;  as  the  latter, 
beside  his  lands  in  Parnassus,  had  a.good  substan^ 
ti^l  fortune,  with  his  wife  of  ten  thousand  pounds  ; 
vbereas  Macklin.  (though  alwayi  having  the  cha- 
r^ter  of  an  honest  taan)  ^  was  an  itinerant  actor^ 
v^o  h*ing  loose  i^pon  society ;  and,  though  hi$ 
seourlfy  ^^as  better  than  Fleetwood's  in.  point  of 
primipk^  their  means  of  dischargbig  su<ih  a  debt 
^%  three  thousand poitnds^  were  pretty  nearly  eqnsh 

,  It  tVOuB  be  iiyustice  to  the.  memory  oifP^wl 
Whitehead,  to  p^ss  over  this  circunastbnee  withr 
^t  $Qme  O.lNervation  on  the  fact,  4s  VfeU  a§  o^ 
th«t  of  :bift  general  character.  Prudence.  w©tiii4 
b^ve ,  «(Liggest9d  to  mosA  men, .  that, .  botf evep>urT 
gent i^Vi  ileniftp^, ftf  fricipd3bi|> J*ieie^  sUQh.ai  sum 
as  three  thousand  pounds^  would  be  sufficient  to 
Bi#ke  them  Cp»sider  whatdntie^/ith^y^^rst  p\te(]i 
|o  .thcBi^sdyes,  iiwA  i'^y^\\t%  -Itw^^  pot  ^nth^ 
f?ase,i  Jike.wL^e,,  the  inerely  bQ^<«Xii^'  ^e^rity, 
(wbich  with,  re^onsil>lt-miqn,Wpul(Jf]lMi^-^tte;^r  4(^ 
i)^}^  )  l(>u t  such  ar  Becuf^ty  y^^  je^jj^l.  tq\  ^pyi^inal 


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CHAIILES   MACKLIK,  87 

aad  sole  obUgatioQ  to  pay  the  wbola  of  the  debt: 
as  Fleetwood  was  not  only  well  knowii,*  at  this 
tinie^  to. be  ruined  in  bis  affairs,  but,  to  those  M'ho 
looked  nearer  into  tli^  man,  to  be  as  unwilling  as 
incapable  of  taking  any  pains  to  reniedy  them. 
It  is  true,  be  was  early  known,  to  have  the  most 
amiable  virtues,  with  manners  and  an  address  that 
charmed  every  company  lie  joined;  his  large  and 
extensive  fortune  set  those  high  qualifications  in 
their  proper  lustre;  and  the  name  of  Fleetwood 
was  produced  to  announce  the  liberal,  accom^ 
plisbed,  high-bred  man  of  fashion:  but  his  extra*- 
vaganqe  sapped  his  virtues,  till  by  degrees  they 
were  changed  to  their  opposite  extremes;  and 
the  remainri^  powers  of  his  mind  and  accomplish- 
saents,  only  seemed  to  be  exerted  for  every  base 
and  disgracefiil  purpose. 

In  such  a  situatioD  Paul  Whitehead  stood;  but 
be  did  not  then  know  the  whole  of  his  danger* 
He  knew  his  friend  was  distressed  in  his  circum- 
stances ;  but  hi  thought,  from  his  situation  and 
high  connections,  it  would  be  but  temporary;  he 
was  Hkewise  solemnly  assured  so  by  his  friend;  and 
to  an  un8(usp£ctmg,  generous  heart,  we  must  give 
thi?  belief  the  name  of  r/Wwe.  The  fact,  it  is  true, 
was  otherwise;  but  not  knowing  it,  the  principle 
}ie  acted  upon  was. prai seaworthy;  and  Macklin, 
who  often  told  the  manly,  open,  unreserved  mam* 
^r  in  y^kif^k  it  WftS  done,  said,  he  wbhcd  it  Was 
r  G  4  any 


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88  MEMOIRS  07   ' 

a6y  Other  m^n  who  took  the  rcsipoMibility  on  him- 
self tlian  Paul:  **  But,  Sir,  (said  he,)  every  man 
will  save  himself  from  riiin,  if  lie  c^;  and  I  was 
glad  of  any-  opportunity  to  accomplish  it'* 

Po(M- Whitehead  J  however,  paid  heavily  for^iis 
generosity.  Fleetwood  went  on  from  one  diffi- 
culty to  another,  till  at  last  his  Ssituation  was  such, 
that  he  had  no^  alternative  but  flight:  he  accord- 
ingly setoff  for  France,  leaving  his /rieu4  ^^ith 
innumerable  other  creditors,  to  shift  for  them- 
selves; totally  regardless  of  any  other  consequence 
than  his  own  immediate  safety. 

The  bond,  after  Fleetwood's  esjcjqc^e,  was  soon 
demanded;  and  as  Whitehead  had  by  this  tin»e 
spent  part  of  his  wife's  fortune,  .and  had  the  rest 
locke4  up  from  his  interference,  he  was  unable  to 
pay  *  :such  a  sum :  the  consequence  was,  he  was 
thrown  into  prison,  -where  he  lay  for  seveial  years. 

How  he  behaved  under  this  embarrassment,  has 
been  as  creditable  to  his  life  as  bis  memoiy.-  To 
be  betrayed  in  the  first  instanpe  by  a  man  to  whom 
he  gave  his  full  confidence,  and  for  a.  sum  of  mo- 
jiey  that  threatened  to  make  him  a  prisoner  for 
lifp,  would  have  thrown  most  people  into  a  state 
pf  desporidence,  or  unfitted  them  for  the  society 
of  meh,  Avhom  they  might  indiscrirriinately  arraign 
^''inpnsters  and  betrayers.    But  thi$.  was  not  the 


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CHARLSa  MACKLIK.  89 

ease  with  Whitehead :  he  bore  it  with  a  €rmne$s 
and  philanthropy .  which  at  oace  surprised  and 
-coniforted  his  friends :  he  coosidered  it  as  one  of 
the  unavoidable  accidents  of  life;  he  attached  no 
blame  to  any  body ;  and  it  is  recorded^  on  the 
testimony  of  all  those  who  visited  him  6n  this  oc-» 
casion,  (and  by  Matklin  amongst  the  rest,)  that 
he  never  onee  uttered  a  disrespectful  word  against 
the  man  who  treated  him  in  i^  treacherous  a 
manner. 

Whitehead  carried  this  antiable  disposition  with 
him  to  the  graVe;  as  has  been  emphatically  inr 
scribed  on  his  toml>st0n6  by  an  old  friend  in  the 
following  lines; 

Here  lies  a  man  ipisfortane  could  not  bend; 
Prais'd  as  a  poet — honor'd  as  a  friend  ; 
Though  his  youth  kiridled  with  the  love  of  fame, 
Within  his  bosom  glow'd  a  brighter  flame: 
Whene'er  bb  friemis  witb>  sharp  affliction  \Aedf 
*  And  from  the  wounded  deer  the  herd  Was  fied  V 
Whitehead  stood  fosth' — the  healing  balm  apply'd, 
Nor  quitted  jheir  4i8tresses  till  he  died. 

Mac^in  being  freed  from^aHpeCuniary  engage- 
ments with  his  Manager/  found  himself  more  at 
liberty  to  look  after  the  theatrical  concerns  of  the 
Company,  which  at  ihh  time  Fleetwood  entirely 
committed  to  his  dare.  In  this  pursuit  he  did  not 
peglect  his  own  reputation.  He  Veiy  property 
considered  he  was  then  in  a  situation,  which,  by 

assiduity 


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90  /::  liEUOlT^  OP 

asdduit^  anH/enterprizey  might  add  something  ta 
his  rising  fame  as  aH  acter,  which  at  no  other 
time  of  his  life  before  he  had  such  an  opportunity 
«f  attempting;  and  that  ^*  there  was  no  Jucky 
mill  lite  ^ter  the  j^r^t  opportunity/'  He  ther^- 
fcMte  caist  about  in  his  rnind^  what  n^w  part  he  should 
adopts  and  to  this  purpose  ciai^uUy  loolj:ed  om 
the  ^tock  list,  as  well  as  several  obsolete  plays,  to 
find  out  one  whicb^he  thought  ^ppopdate  to  liis 
own  powers  and  conception. 

*  Cliance  present^  ^^The  Merchant  of  Venice'^  to 
Im  notice,  %vhicb,  however^  strangle  liow  to  coit* 
ceive,  had  kid  upon  thcr^heif  since  the  year  1701, 
to  make  room  for  an  ^Iteration  from  the  same  play 
by  Lord  Lansdowiie,  called  "The  Jew  of  Venice;" 
in  which  the  Celebrated  Dbgget  performed  the  Jezv 
almost  in  the  style  of  broad  farce.  Macklin  saw 
this  part  with  other  eyes;  and,  very  much  to  the 
credit  of  his  taste  and  understanding,  as  well  as 
a  proper  estimation  of  his  own  powers,  he  found 
he  could  build  a  reputation  by  reviving  the  origi- 
nal of  Shakespeare,  and  playing  the  character  of 
Shy  lock  in  axlifferent  msm^ier.  The  attempt  was 
arduous,  and  subject  to. many  miscarriages^  ami 
in  particular  to  public  prejudice}  but  a  conscipusi- 
ncss  of  being  right  will  generally  give  great  con* 
Udence — Macklin  felt  this  consciousness,  aftd:W*s 
4etennihed  on  tlie  trial.    .  ] 


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CHARGES   MACKI.IN.  91 

As  soon  as  resolved,  be  comrauniGatcd  his  dc*« 
sign  to  the  Manager,  who  gave  his  consent  to 
bringing'  it  out  merely  as  a  feriyed  piece,  Vhjch 
might  bring  money  to  the  treasury.  The  play 
vas  therefore  announced  to  be  in  preparation;  and 
Macklln,  who  always  loved  the  character  of  ii 
Theatrical  DrUl  SerjeafU^  ndw  entered  into  it  with 
all  his  heart  and  mind^  by  casting  the  parts  him-k> 
self,  ordering  frequent  rehearsals,  &c.  &c.  hut 
when  he  came  to  affix  to  himself  the  character  of 
Shylocky  and  intimated  his  design  to  play  it  seri* 
Qudy^  the  laugh  was  universal. — His  best  friends 
shook  their  heads  at  the  attempt ;  whilst  his  rivals 
chuckled  in  secret,  and  flattered  him  with  ideas 
of  success^  the  surer  to  work  o^t  hisi  destruction* 

His  keen  observation^  and  auspicious  tempei; 
dearly  saw  the  train  that  was  laying  for  him, 
which  he  not  onlj  seemingly  qverlooked,  but  so 
far  assisted,  that^  a^  every  rehear^V  whilst  heenr 
joined  the  rest,  of  th?  perforraera  to  do  their  best, 
he  himsdf  played  both  under  his  voice  ainl  gene- 
ral powers,  carjsfully  reserving  his  fire  till  the  night 
of  representation. ;  His  fellow  performers  were, by 
this  conduct  completely  trapped,  insomuch  thji^ 
many  of  them  i\yvcvf  off  ^1  j-eserve,  and  p^bli^y 
said,  '^  Tbat^  tliis  hot-headed,  qon^reited  Irisbm^ni 
who  had  got  some  little  reputation  in  a  few  parts, 
had  now  availed*  himself  of  the  Man^ger'sfi^ouri 
jto  being  himself  and  the  Theatre  into  disgrace." 

Fleetwood 


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92  '   MEMDIES   OF        '^ 

Heietwood  heard  this,  and  seriously  applied  to 
Macklin  to  give  lip  the  part:  but  the  latter  was 
too  conscious  of  his  own  excellence  to  lose  such 
Hn  opportunity:  He  frankly  told  the  Manager, 
/*'that  he  was  deceiving  a  set  of  men  who  envied 
Kim ;  but  that  he  would  pledge  his  life  on  the  sue- 
cfess  of  the  play;  and  that,  in  the  end,  it  would 
be  highly  serviceable  to  them  both." 

The  long-expected  night  at  last  arrived,  and 
the  House  was  crowded,  from  top  to  bottom,  with 
the  first  company  in  to\Yi\.  Tlie  two  front  rows 
of  the  pit,  a^  iisual,  were  full  of  critics,  **  Who, 
Sir,-  (iaid  the  veteran,)  I  eyed  through  the  slit  of 
the  curtain,  anil  was  glad  to  see  there,  as  I  wished, 
in  such  a  cause,  to  be  tried  by  a  special  Jury. 
When  I  made  my  appearance  in  the  green-room, 
dre^ed  for  the  part,  with  my  red  hat  on  my  head,^ 
my  piqued  beard,  loose  black  gown.  Sec  and 
\Hth  a  confidence  which  I  never  before  assumefd; 
the  performers  all  stared  atone  another,  and  evi* 
dently  with  a  stare  of  disappointment!  Well;  Srr,\ 
hlflierto  all  was  right — fill  the  last  bell  rung — then, 
I^'Cttilftss,  my  heart  began  to  beat  a  little:  how- 
h^t,l  mustered  upiall  the  courage  I  could,  and, 
y^Sbthmendihg  my  cause  to  Providence,  threw 
iSf^f  boldly  on  the  stage,  and  was  received  by 
oftedf  tWe  Icftidest  thunders  of  applaus?  I  e^^er  be-^ 
ftHt  ^perierictfil/   '^'^  '•   '  .    .  ^  -     ^      >  •    ' 


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CHARXEt  liAOVLlJSf.  ifS 

'  "  The  cspeifin^  scenci'  b^iiig'  rather  'tami  and 
levels  I  could  not  expect  much  iapplstuse  f  "but  I 
:^Qnd  tnysdf  w«M  listened  to*— I  could  hedf  dl*- 
rtincdy,  in  the  |rit,  the  words,  *  YeryivrelV^ietf 
•well^  indeed  1-^This  manseemls  to  know  wimt  life  ^ 
is  about;'  &c.  &c.  These  enoaminms  wiarm€^ 
irie,  but  did>nbt  owWet  nu^I  knew  M*i^re't 
should  have  the  pull,  which  wai  in  the  tWrid  act, 
and  reserved^myseif  accordingly.  At  this  pe^idd 
I  thr^wont'dl  niy  fire;  and,  is  the  contraitM  . 
piBlssions  »of  joy  for  the  ]V|erchant*s  losses,  and 
^ef  for  thifif  elppeiO(totof  Jessiba,  open  a  fine  field 
for  an  aqtor's  powers^  I  had  the  good  fortune  to 
please  beyond  my  warmest  expectations — The 
whole  hoose  was  in  an  uproar  of  applause — and  I 
was  oblige  to  pause  bet\fe€ni  the  speeches,  to 
give  it  vent,  so  as  to  be  heard.  When  Pv^^t  be* 
hind  -the  scenes  after  this  act,  ^  the  Manager  met 
3iie,  and  compliipented  mc  very  highly  on  my 
peirfonnance,  and  significantly  added,  "  Macklin 
you  was  Tight  at  last."  My  brethren  in  the  green- 
room joined  in  his  eulogiuth,  but  with  different 
Tiews~-He  ^as'  thinking  of  the  increase  of  his 
t^easury^they  only  for  Mving  appeai*ahces— -^ 
wishing  at  tKesame  time  that  I  had  broke  my 
neck  in  the  attempt.  The  trial  scene  w6und  up 
the  fulne^  of  my  reputation:  here  I  was  well 
listened  to;  and  here  I  njade  such  a  silent  yet 
forcible  impressioii  on  my  audience,  that  I  Retired 
firoin  this  great  attempt  most  perfectly  satisfied. 

"On 


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\^  Oft  tny  teturn  to  the  gi«en*rooih,  aft^r  tli* 
j)lay:WM  ovbr,  it  ww^  crowded  with.  nobBity^atid 
cfltii:«,  who  all  complimented  attc/ih  tbe'wfcirocat 
wd  most  unbounded  mauxtor;  ^^  thelsjiuation 
Jf  felt  myself  in,  I  mwt  confc$b;  w&s  oile.of  the 
|»o*t  flattering  and  intoxicating  of  .n>y  ^hole  lifieu 
t^Q  nrtoney^  no  titles  conld^parchasei  ^h^t  I  felt:: 
Apd:  tet  no  than  tdl  me  after  thia,  ifhat  Ffaiae  ivlU 
not  inspire  a  man  to  do,  and  bow  ffar  tbe  atttiitt- 
TOf  Atpf  it  will  not  rem  unf  rate  bbgmatcat  labours? 
By  G— tJ,  Sir,  though  I  wlw  not  ^orth  fifty 
pounds  in  the  woiW  at  that  timef  ;^et,.  let  me  tell 
ypi|,  J  was  Charles  the  Great  for  tl^at  night'* 

1  A  ,&w  daya  afterwards,  Mtekiin  received  an 
invitatii>li  from  Lord  Bolingbfolie  to  dine  with 
hip  at  ^ttersea.  He  attended  the  render vous^ 
and  ithere  found  Pope,  and  a  select  party,  who 
compijmented  htm  verj*  highly  on  the  part  of 
Shylock,  and  questioned  hsni  ibmit  many  littli? 
particulars  rehtive  to  his  getting  up  the  play,  .8co. 
Pope  particiJarly  asked  him^  why  the  wore.a  rw? 
fiat?  and  he  answered,  becauaehe  had  read  that 
Jews  m  Italy,  particularly  in  Venice,  wore  halB 
of  that  coloan  "  And  prtty,  Mr.  Macklin,"  said 
Pope,  **  do  payers  in  general,  take  such  pains  ?'* 
— **  I  do  not  know,  Sir,  tliat  they  do;  but  a$  I 
bad  staked  my  rcpntation  on  tlie  character,  I  was 
idetermined  to  spare  bo  troubte  in  getting  at  the 

best 


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was  very  laudable.*' :         )     .'  •  - 

Macklin  took  this  pfay  'for  hw  btotfit  on  the 
19th  night,  and  had  an  overflowing  audiencei 
several  NoWcmen  of  the  first  distiwrtioil  took 
what  is  commenly  calfe4  gf^ tickets ^r.attd  JUrt-fl 
:Bolingbroke  made  him  ,  a^  preieilt  of  tiirmty 
guineas.  '  >  *  .;  ,         -  ^       i  t 

The  play  had  a*  succeasftiV;  run:  tbiKtagh  <lic 
whole  of  the  season^  aiid  ibrinuiy-semoiii^  after- 
wards :  it  established  bis  reputation  asi  m  rftctoiv 
and  not  a  httle  added  to  bis  di&ceromeiit  aa.  •It 
critic,  in  reviving  a  piece,  whiciii  pcrhap9^ii&ki)^ 
for  his  researchj  might  have  been  lost  to  the 
stage  for  ever/.  .  »  •'  -    t 

Ai!td  here  we  camiot  belp  remarking,  ibf^,  9^ 
.though  Macklin  got  aad  merited  the  greatest  a|>- 
plau«c  in  Shylock,  this  very  applause  m  bis  pub- 
ic, often  drew  from  the  merit  of  bis.ptirivate  char 
^actir;  as  mainy  peopte,  who  knew  nothing  <df  bm 
bat  as  iie  appeared  on  'the  atage,  ai»l  theife  %%w 
tte  pa^oils  oiritmngeJmAMUliqe  so  forcibly. and 
fiatttirally  displayed;  (particuiai^^  in  the  fourth 
:act,  where  iie  whets  the  knife  in- order  t6  cut  off 
4he  pound  of  humaai  fle$h,)  tiiat  tbey  judged  bp 
^must  be  sothetbing  like  the  monster  ia  private  life 
^^iiiich he  wias  upon  t^heslKage/  «      ^      -    * 

3  This 


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p6  •       MEMtflW  OF 

Tbw  combinatibtt  of  ideas,  though  Mst  in  fact^ 
is  not  very  unusual.    Cibbcr  tells  aii  anecdote  of 
Sandfordy  a  performer  in  his  jtime,  who,  from  a 
eertiin  deformity  of  ]>ersoil',  accompanied  with 
talents^  in  performing  the  €Ulaim  and  traitors  \ti 
tragedy,  befeame  so  frequently  cast  for  those  part^ 
that,   from  long  habits,  the  audiences  expected 
QOtiiiTig else frijm  him;  aad  whenhe.once  unfor- 
tunately performed  the  character  of  an  honest 
statesman^    the  audience  were   so   disappointed, 
wheti.  they  found,  towards  tibe  close,  that  this 
•wa^  his  real'charactcr,    wrthout  any  disguise  or 
treacheiy^  that  they  damned  the  pky,  *^  as  if  the 
iactorj had  imposed  upon  th<m  the  most  frontless 
4aiid'iiicrc^iblc  .absurdity. '* 
I...  v)}  :  ,oi  _.  .     ,  .     '      ..  .  , 

Macklin's  acquaintdnce  with  Gafrick  corti- 
menced  a  few  years  before  the  latter's  public  ap- 
pearance at  Goodman's  Fidds.  He  was  then,  he 
said,  "  a  very  sprightly  young  man,  neatly  made, 
of  an  expressive  countenance^  and  most  agreeable 
and  entertaining  manners/'  The  stgge  possessed 
him  wholly;  he  ccmld  talk  or  think  of  nothing 
but  the  Theatre;  and  as  they  often  dined  together 
in  select  parties,  Garrick  rendered  himself  the 
idol  of  the  meeting,  by  his  mimicry,  anecdotes, 
icc^  H«  had  not  long  arrived  from  Lisbon  at 
that  period,  and,  with  other  funds  of  information, 
possessed  a  number  of  good  travelling  stories; 
"  which  he  narrated^  Sir,  (added  the  veteran,) 


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CHARLES  HACKLIir.  97 

in  such  a  vein  of  pleasantly,  and  rich  Innnbur,  as 
I  have  seldom  seen  equalled."* 

With  that  love  for  the  stage  which  MicTclin 
ever  possessed,  it  was  natural  for  him  to  he  pleased 
with  such  growing  accomplishments  as  Garrick 
exhibited*  Garrick,  too,  who,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  his  public  life  to  the  end,  never  neglected 
the  pursuit  of  any  mformatiOn  relative  to  his  art^ 
must  have  Seen  in  Macklin,  talents,  experience; 
and  assiduity,  which  it  was  his  interest  to  culti- 
vate. 'They  both,  too>  loved  society,  whereiii 
they  excelled,  though  in  different  departmentsf. 
From  all  these  circumstances,  they  became  very 
intimate ;  insomuch  that  we  have  heard  Macklin 
say,  they  were  scarcely  two  days  asunder,  from 
the  commencement  of  their  acquaintance  till  the 
quarrel  broke  out  in  1743;  when  Garrick,  recede 
ing  from  his  engagement  to  stand  or  fall  by  the 
Performers^  till  their  wrongs  were  redressed  by 
the  Manager,  so  irritated  Macklin,  that  he  com- 
menced his  bitterest  enemy;  and  though  they 
afterwards  seemingly  made  it  up,  and  occasionally. 

H  ^  lived 

♦  Garrick  was  at  this  time  a  Wine  Merchant  in  company  vrilh 
his  brother  Peter,  and  they  had  their  wine  vaults  in  0ufham<^ 
yard,  (now  the  Adelphi.)  The  Editor  of  these  Memoirs  once 
law  a  receipt  of  Garrick*s  to  Mr.  Robinson  in  the  Strand,  for 
two  do2en  of  red  port,  (value  thirty-six  shillings,)  signed, 

.^  For  sftPaiid  Co.  D.  Garrick*''       ' 

.  "  October,  1739.'' 


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96  v.   sij:»imiis^:  aw:  . 

lived  tci^e&iir  ia^soci^l  aavi  4irQfessi0fi3l  ;halabs^ 
there  wus  some  leaven  bft  in  Macklin's  mind^ 
which  he  never  could  thoroughly  shake  off,  and 
vWch^dccasMSmaHy  vented  itfeelf.'i  tuilkxy^^:  ilnd 
kOHKetiines  in  vseiyi  sharpJnvecti^cs*  /     -  * 

.  \.„r      -1  .    '  :.  ^ .     -  ^..     i     :,.-  .  -.' 

'. :  We!  do  not  exactly  remember  whetheri  Madklm 
licc^^iti|mniedr  his  .young  friend  Garriick  to!  I^^ichr 
when;  he:  TOftdc  hisjirst.appearmice.in  ^rfii^an,  iii 
the  tra^jedy  of  OroQitcko,  ^y  wa-y  of  proT^atian 
for  tlie  IjiQ^don! boiuds ;  Imft .we  havi?  t)f tera.  heard 
bingtsay,  he  was  oine  who  con^poscd  thei  andioicc 
i9ft  his  .^mt  dippssLtzjicQ.  at  Goodman's  Fickls,  in 
tWxjharactpr  of  Richard  HI.  on  thq  Ifitli  afOcto* 
Mtj  17 il;  and. he  bore  full  testimony  ta  the  ap-r 
piaiisq  he  obtained  and  merited  on  that  occasion* 
M^Ckii^  w^.  02ie  of  G&rrick's  cabinet  connoii  in 
4elootin^  this  part  for  his  debut;  winch  was  the 
•Jfttt^^s  first  suggestipUy  always  declaring,  i"  he 
would  nevw  choose  a  cliaracter  which  was  not 
^ttitabk  tp  his  .person.  "* 

The  grea^  revolution  which  Garrick  introduced 
Ja  the  Theatre,  by  changing  an  elevated  tone  6f 
voice,  a  mechanical  depression  of  its  tones,  and  a 
formal  ^measured  step  in  traversing  the.  stage,  iiito 
^n  easy  familiar  manner  of  speaking  and  acting, 
^ave  at  first  some  handle  to  the  players  (who  lii- 
warcHy  felt  his  superiority)  to  reprobate  itf^,,^ 
danggrpu^  Jipv^ty,  which  trenched  oft  thil4igntty 
'  >  .V  ::       ••  -O  -of 


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CHAttLES   MACKllN-.  99 

6f  theatrical  enunciation ;  but  Macklin,  who  was 
himself  the  precursor  of  this  species  of  afcting, 
though  deficient  in  such  striking  powers  as  to 
erect  himself  into  the  head  of  a  sect,  gave  it  his 
hearty  and  unbounded  applause.  Rich,  several 
years  before,  discharged  him  from  Lincoln's  Inn 
Theatre,  for  speaking,  as  he  Called  it,  **  too  fami- 
liarly on  the  stage.'*  He  now  had  his  i^evenge, 
by  seeing  his  manner  adopted  by  a  genius  who  ., 
promised  to  make  it  universal  by  the  propriety  of 
the  innovation,  and  the  splendour  of  his  talents. 

He  often  spoke'  of  the  pleasure  he  enjoyed  at 
this  nights  pepfbrmance,  and  said,  **It  was  ama- 
zing bow,  Mrithout  any  example,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary/ With  great  prejudices  against  him,  he  could 
throw  such  spirit  and  novelty  into'  the  part,  as  to 
conviricef  every  itnpartial  person,  on  the  very  first 
iroptessioto,  that  he  was  right.  In  short.  Sir,  he 
at  once  idecided  thef  public  taste;  and  though  the 
players  fdrined  a  cabal  against  him,  with  Quin  at 
their  headj  it  was  a  puff  to  thunder;  the  east  and 
west  end  of  the  town  made  head  against  them; 
and  the  little  fHtow,  in  this,  and  about  half  a  dozen 
subsequent  characters,  secured  his  own  immor- 
tality." 

Though  Clbber  left  the  stage  some  years  be-     ^ 
ftwre  Garrick  commenced  actor,  which^might  be 
supposed  would  have  taken  off  alF  edge  of  rival- 

H  2  ship, 

3.92220A 

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100  MEMOIRS   OF 

ship,  yet  he  took  every  occasioij  of  sneering  it' 
his  popularity:  he  considered,  though  Garrick 
could  not  then  clash  with  his  thei^tricaV  interest, 
he  was  likely  to  blast  his  laurels  with  postierity; 
for,  as  Quin  had  said  ^pon  the  same  occasion, 
*/  If  this  young  fellow  is  right,  I,  and  the  rest  of 
the  players,  must  have  been  all  wrong."  ^  This 
consideration,  therefore,  hurt  his  feelings ;  which, 
though  he  endeavoured  to  conceal,  still  broke  out 
.  on  many  little  occasions,  very  much  to  the  dis- 
credit of  his  temper  and  understanding. 

One  night  at  White's,  when  a  Nobleman  was 
speaking  of  the  merits  of  Garrick,  he  suddenly 
turned  about—"  Pray,  my  Lord,  have  you  ever 
seen  this  young  fellow  in  FriblUe,?'     **  No,  Mr. 
Gibber.".    "  No!  my  Lord;  why  then  see  him  by 
all  means — he  is  th6  completest,   prettiest  little 
doll  figure  for  a  Fribble  you  ever  saw  in  your 
life."     "  Well,  but,   Mjr.   Gibber,  has  he  not  a 
great  deal  of  merit  in  other  characters!"     No 
answer  forborne  time :  at  last,  as  if  breaking  from 
a  reverie,   he  exclaimed,    "  What  a^  admimble 
Fribble!   Such  mincing — ambling-r-fidg*etting !— : 
WeH,  faith,  he  must  be  something  of  a  clever  fel- 
low too,  to  write  up  to  his  own  character  so  well 
as  he  has  done  in  this  part." 

At  another  time,  lounging  in  the  green-room, 
rieetwood  asked  him,  whether  they  might  hope 

ever 


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CHAKLE»   RACKLIN.  101 

ever  to  have  another  i:omedy  from  him?  "  From 
me!  (says  Cibber^)  who  the  deuce  is  to*  act  in 
it?"  Why,  Sir,  there's  Garrick,  MacklJn,  Pritch- 
ard,  Clive,  &c.'*  **  O,  yes,  Lknow  your  dramatis 
personam  very  well;  but,  then,  my  dear  fellow, 
(says  he',  very  deliberately*takinghis  snufF,)  after 
all  this,  where  the  D-^l  are  your  actors  P' 

.  .  '      /  ^  ■     , 

When  he  saw  Garrick  in  Bayes,  (formerly  x 
favourite  part  of  his  own,)  and  was  asked  how  he 
liked  lam,  he  said,  l>e  was  a  copyist  of  his  soil 
Theophilus;  who  was  well  known,  by  the  best 
judges  at  that  time,  to  have  exhibited  it  in  a  very 
extravagant,  absurd  manner.  Indeed,  Old  Cib- 
ber  ack|)owledged  this  himself,  though  he  placed 
Garrick  on  the  same  bench  with  him  in  poitit  of 
theatrical  abilities,  % 

Though  Gibber  might  have  concealed  all  this 
spleen  and  disappointment  from  himself,  he  could 
not  from  his  intimates:  they  saw  through  him  , 
clearly  whenever  the  praises  of  Garrick  were  men* 
tioned  before  him ;  at  which  times  he  either  lost 
temper,  (a  thing  very  unusual  withhim,)  or  shew- 
ed a  visible  uneasiness  in  his  countenance.  One 
night,  playing  a  party  of  whist  at  bis  cli^ib,  whilst 
Garrick  M'as  on  the  tapisy  he  renounced  the  suit 
of  diamonds,  which  appearing  odd  to  his  partner 
from  the  .situation  of  his  own  hand,  he  cried  out, 
^f  What,  Mr.   C'bber,  no  diamonds!"    *'  Dia- 

H  3  monds! 


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J08  MEKailS  OF 

moncU',  mylxirdt  (in  iomeq(mfii$ioa,)yeB,  armL 
Jjofi,  by  Gr^."    '  ^  And  why  would  you  sacrifice 
three  tricks  by  not  pliayiog  one?"-^*^  Beca:uso 
(said  ouf  of  the  J)arty)  Gatrick  'would  .not  kt 

Thus  did  his  jealousy  eftd  self-love  prevail  over 
reason  and  experience;  and  thus  did  he  subject 
Jjimself  to  continual  taunts  and  reproaches,  be* 
^ause  he  would  not;8ufftr  a«o<Aer  to  reach  that 
point  of  famie  which  he  acquired,  with  infinitely 
jMgliei.  (pretensions  than  his  own, 

.  Thfc;g*alousy  of  Quin  and  Gibber,  so  far  front 
in^urif  g  Gferrick  the  least  in  his  well-eatn*d  repu^ 
t^iwJt*.  hdped; to  increase  it;  as  it  called  upon  the 
attention  of  ihe  best  critics  to  study  such  a  phgB-: 
nomenon  tlie  closer,  and  be  satisfied  themselves, 
.a$  weftl  di^-giyc  the  ti>n  to  others,  **  whether  the 
^mv^  prnma  ascribed  to  thb  acto^,  wene  the 
jjudde*  ^ffjusions  produced  by  novelty,  or  tluj 

eiecis  of  jreail  meyit?" 

♦  <    '  "  '  .  ... 

Mh  Po()e,  amongst  others,  though  at  that  tiaxt 
wUher  i»  tfce  decline  of  health,  was  persuaded  by 
Ix)id  Ort:ery  to  see  Garrick  at<jroodman's  Fields; 
'And  though  he  ha^allthe  prejudice  abont  him  of  a* 
I^ig  and  intimate  acquaintance,. with  fiettertion, 
(wboSe  taletits  he  so  much  admired  as  aii'actdr, 
ai^l  ivhosetiouyerfiatipnand.pbAracterlie  samuch' 

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CHAiA:^:MACfil.iN.  |0| 

field,)  yet  such  was  the  force  of  genius,  operating 
upon  a  man  of  candour  and  true  discernment,  that 
l^jtoW  Iifttd  Orrery,  afft^  tfc^  p^rfieirm^Boe,  '?he 
ms  iiftaid  $3^,yoUtig.rmftn  MiOul41)e  sp<?ikd,  fof 
b^\muW  bftv^«io.tcQBipi^titQr:f'  :    .    ,.,  -^ 

,  W^t  p^r  titular,  pteyiii  ^y«^  ;that  Pope  saw  hi  a 
in>  •wfe».hiiive  np^coptt^t,.  MapWin  <fould  potw? 
toejnbietr  it,  tlxwgh  he  <^uW.  the  observp/|ifjn  of 
the  Ppet;  and  E^^i^.  wha  after ward$, wr-pte  (?**> 
rick>Jife,  is^equ^ly.mleirt^^.tbepresuuiption.thpJ'e- 
ft>re  isiji  (P<)pc  seeingi  hm  et  0<>Qdii»an;s  Fields^) 
thiat  itiivfe^^it^h^  im#g^liigh>rd;ijQrBaye$,  iaTJia 
lieheamal ;  as  ,t Wee  .^^re  tbie  t\w  pryuci^al  ahata^J^ 
tera  h«.p^0rto^ Ion  that  Tbei^rea    ;  ^  ii 

.  The  pmbtsdf  Gmpidc^jthp^ghrJtjqd  and  urti^ 
yersal,  did  not  seduce  his  understanding jr  h^% 
on  the  contrary,  led  him  to  cgnsider  how  to  pre- 
serve it,  ^0  asiti^  €3fc«Wi^lhkwput»t4bQfOtt  a.firm 
nod  pertaHneiH^  Jwijt^-i  *Acfi^dJrtgly,  ^vben  he 
<{uftted:  Goodaiai^VJirida,..iabdi  mad^ihis  QOgage- 
tocnts;  wth  Electwwil  m  the  spring  of  174fl^ 
he  diamtssed  wany  t^  thase  ch^i^cfcci  whi^b  h« 
performed  i«  the.ciiy';  ^uch  a^  Clodios,  Jftci^Smat* 
tcr,  the  (Jho^t  ia:.Hafi*let,  &:c,  8{Ci  and  aspired 
to  higher  walk^,  swch  as  would  bring  Wm  on,  a- 
krel  with  tli^  Btefcterton$,  the  Booths,  and  Wilfc$ 
of  former,  times;  fqr,  fueling,  hb  own  ibrc^,  h« 

IJ  4  '    knew 


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104  MEMOIRS  df 

k«*^  of  liooV^r^wed timidity,  but  waszetlous 
of  trying  tlie  bow  pf  Ulysses  with  his  ablest  com-» 
petitors. 

With  this  *riew,  beccmsulted  Macklin  and  Dr. 
B^rowby  (^  vei^y  eminent  Phjr^ician  and  Critic 
at  that  time,  and  6F  wbdm  mpre  will  be  said  here- 
after) about  ^the  part  of  Xdo/*,  which  they  for 
sbme  time  paused  upon,  as  a  characteF^ratber  of 
too  miich  weight  and  variety  for  so  iney;perienced 
p,n  actor:  they,  however,  rtferrid him  to  himself ; 
adding,  ^^  that  if  he  felt  equal  to  the  conception 
and  execution  of  the  part,  hfwas  the  best  judge.*' 
Garrick  answered  in  the  affirmative;  andtheTra* 
gedy  of  J^ifr  tfas  announced  for  representation. 
Jle,  ho)sreyer,  previously  stipulated  tlmt  bis  two 
friends  should  sit  in  judgment  on  him  the  first 
night,  add  ^report  t}ieir  opinions  faithfully  to  hiin 
jrftefwards. 

'         *  .  ' 

To  this  both  Macklin  and  Barrowl^  agreed  j 
and,  though'  the  fascinating  powers  of  this  great 
^cto|-  had  their  usp^l  infiuenoe  with  the  generality 
of  tl^  audtence^  these  two  critics,  acting  like  real 
friends,  made  rather  an  unfavourable  report  to 
him  the  ni^xt  morning.  They  said,  that,  although 
he  was  dressed  yery  appropriate  for  the  character 
•of  Jf.ear,  ]\e  did  not  sufficiently  enter  into  the  in- 
iJrmjtjes  of  a  ^^ man  fourscore  and  upwards:"  that 
|n  the  repetition  of  the  curse,  at  the  close  of  the 


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CUARLE9  MAGKLIK.  105 

fy^  actj  he  began  it  too  low,  and  einied  it  too 
iDgh;  that  revering  this,  in  a  great  measure, 
would  have  a  better  effect;  only  by  letting  his  rage 
fall  off  towards  the  close,  and  melt  itself  in  the 
pathetic:  that  he  had  not  dignity  enough  for  a 
King  in  the  prison  sc«ne:  and  that  be  was  parti* 
cularly  defective  in  the  following  speech  of  th# 
fourth  act,  scene  5. 

**  It  were  an  excellent  ttratageiq 

To  shoe  a  troop  of  horse  with  felt: 

ril  put  it  in  proof — No  noise— no  noise-* 

Now  will  we  steal  upon  those  sons  in  law. 

And  then-^ll-T-kiU-^U— •' 

by  raising  his  voice  too  high  in  the  first  part,  and 
letting  it  down  too  much  in  the  last  line;  where* 
as  the  very  text  of  ^'  no  noiserHio  noise,"  inti* 
9iated,  it  should  be  repeated  in  a  voice  not  much 
above  a  whisper;  whilst  the  words  ''VkiU— 'kill- 
kill,"  should  be  given  in  all  the  loud-toned  fury 
of  revenge,    .  - 

Whilst  MackliH  and  Barrowby  were  thus  freely 
commenting,  on  the  actor,  the  latter  had  his  pen- 
cil in  his  hand,  noting  the  several  passages  and 
observations;  which,  when  he  had  concluded, 
^'  he  thanked  tl>em,  said  it  exactly  met  bis  then 
better  judgment;  and,  as  a  proof  of  it,  promised 
them  be  would  not  play  the  sahie  character  till  he 
had  made  hiniself  absolute  master  of  the  very  kind' 
find  judicious  hii^ts  which  he  then  received." 

Jlepollfcting 


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ins  y    li^unmi (>>¥::  ^ 

RtiedllertWgiafteywanfe,  however^  thiat  tiw  play 
^kU  «i}verti$e^  fonitbe  ai^t  wtok^  ke  i»^uld.  act 
(l»^d^>pbi»«  tfi^  fioblto;  tmd  he  appleaitrd  aigkin  ia 
ic^r;  U'lriidh' Afecklin  sakUie  played  paifcliieraip^fl^fi* 
thmi  4h^^9t4)ight'^  and  thisili^vctEyijudicitnisly 
ae«rii^ut6l!  '^6  the  ^md(k»  ^fikralty.  thitiaroae  la 
|^ttiligi-i^l<)lbis'Jokt  habits^  and  adt)^ting  tlie 
ne\v^.  The  performance,  on  thewliDle^  was  resf 
pectable;  and  the  Tragedy,  though  much  called 
for  by  the  towti,  was  liid  upon  the  sfrelf  for  six 
weeks.      _  ,    / . 

t" :i  "'.    '  ■       '     <       .  .;,.'■ 

At  the  end  6f4lHS  period^  X^r  was  again  ad- 
vertised ;  and  his  two  friendly  critics,  eager  to  see 
hi^  dr  ifai^er  tbeiroiwn,  im^jToVements,  beg^d 
h&td  to  ists  present  at  the  reheaiiBal;  but.Garrick 
^ifto  resolote '  to  the  contasaiy :  lie  arns\T«red^  **if 
lihefpe  ^h^i^  be  ai^y  tittle  thing  not^quite  rigiit; 
iieiiig  told  of  it  so  aeat^the  perfonwance,  it  wright 
])urt  Im  feelings  >  in  tlie  executiozx,  a^  he  experi- 
enced on  the  second  night,  after  their  friendly  ad** 
monitions^ — that  he  would  ratlier  trust  to  have  his 
deferts  corriected  afterwafdis,  which  to' co4ild  bet- 
ter do  at  hiB  leisure,  than  run  tbe>ris^  of  a  pret 

sent  embarrasBMneiit." 

\ 

There  was  an  observation  in  this  reply  whicli 
satisfied  his  friends,  and  they  contented  themselves 
with  waiting  for  the  first  night  of  its  revivals .  W* 
His^ve  oftai  heard  Macklin  speak  of  tbis^ night  with 


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CHANGES   Xik€BCIK.  107 

all  the  )*aptdre  4^f  an  €tfiiateur^  (and^  perhaps  ttere 
was  no  little  seUrvanity  mix^d  ia  tlie  applau^e^ 
coosidering  himself  as  biie  of  the  calises  of  thu 
improvement :)  the  curse  lie  particularly  adthired; 
he  said  it  exceeded  all  hi^  ifliaginatioa ;  apd  ha4 
•uch  an  effect,  that  it  seemed  to  electrify  the  au* 
dieiioe  with  horror.  The  words,  ***  JCill— kill— 
kill,'*  echoed  all  the  revfenge  of  t;h6  frantic  King; 
vhilst  h^  exhibited  such  a  scene  of  the  pathetiQ 
oa  discovering  his  daughter  Cordelia,  as  drew 
tears  of  commiseration  from  the  whole  house*. 
*Mn  short,  Sir/  added  the  veteran,  '^  thr  Httle 
dog  made  it  a  chefi'^eu^e^  aAd  a  ckefd'imcre  it 
continued  to  tlie  end  of  his  life." 

^  And  here  ^e  feel  it  right,  for  the  benefit  of  fu- 
ture actors,  to  recommeud  this  conduct  of  G^^-r 
rick  as  a  rule  to  them  in  their  progress  ta  theatri- 
eal  reputatit>n.  Had  evefn  this  great  actor  coriti- 
niu^d  to  perform  Lear  in  the  manner  he  first  adopt-- 
ed,  he  woijild  have  gfown  iwHed  in  error,  and- 
pffhaips  have  fcomtnunicated  tliis  error  as  a  kind 
of  btmheir-tdom  to.  posterilj' ;  ]?ut  he  had  the  good 
sense,  and  true  taste  of  hi3  profession,  to  .know 
that  perfection  is  only  to  be.  ol>tained  by  att,  by 
assiduity^  and  experience';  4ind,  though  the  pur- 
suit of  these  may  cost  a  taan's  vamty  son>e  humi- 
liation^ — some  fotrbeamncer-4here  is  an  atinple  re* 
M'ard,  ia  a  true  and  permanent  reputation,  for 
eyefy  pi^e^wt  diliculty  and  embarrassment 

How 


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108  ItfEMtfiRS  OF        ^ 

-  How  many,  rising  Actors  have  we  Been,  (and  wc 
have  even  now  some  before  us  in  our  mind's  eye,) 
who  have  been  considerably  nipped  in  their  powers 
by  the  'cotitrary  practice!  who  have,  during  the 
tery  fi^st  season  of  their  appearance,  and  in  the 
very  juvenility  of  life,  attempted  most  of  the  great 
characters  in  tragedy  in  a  rapid  succession,  with* 
6ut  giving  thenvselves  leisure  to  mark  their  com- 
mon dissimHarity— »-much  less  to  study  their  seve- 
tftl  historical  and  poetical  bearings— who  have 
dmh^  night  after  night,  from  Richard  to  Othello^ 
from  Othetlo  to  Macbeth,  from  Macbeth  to  Lear^ 
*^c.  Sfc.  without  its  being  possible  for  them  to 
embody  those  differeht  characters,  other  than  giv- 
ing the  bare  words  of  the  author ;  and  even  in  this 
therehas  been  some  praise  due  to  the  natural  reteu- 
tivene^  of  their  memories,  *  ■ 

-  Let*  it  not  be  offered  in  excuse,  that  a  young 
ac^or  is  so  much  in  the  hands  of  his  Manager^' 
that  he  cannot  well  avoid  this  hurry}  and  that  his* 
principal  is  more  to  be  blamed  than  himself.  WhatI 
actor  of  spirit  will  permit  his  future  fame  and  for- 
tune to  be  thus  sacrificed  by  another?  Nor  is  it 
tlie  Manager's  real  interest  to  act  so :  it  is  nine 
times  out  of  tfu  the  folly  and  the  presumption  of 
the  TyrOji  who  wants  to  6btain  the  end  without  the 
"means;  and  which  sometimes  falling  in  with  the 
avarice  or  ignorance  of  a  Manager,  will  suffer  him 
tQ  knopjc  out  his  l^raias  for  a  little  temporary  profit. 

Every 


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CHARIES   MACKXIN.  W§ 

Every  man  should  be  the  guardian  cf  his  own 
fame;  and  if,  even  when  pressed  by  a  Manager 
to  try  a  variety  of  leading  characters  in  snccesston, 
a  young  aqtor  should  remonstrate,  and  call  for 
more  time  and  observation ;  the  Manager,  if  he 
has  common  sense,  will  find  in  this  a  sufficient 
answer ;  he  will  augur  well  of  the  real  abiHties  of 
his  performer,  whose  becoming  diffidence  will  pre-^ 
sent  one  of  the  best  harbingers  of  his  future  per- 
feet  ion.. 

It  was  not  in  Lear  alone  that  Garrick  exercised 
this  caution;  he  carried  his  prudence  into  almost 
ftU  the  principal  partspf  tragedy  and  comedy,  arid 
particularly  in  those  characters  which  had  been 
pre-occupied  by  persons  of  established  reputation. 
It  was  not,  for  instance,  till  after  his  first  return 
from  Dublin,  where  he  had  prepared  hiraaelf  by  ^ 
several  exhibitions,  that  he  brought ^Hawi/e^  for* 
ward  on  the  London  stage;  and  then  performed 
it  so  characteristically  just,  that  it  has  been  ob- 
served by  many  who  remembered  his  first  appear* 
ance,  that,  through  the  remainder  of  his  life,  he 
had  little  to  add  to  his  excellence. 

His  Abel  Drugger^  in  the  AlchymU^  was  ano- 
ther of  his  long  meditated  characters;  for  though, 
in  the  great  Variety  of  Garrick^s  powers,  low  co- 
medy was  unquestionably  Xmfortej  and  that  iri 
consequenca-he  had  little  to  fear  from  the  tri^l^ 

yet 


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110  MUMOIBS   OF 

yet  he  vtry  property  conwdered,  thdt  this  \ra$  st 
hmg  established  and  ^ivoudte  part  of  Theophiki^ 
Cibber,  who  was  then  Kviiig;  and  who, 'he  :«^ell 
k9ew»  fVom  the  spirit  of  jealouisy  which  he  and 
bits  father  had  shewn  on  many  occawofis,  would 
be  oni  t}\e  .alert  to  floyd  out  and  expose  his  errors. 
Under  this  prepossiession,  he  had  several  private 
rehearisals  of  this  character  before  Macklin  and 
other  ff ^nds,  who,  from  the  first  view,  saw  every 
promise  of  success.  His  marinei',  however,  Mack- 
lin said,  was  very  different  from  Gibber's.  '*Theo- 
philus.  Sir,  though  latighiible  in  niany  respects, 
rather  fwxified  this  part  too  much;  he  was  for 
making  fun  for  himself ,  as  well  as  the  audience—-* 
a  lamentable  mistake  for  an  actor !  But  Gai-rick's 
awkward,  sober  simpricity,  at  once  announced  the 
ignorant,  .^elfish  Tobacconist ;  and  he  very  prOr 
perly  left  his  audience  to  dfcer/  thtmstlves  viiXh 
the  very  singular  absurdities  of  the  character."    - 

-  But,  to  enable  the  rising  generation  more  suffif- 
cicntly  to  judge  of  Garrick's  excellence  in  Abd 
Drugger^  we  subjoin  the  following  anecdote, 
which  the  Editor  of  these  Memoirs  heard  from  the 
late  Dr.  Johnson,  who  had  heard  it  from  Peter 
Ginick'himself.     V. 


"  Aigrocer  m  the  town  of  Dchfield,  a  neighs 
hour  of  Peter  Gartick'^,  having  ocpasion  to  come 
\lpi  to  London  on  business,  the  lattei^  gaVQ  him  a 

letter 


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Mt^er  of  recoitimmidalaon  tq  hid*lw^ 
The  gioccrxQine  to  town  late  ihrtbetiveningp,  w4 
seeing  Garriefc's  name. up  in[lS».'hl}k'fb(trdM 
Drugger;  he  went  to  the  iwt>  sbiUkig^  ^Ho^^.  lami 
there  waited  in  anxious  eKpeetation  of  seeing!  m 
the  person  of,  his  townsman,  .the  greatest  ^tor^f 
the  age.  On /Garrick)^  appearanice,  hi  was  lot 
some  time  in  doubt,  wliether  it  could  be  bini,  or 
not:  at  last  being  Convinced  of  it  by^  tbe  peopio 
about  him,  lie  felt  so  disg^ted  with  the  ni^n  ap% 
peai-anee,  and  mercenary  condncty  of  the  perform 
mer,  (which,  by  a  foolish  comlxinatibn,  he  at^ 
tached  to  the  Man,  J  that  h^went  out  pf  towA 
without  delivering  the  letter*  .    . 

^*  On  his  arrival  at  Dchfieldy  Pttcr  Garrick 
asked  him  how  he  was^  received  fa}^  hia  hrotheiv' 
and  how  he  liked  him?  The  m«]i.  at  first  wi^faoA 
to  parry  the  iqMSCion ;  txit  at  length  owned,  that 
he  never  delivered  the  letter;  *^  Not  deliver  my 
ktt^V*  says  Pfeter;  ^*  bow'cattie  that  dbou*?'* 
^^  Why:,  the  fact  i3,^ny  cjearfrie^"  said  thenther; 
*'  I  saw  enough  of  him  on  the  stage  to  mahe  diat 
unnecessary.  He  may  be  rich,  as  I  dare  say  any 
man  wlm  lives  Uke  him  must  be  ;  blit,  by  G — d, 
(and  here,  said  the  Doctor,  the  man  vpcilerated 
an  oatb,)^  though  lie  is  your  brother,  Mr.  Gar-f 
lick,  he  is  o«k  of  the  shabbiest^-meanest-^most 
pitiful  houwcfe  lever  saw  in  the  whole:  course,  of 
my  life." 

Indeed, 


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lift  MEMOIRS   Ot 

Indeed,  those  who  knew  Garrick  intimztebfiitk 
life,  and  who  had  seen  him  act  bis  roundsy  as  hi 
called  them,  could  very  well  believe  this  anecdote 
of  him.  His  mode  was  as  follows:  when  he  was 
in  high  spirits,  and  with  intimates  congenial  to 
himself,  he  would  suddenly  start  up,  and  placing 
himself  behind  a  chair,  (leaning  on  the  back  of 
it,)  would  convey  into  his  face  every  possible  kind 
of  passion  with  an,  infinite  number  of  gradations; 
At  one  moment  the  company  laughed  i  at  another, 
cried;  now  melted  into  pity;  now  terrified;  and 
presently  they  conceived  in  themselves  something 
horrible,  he  *  seemed  so  much  terrified  at  what  he 
saw. 

After  practising  this  for  some  time,  he  drew  his 
features  into  the  appearance  of  such  dignified  wisi 
dom,  that  a  Lord  Chancellor  might  have  sat  for 
the  portrait;  and  then,  by  an  admirable,  yet  de- 
grading transition,  he  became  a  driveller  ajad  a 
fooL  In  short,  his  face  was  what  he  obliged  you 
to  fancy  it-^age*~youth— joy— grief— every  thing 
he  assumed.  . 

There  h  a  stOry  told  of  Garrick,  that  he  fright-* 
ened  Hogarth  so  inuch  by  appearing  to  him  as 
the  Ghost  pf  Eliding,  whom  he  so  resembled  by 
altering  his  features,  that  Hogarth  never  told  the 
circumstance  without  evident  emotion. 

In 


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CIIAAttS   MACKLIN,  113 

Garrick's  thus  ctiltivatihg  his'prfefcfisfon  o^as 
well  as  on  the  stage,  acquired  Yxxch'  jud^inent 
afid  versatility,  that  we  scarcely  ever  ffhd  liim  mis- 
led to  persevere  fn  characters  white  he  Ijost 
groiifid.  *' '    ' 

His  Othelli^  was  anemarkablc  instance  of  this. 
Willing  to  take  such  conspicabaa:''  part  in  th6 
great  circle  of  his  professiond  talents,  he  attempt- 
ed this  i^ery  diffipalfc  ^  character,  ^vhere,  indepen- 
dent of  all  judgment  and  taste,  there  is  a  deniand  ^ 
of  figure,  and  tones  of  voice,  perhaps  superior  to 
any  in  the  whole  range  of  the  draniar  but  though 
his  ambition  tempted  him  to  a  triali  bis  judgment 
would  not  suffer  him  to  continue  in  it :  he  dropped" 
it  after  tbe  first  night,  and  never  afterwards  as*^ 
sumed  a  second  r^resentation. 

Two  additional  motives  may  have  probably  de* 
termined  him  to  abandon  Othello,  The  one  wa«, 
tbat  Barry  very  soon  afterwards  made  his  appear*^ 
ance  on  the  London  staj^  in  tliis  part;  and  the ' 
very  just  arid  deserved  applause  he  acquired,  might 
have  shewn  Gafrick  the  impolicy  of  a  contention. 
Tlie  other  was,  the  sarcasm  which  Quin  made 
upn  his  performance,  when  asked  by  a  lady  how 
he  liked  Mr.  Garrick'in  Othello?  ^'  Othello f 
Madam,"  replied  the  Cynic;  *^  Psha!  no  such 
tMag  l-^There  was  a  little  bhck  boy,  like  Pom- 
pey  attending  with  a  tea-kettle,  fretting  and  fum- 
ing about  the  stage;  but  I  saw  no  Othello.'*  - 

I  Garrick 


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114  ,    ll|fil*0lRl5   OF 

Garrick  h?^4iw>touly  j^dlgment  ip  reliaquish- 
ing  a  part  that  he  foun(|,  upon  experiwc^,  was 
unfit  forhutt;  bathe  had  ap^h  ^  kppwledge  qf 
lijia  own. powers  in  other  cha^-ae^er^^  *^  tha^t  a  whqk 
college  of  wit-crackers  could  not  flout  hin^^  o^t  qf 
his  humour,"  when  he  found  he  was  right.  Quin^ 
foj  Jpstance,  attempted  toJbeajuaUy  witty  and 
seV^rq  on  hi^  Sir  lohq  Brute,  by  ciWingh  Jacky 
Bfuip:  h\^tQ^n\c]i  peisaveretdm  the  cbapactec 
not  withstanding;  jmd  the  Tolru,  to  the  laat,  ad* 
injttod  the  ju^tkie.of  his  ohcace; 

We  sMll  mention  one  more  kistance  of  G^^ 
rick's  judgriiint,  (which  seldom  or  never  yielded 
itp  his  vaoity^).  in  the  instance  luf  tlie  tn^td^y  of 
CmoTy  ad  ada{)ted  to  the  Eiriiishi  stage^  froiti?  the 
French  play  of  Voltaire's,  hy  A^on  HiHy  Esij. 

.  Af^^r  the  success  of  this  authov's  Mirope^  he 
tvied  alibis  arts  to  make  Garrick  pierfiocmin  this 
lu3  fc^v.QiHite  Tragedy  of  Gassar:  he  tpW  hitn^ 
*^  he  had  writtea  this  djaa^acter  expressly  for  the. 
e^ihikUiQii  of  hi&  powers,  s^id  tx>  ahew  thatMei;^ 
ofpmiQ^'vA. \Khicb  heu&taod  so  iimch tiniivaHcd/*: 
lie  $t)^0(p^4  ^ve>ii  to  tbe  most  barefaced  i^ttcries^ 
ai^>^  ini  a  tetter  addressed  to,  him  on  tkis^  subjeot, 
t^lk^  '^  of  a  mitMikh^  cQiuJdiunQe>  togethet  w^th 
such  <?3f^4  and.  attitudes,  S^€.  Sfio.  as  would,  oatdo- 
all  his.  former  oatdoingsu''  Ihit  Gamck,  thoja^ 
a.. good  deal  miak^  by  flattery,  ajs  well  as  feaf , 

upoa. 


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CHAtLES    llACKtiy.  115 

tipoh  ether  Occasiwis^  ne^ef  let  either  interfere 
with  his  theat?ical  reputacirtfi:  he  palixely  parried 
911  these  sdlkitatk>fiS)'  and  Araa  determined,  like 
Bnmi^  not  td  be  trepanned  by  Oesar. 

Itt  ahottr  u.pdtt  iJM  receifrt  of  this  letter,  Gar-^ 
rick  gaiQe  sueh  rea^ona  m  Mr.  Hill  for  his  not 
appeairhig  m  his  Tragedy  ipmy  advafitft-ge,  that 
he  gave  up  all  designs  of  bringing  it  forward ;  ati^^ 
as  the  author  died  in  a  few  months  afterwards, 
thi*  offVpriog  of  bij  Mua(e  accompanied  him  to  the 
gravQ  ia  ^iietyce  and  obscurity. 

At  wiia[t  period  Garrick  becaifie  acquainted  with 
MoL  Woffittgtwn,  we  do  not  exactly  krtow;  by 
coTOputatioii^  it  wwst  be  sorm  rime  befoi^  his  ^p- 
peafatiee^GoodmaifsPieldjj  or  immediately  af- 
terwards/ a$j;  Wtt  find  thrill  both  engaged  for  the 
Btebfo  Theatw  ip,  the  smftitier  of  1 743,  and  both 
c»JiOTkiiig  out  tlwit  expedition  in  the  month  of 
itm  4lie  same  year. 

We  fia^r^  Rkewise  a  song  of  Garrfck's  onhisr 
nmteefsiabcKit  the  same  time,  heginning  with, 

; '  .     "  Gfaerf  moFt  I^  taxtn  iwy  vocal  fhell. 
To  hills  and  dale&  my  passiop  te][> 
A  flame  which  time  can  never  quell, 
Which  burns  for  thee,  my  Peggy;" 

trWck  ^^s  much  talked  e>f  at  that  time  midet  the 
general  ritle  of  ''  Lovely  Pegg>\"    Macklin  used 

I  2  often 


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116  MEMOIRS   OF  , 

<jften  to  call  thU  **.a  watcr-grucl  thiiigi"  which 
made  its  way  amongst  fasiiionable  circles,  merely 
through  the  medium  (if  Garrick's  theatrical  name, 
without  any  point,  or  peculiarity  of  sentiment, -to 
support  it:  but,  perhaps,  this  may  be  a  proof 
of  h\s  passion^  as  most  of  our  best  love-^origs  have 
been  Avritten  by  mere  poetical  lovers^ .  who.  had  no 
other  interest  to  support  than  their  reputation  as 
inciters. 

Upon  tlieir  return  from  Dublin,  Mrsi.Woffirig- 
ton  lodged  in  the  s^me  house  with  Macklin;  and 
as  Garrick  often  visited  there,  there  was  a  con- 
stant course  of  society  between  the  parties:  a 
fourth  visitor,  too,  sometimes  made  his  appear^ 
ance,  but  in  private — who  was  a  Noble  Lord, 
lately  living,  and  who  was  much  enamoured  with 
Miss  Woffington*s  njany  agreeable, qualifications. 
It,  however,  unfortunately  happened  one  night, 
that  Garrick  had  occupied  Miss  Woffingtoms 
chamber  when  his  Lordship  took  it  iii  his  head  td 
visit  -his  favourite  Dulcinea.  A  loud  knocking 
at  the  door  annoupced  his  arrival,  when  Garrick, 
who  had  always  a  ^roj^er  presentiment  of  danger 
about  him,  jumped  out  of  bed,  and  gathering  up  . 
his  clothes  as  well  as  he  could,  hunied  iip  to  Mack- 
lin's  apartments  for  security.  ' 

Macklin  was  just  out  of  his  first  sleep  when  he 
was  roused  by  his  friend;,  who  told  him  the  parti- 

:    .        .       .    -    .:  ;  cular 


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CHARXES  MACRLIK.  117 

cular.  cause  of  disturbing  hihi,  and  requesting  the 
use  of  a  bed  for  the  remainder  of  the  night/  But 
wbat;  was  Garrick's  surprise  when,  on  reviewing 
the  articles  of  his  dress  which  lie  brought  up  with 
him,  "  in  the  alarm  of  fear,*'  he  found  be  had  left 
his  ^scratch  wig  below  in  Miss  Woflftngtpn's  bed- 
chamber! Macklin  did  all  he  could  to  comfort 
him — the  other  lay  upon  tenter*hooks  of  anxiety 
the  whole  night* 

♦ 

But  to  return  to  his  Lordship :  He  had  scarcely 
entered  the  apartment,  when  finding  something 
entangle  hts  feet  in  the  dark,  he  called  for  a  light, 
and  the  .first,  object  he  saw  was  this  unfortunate 
scratch!  which,  taking  up  in  his  hand,  he  ex- 
claimed with  an  oath,  **  Oh !  Madam,  have  I 
found  you  but  at  last?  So  here  has  been  a  lover 
in  this  ^se  !*'  and  then  fell  to  upbraiding  her  in 
all  tbe  language  of  rage,  jealousy,  and  disappoint- 
ipent  The  lady  heard  him  with  great  c6mposure 
for  same'  time;  and  then,  without  offering  the. 
least  excuse,  "  begged  of  him  not  to  make  him- 
self so  great  a  fool,  but  give  her  her  wig  back 
again."  !'What!  Madam,  do  you  glory  in  your 
infidelity?.  Da  you  own  the  wig  then?**  "  Yes, 
to  be  sure  I  da,"  said  she;  **  Fmsure  it  was  my 
inoney' paid  for  it,  and  I  hope  it  will  repay  me 
with  money  and  reputation  too."  This  called  for 
a  farthfiF^'fecplanation.  At  last  she  very  coolly 
5^14,  -"  Wl]^,  my  Lord,  if  you  will  thus  desert 

I  3  your 


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JJP  UOiOlM  Off        ^ 

y^r  iM^mdci  M  a  mtLnp  and  bi3  prying  into  M 
the  liitle  peculiarities  cif  J»y  doDiestic  and  profiw*- 
fiipnal  b^aine^s^  knof^,  that  I  am  soon  to  j^y  a 
t>reeche5  part;  and  thit  wig,  which  ybusotrt*- 
ijmphan^ly  bpldin  yottx  hand^.  isJthe  veiy  Indivi*^ 
dual  wig  I  was.  practising  in  a  liittk  before  I  went 
to  bed :  and  so,  because  my  maid  wts  careless 
enough  to  leave  it  in  your  Lordship's  \ray — ^her^ 
I  am  to  be  plagued  and  scolded  at  such  a  rate,  a6 
if  I  was  a  common  prostitute." 

,  '   This  speech  had  aU  the  desired  effect : .  his  Lord^ 
ship  fell  upon  his  kneess,  begged  a  thcMisand  pan-  . 
dons,  and  the  night  was  passed  in  harqioiiy  an4 
good  humour. 

Garrick  heard  these  particulars  widi  transport 
next  morning;  praised  her  wit  and  ingc^ity; 
^nd,  ^What  was  still  better,  Sir,"  said  Macklin, 
^'  gave  u$  a  dinner  the  same  day  at -Richmond, 
where  we  all  laughed  heartily  at  his  Lwdshij^'s 
puUibiHty."  V  ^ 

The  connection  betweoi  Miss  Wofflngton  and 
Parrick  soon  after  thia  became  more  united :  they 
Icei^  houae  together,  and,  by  agreement,  each 
l)ore  the  monthly  expences  alternately.  ]V^1tK4i 
freqently  nuide  one  at  their  social  boa^rd,  HMhich 
was  occasionally  attended  bysome  of  the  first  wits 
oC  that  time;  particularly  during  Mis»  W'offingu 

ton's 


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CHAftLCt  MAtlLLIN.  1  )9 

ton^  month,  vhiefa  tras  kltrays  d)$«ihginisbed  by 
a  better  table,  and  a  greater  mti  of  ^o^d  (^dnipa- 
uy.  When  Macklin  was  a«ked,  *'  Ho^  did  this 
happcTn?'*  he  Would  VepJy,  m  his  fough  cynical 
mati&er,  ^^  Happen^  Sir!  it  did  not  happen  at  all 
—it  was  by  dtiign^  by  a  studied  tc^ncmy  on  the  part 
of  Garrick,  which  moti  or  le^  attended  hiit^^aU 
through  Kfe."  ''  Why,  I  thought  Mr.  Garrick 
was  rather  esteemed  a  generous  manV  "  Yes, 
Sir,  iu  talk  he  was  a  very  generous  man,  a  humane 
man,  atid  all  &at;  and^  by  G— d.  Sir,  I  believfe 
ite  was  no  hypocrite  in  his  imnlediateifeelibgis: 
bttt,  Sir,  he  would  tell  you  all  thii  vdrjr  plausibly 
at  his  tocmse  in  Southatnpton  Street, '  till  turning 
the  corner^  the  very  Gt^i  ghost  of  a  farthing  he 
met  snihi  would  melt  all  his  fine  resolutions  ^  iii^ 
to  air,  into  thin  ai#,'  and  lie  was  then  a  mere 
Manager.'' 

Dr.  JohAson  adds  another  testimony  of  Gar«- 
rick's  parsimony  oi^  these  occasions.  Drinkhi^ 
tea  one  evening  with  him  at  l^liss  Woffingtori's,  be 
scolded  her  fc^r  makii^  th^  t^a  too  strong;  and, 
tijpon  her  replying,  '*  it  was  lio  stronger  than^usu* 
al/'  be  got  up  witk  some  passion  and  exclaifned^ 
"Not  sftronger  iShtn  astia^  Madam !  Why  tbi* 
tn  is  as  rfid  as  Wood/' 

Dis|^6sitio^s  96^(f%tf^ent  a»  Garrick^s  amd  Wof^ 

filigtott,  w^e  4dt  likely  :t6  produce  a  good  fM^ 

-  14  trimonial 


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130  ,  MEMOIRS  or 

ttimotddf  dy^.  The  lattw  was  raibher  sanguine 
in  the  cQutrary  opinioB*  Garrick  certaiu^  had 
great  a4:tf  aq tions :  his  person  was  neat  and  elegant ; 
his  niannerj^vagreeable  and  uprightly;  withtajenfcs 
that,  withpu^  a  rival,  not  only  placed  him  at  the 
head  of  his  professioq,  but  must  insure- hun  a  yery 
cqpsiderahle,  fortune;  These  were  strong  induce- 
ments iQ  ill terest  the  lady,  who,  though  young, 
and  rather  .handsome;  with  fine  accomplishments, 
and  rising.  ;talents,  yet  was  not  immaculate,  m  her 
private  jclj^p^c^ter^  What  encQuragamenfrGajfrick 
gave  hfep  fqr  the  hope  of  marriage,  we  do  not 
jcnow ;  butjtbat  she.  reckoned  ou  it  as  ajstrpng  ^rc^- 
bability,  M^jcklin  believed  from  many  conv4r«r 
tions  which  he  had  with  her  qnythe  subject*  The 
following  little  circumstance,  however,  soon  threw 
this  hope  for'ever  to  the  grouStd, 

After  one  of  those  tiUa  tites^  when  we  sup- 
|)ose,  hke;  Lucy  in  ^*The  Beggar's  Op^a,"  she 
was  soliciting  him  '^  to  be  made  am  houwtwoman 
<]if,"  the  prQ$pect  of  such  a  marriage  haunted,  him 
so  in  his  dreams, .  tliat  he  laid  a  very  restless  night 
jQf  itn  She  enquired,  the  cause :  hedemurrjed,  and 
hesitated  for  some  time ;..bu;t  as  the  lady  would 
take  no  txcitse,  be  cbnfusedly  (told  her, .  **  that  be 
was  thinking  of  this  marrikgt^  That  it  was  a  ver 
ry  foolish  tiling  for  both  parties,  who  might  do 
better;  in  jsepamte  Imes;  iandttotjrfor  .bi«  jiart, 
though  he,  loyed  and  res^jected  his  d/ear  Peggy, 

and 


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CHABLES   MACKLIN.     ^  1£1 

and  ewr  shoftitd  do  so  as  an  admirer,  yet  he  (x>uld 
not  aiiswer  for  himself  in  thie  part  of  Bazeilkk.^^ 
"  Aiui  priy,^  was  it  this,"  said  the  lady,  very 
cpolly,  ^  *  which  hits  given  you  this  restless  night?" 
"Why,  to  tell  you  the  triith,  my  dear  Peg,  as 
you  love  frankness,  it  was;  and,  in  consequence, 
I  have  worn  the  shirt  of  Dejamra  for  these  last 
eight  houri  past"  "Then/Sir,"  said  she,  raising 
her  voice,  "get  up,  and  throw  it  off;  for  from 
tWs  hour  I  separate  myself  from  you,  except  in 
the  course  of  professional  business,  or  in  the  pre- 
sence of  a  third  person."  Garrick  attempted  to 
sooth  her,  hut  m  vain:  they  parted  that  moment; 
and  the '  lady  kept  her  word  with  the  greatest 
punctuality; 

*» 
This  story  soon  got  abroad,  and  was,  as  usual, 
exaggerated  with  all  those  ridiculous  circiunstances 
which  Gossip  Report  is  so  dexterous  at.  A  caii- 
cature  of  the  transaction,  no  way  honourable  to 
the  actor,  appeared  in  the  print  shops,  to  the 
great* amusement  of  the  public.     • 

Next  morning  Miss  Woffington  packed  up  all 
the  little  presents  which  Garrick  had  given  he?, 
^  sent  them  to  him  with  a  farewell  letter.  Gar- 
rick did  tl^  same  to  her;  excepta  pair  of  diamond 
sboeMcktesv;  which  cost  her  a  considerable  strmi 
and  of  which  he  t6ok  no  notice.  She  waited  a 
month  longer,  to  see  whether  he  would  jcturu 

them : 


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122  JffXMOiRS  ok: 

them :  she  then  .^rote  bim  a  Ifctter^  deKeately 
touching  OQ  the  ciccumstaxtoe.  To  ibis  Oarriek 
repKed,  siying,  **  as  they  wtrectiie  onlj  ii&ktnt^ 
morials  he  had  of  the  many'hkppj  hottrs  wlwh 
passed  between  them,  he  hoped  she  would  peitnit 
him  to  ke^  them  far  lier  sake^"  .  Woffingtoh  saw 
through  tbisy  but  had  too  in  ueh  spirit  to  reply; 
and  Garrick  retained  the  burckles-  tothe  ia^t  hour 
of  his  life.     "" 

Of  tlus  celebrated  woman,  no  less  &niocis  fbr 
her  talents,  and  fine  accompHsihmieints,  than  fbr 
her  generosity  and  appropriate ftdings,  .the  fol- 
lowing sketch  of  her  character,:  as  taken  Atmi 
Macklin,  and  other  contemporary  performers,  caw- 
not  be  unacceptable ;  especially  as  the  public  will 
jBnd  in  it  some  particulars  which  were  either  un* 
known  tx),  or  have  escaped,  the  rest  of  ber  bio^ 
gtaphers. 

The  origin  of  Miss  Woffington,  as  is  well  knoww, 
was  very  humble.  Her  mother,  on  the  death  of  her 
father,  kept  a  small  grocer's  shop  (commonly 
called  in  Ireland  a  huckster's  shop)  upon  Orm^nd 
jQuay ;  and  under,  this  inauspieioas  circumstance 
did  a  woman,  who  afterwards  ddigJjted  natiAwsj 
and:  attracted  thft  higliestprivfete  regards,  begm 
her  career  in  life.  What  first  garve  rise  to  die  ac^ 
complishmetit  of  so  great  a  eJtenge,  thefollo\v!ing 
circnmstance  will  explaiau 

1  There 


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CHARXES  MACOmK,  HB 

There  wtts  a  Fteach  wovian,  of  tlieiiameof 
Madame  Violante,*  who  tool:  up  an  occasional 
residence  in  Dablin  about  tlxe  3^r  17S8.    Thift 
uroman  was  celebrated  foi  exfaibttittg  great  feati 
of  gr^ce  and  agility  on  the  tight  rope,  Ac  &a 
and,  as  she  supported  a  good  private  character, 
her  exhibidons  were  much  resorted  to  at  that  tkne 
b^  people  of  the  best  fashion.     Violante  varied 
her  amusements  to  tif>e  floating  caprices  of  taste; 
and  as  **  The  Beggar's  Opera*'  was  then  the  rage 
all  over  the  three  kingdoms,  sh^  undertook  to  get 
up  a  representation  of  thb  celebrated  p'rece  with  a 
company  of  children,  or,  as  they  were  called  in 
Ae  Wiia  of  that  day,  *'  LilUputian  Actow.''  Wof- 
fisgtoii,  who  was  then  only  in  the  tenth  year  of 
her  age,  she  fixed  upon  as  her  Mecheatki  and 
such  was  the  power  of  her  infant  t^lent^  not  it 
little  perhaps  aided  by  the  partiaKties  in  fa^^r  of 
tiie  opera,  that  the  Lilliputian  Theatre  wis  &hiw^ 
ed  every  night,  and  the  spirit  and  address  of  the 
little  hero  the  theme  of  every  theatrical  con* 
versation. 

*   Hete  was  not  only  an  early  and  accidental  de- 
cision of  her  genius  for  the  stage,  but  for  her  fu* 

ture 

^  This  womaa,  %ho  nuist  have  been  exceedingly,  cdtfbr^ed, 
has  had  tli^  sii^Ur  boagur  to  b^  noticed  by  $wift»  tii  bis  *^  Yim^ 
4ication  of  hk Excellency  Lord  Cartjeret."  Id  this  piece,  wbich 
abounds  with  traits  of  the  Dean's  peculiar  cast  of  humour,  it 
will  be  seen,  that  the  use  he  has  made  of  her  is  eminently  poli^ 
tical. 


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12^  .    :  HaOMLOlHS:  OF    ;  * 

turj&:«xceUencc  i^ibmecAesparisi  as,i  Judaiat  the 
character,  of  Macbeath.  been  .assigned  her,  it  is 
inpre  tbanprobabk,  she  would  hiavegoheon:  in  the 
.usmtlHne  of  actiftg„.  without  evier  being.celebmted 
as  the,  best  male  rake,  of  her  day,  .  : 

A  commenlpemje^t  so  favourable,,  got  her.  an  ^a- 
g^ement  a  few  years  afterwards  :atSni6<pk  Alley 
Tbeati*e,  DnbUn,  where,  she  «oon  fulfilled  every 
expectation  that  was  fornied  of  hfer;  and  so  Ihtle 
did  her  humble  birth,  and  early  ediication,  bow 
down  her  mind  to  her  situation,  that  her  talent* 
were  found  evidently  to  lie  in  the  .representation 
of  females  of  high  rank  and  dignified  deportment; 
Her  person  was  )5uijtable>tQ.§uch  an  exhibition,  be* 
ijftg  of  sige  above  the  middle  stature,  elegantly 
formecj,!  and,  though  no  tan  absolute  beauty,  had 
a ,  faeo  full  of  expression  and  vivacity,  ,  She  was^ 
be$tde>  highly  accomplished  for  the  stage,  being 
a  peifect  mistress  of  dancing,  and  of  the  French 
Jatiguftge;  both  of  which  she  acquired  uuder  the 
tuition  of  Madame  Violante. 

Her  reputation  on  the  Irish  stage  drew  an^  olfer 
from  Mr.  Rich,  the  Manager  of  Coyent  Gardea 
Theatre,  for  an  engagement  at  a  very  handsome 
salary,  which  Miss  WoflSngton  accepted,  and  in 
the  winter  of^  1740,  (when  our  heroine  was  ex* 
actly  twenty-two  y^ars  of  age,)  she  made  her  first 
appearance  oh  t^ie  London  Stage  in  the  charac- 


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CHAUTLES^  T^J^CAttK.  125 

ter  of  Sylvia,  in  "The  Recruiting  Officer;**  and 
in  the  same  month  she  performed  Sir  Havry  Wild* 
air.  The  publication  of  this  part  to  be  undertaken 
by  a  a;<;^?/m,  excfted  the  curiosity  of  the  public, 
and  more '  paifticularly  ^  the  character  had  for 
the  most  paa-t  lain  dormant  since  the  death  of 
Wilks,  ^(se*el*  years  before  that  time,): who  \vm 
fiiiivers«illy  esteemed  the  first  Sir  Harry  on  thef 
stage.  However  this  curiosity  was  fully  fe^tisfied 
in  favbtir  of  Miss  Woffi^gton,  it  was  admitted  by 
the  biist  Critics,  that  sht /represented  this  gay, 
good^biiwoared^  dissipated  rafce  of  fashion,^  \vith- 
an  ease,  efegaince;  and  deportment,  Avhiclf  seemed 
almost'out  of  the  reach  of  female  accomplishments  j 
and  her  fame  flei^  abdut  the  town  with^  sucb  rapi- 
dity, iKat>  the  comedy  had  a  ran,  and  proved  a 
considerable  'a(^itibn  to  the  treasury  for  many 
seasons  aftferwattJ*.  •  , 

Updii  tliis^  occasion,  she  one  night  observed  to  " 
Quin,  ^fter  coming  off  the  stage  in  a  thunder  of 
applause,.*^  I  really  believe,  Quin,  half  the  au- 
dirade  take  me  for  a  man."  *^ By  G— d.  Madam, 
If  theydo,  (^aid  the  cynic,)  the  other  half  of  the 
house  know  to  the  contrary.'' 

And  hefe  a  slight  discussion  on  the  merits  of 
this  ^chat^cter,  ias  well  as  af  breeches  parts  m  ge-^ 
Beral,  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  amateurs 
of  the  ^rama;  particularly  as  the,  opinion  we  are 

about 


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12^  MEMOIRS  OlfV 

ibout  t^  give,  hi^  been  sahetioned  by  those  of 
Garrick^  MadcltiS.  ^nd  others. . 

The  reputation  which  Miba  WofiSogtcm  bad  for 
5^hy  jrew59  in  t\w  char^ter  Ql!Sir;H;wTy.Wildair^ 
was  smihj  tkat  it  was  considered  as  v^.oHcfdiWvrc 
oC  acti»g^  which  \inaBtcd  iiothinf  ^thernalt  act* 
€omptiskm€nt,  4Hd  which,  perli^s^  ii^to  wvet 
^(jaalkd  hy  Wilks  .hi«rs«tf  **  irt  the  iwcfridiaB  of 
bi9  repiitftt iQi. "  Tlw  c€fitm»fy  was^iiot  mhkAWyf 
pu^;  uoT  iviH  it  apply  to  any  wojnani.  no^Bwatiet 
how  cjelcWailsed  ahe>:in^y  be  in  malo-chaiActcrs, 
(fiM^i  W9ifi  characters.)  Where  a  wom^i^  no 
djoubt,:  personates  a  man  pro,  ten^iore,  ts  is*  the  cade 
in  several  of  <Mwr  stqck  coR»edie^  Xpstrtic^wfly  wi 
Hypolita,  in- "  Ske  Woi*ld  and  She  Would  Not,"> 
the  eloper  the  iBiiftition  ia  m^de^  the  niOre  we  ap^ 
plaud  the  performer,  but  alwayji^  tbeknowladfg^ 
that  the  object  before  us  is  a  woman  assuming  the 
chameim'  of  :^  m(tn;,  but  wb€;H  t)^  saTf^i woman 
totally  usurps  tl>e  eaale  character,  aad.we  atfe  kft 
to  try  her  meiits  merely  ias,  a  man^  witho^rt  niak^ 
ing  the  lejft&t-aU»wance  fmthem^^i^tm  of  the 
other  sex,  wfc  may  safely  pronoiiftcei  .there  \»  na 
woman,  nor  ever  was  a  woo^^oi)^  who^nfuHy  su^ 
ply  this  character.  There  is  such  a  reverse  in  all 
the  ^hdbks  andiBO^  of  the  twos^^es^  ic^j^ited 
from  thevfry  cradle  upwards,  thftt  it  m  wat  toalt 
unposs4bility  foi  the  one  to  resemble  the  ^ther  (0'aa 
totally  to  escape,  detection.    Garriek^^who' wi»» 

a  great 


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CHARI.E3   MACELIN.  IS7 

1^  great  judge  of  bis  ajrt^  ilwa-ya  thought  so;  and 
I5Q  <tid  M^cfelin ;  md  when  the  Case  of  Miss  Wof- 
§ngtori*&  &r  Harf y  wft$  offered  aa  ^n  e;iception  to 
thU:  genwal  rwl^,  G^rrick  woufetd  uut  admit  it:  he 
s^id^  **  It  no  dfOubt  wa9  a  grec^t  ajltenipt  for  rfwo*^ 
fnan^  but  still  it  was  not  Sir  Harry  Wildair." 

^isa  Woffi9gtf#i,^  hoiwever  great  hei:  reputation 
in  ^Mfl  pftTt,  did  not  r€st  it  wholly  iu'Sir  Harry* 
In  d»ficd6eiT^  of  paiy,  high  bred  deportmcat,  suck 
2^^iiB»i^»tv  Lady.Towaly,  l^dy  Bfe;tty  Modidi, 
Ste.  sihe.  po$9eft$Qd  a  fiist  late  merit/  She  likewise, 
excelled:  in  many  .of  the  humotous  parts  of  come- 
dy J  woh  u  I^dy  Ptiant^  in  Congreve's  "  Dour 
Wf^De^ei r'  Mrfik D^y,  in  ''The  Committee;"  and 
ofcb^^;  o6t  in  the  letst  sccuplmg,  on  these  occa^ 
su»^>tp  ctmwrt  the  iMtw9A  beauty  of  her  face  to 
the  wftekto  pf  oW  agev  and  put  on  the  tawdry 
httJ^tmcsits.  and;Mu)gai  mainners  of  the  old  hypo* 
critiGal  city  vixen. 

|)uciiig  the  tender  connection  between  GarriclK 
audi  Woffip^OB^  they  often  peiibmied  together 
la  the  same  scene,  both  here  a.nd  in  Dublin;  but 
when  the  former  became  Manager  of  Drury  Lane 
in  the  year  1747,  he  was  not  a  little  embarrassed, 
Qfld  findhig  hei  oao  of  the  articled  comedians  of 
his  partner  Mr.  Laey-  Wcdfingtoa  felt  equally 
avkwasd  xvi  it;  and  ^vhafe  roade  her  situation  still 
more  critical,  waa  the  professkmal  ioteHerence  of 

Mrs, 


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128  iTEMOIBS  ot    • 

Mrs.  Cibber,  Pritcbard,  and  Clive;  ^rtictikrly 
the  latter,  who,  being  naturally  quick,^  as  v^bW  as 
coarse "  in  her  passion,  frequently  drew  upOh  her 
the  sarcastic  replies  of  Woffington,  who  Itiade 
battle  with  a  better  grace,  and  tli^  utnlost  cdm* 
posure  of  temper. 

To  live  in  a  state  of  warfare,  however,  was  not 
Woffingtoii's  penchant.  She  soon  after;  quitted 
this  Theatre  for  Covent  Garden,  where  she  had 
niore  scope  for  her  talents,  and  where,  for  near 
four  years,  sKe  shone  unrivalldd  in  the  walks  of 
elegant  and  humorous  comedy.  It  is  true,  die 
BOW  and  then  (particularly  after  her  trip  ^rom  Pa- 
ris, where  she  had  studied  a  good  deal  the  grace 
and  grandeur  of  the  French  Theatre  under  the  ce* 
lebrated  actress  Madamoiselle  Dumesnil)  ambi- 
tioned  the  higher  walks  of  tragedy ;  but  thisr  line 
of  acting  was  evidently  not  her^r/e.  Her  Afh 
dromache  and.  Hermione  brought  her  some  kind 
of  approbation;  but  her  tones  were  in  general  too 
Cibherian  for  Tragedy ;  and,  however  they  might 
display  the  propriety  of  mere  recitation,  they  had 
not  tl>e  power  of  touching  the  tender  or  tempes-^ 
tuous  passions. 

In  1751,  Mrs.  Woffington  quitted  the  London 
Theatres  for  a  very  profitable  engagement  nqder 
^Ir.  Thomas  Sheridan,  who  w^s  at  that  time  Ma- 
nager of  Smock  Alley  House,  and  who,  being  m. 

excellent 


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CHAfaBa-  MACfi£lN.  J 29 

excellent  jtidge  himself  of  thfeatrkfi^  .merit,  was 
ahva^i^s  liberal  in  cuitivaiing  the  growth  of  distin* 
guisbed  ta[lents.  It  Ai^as.  at  this  sera  th^  Woffingt 
tQu  inigbt  have  beeft  said  ttf  h».y0  re^chtd  the 
tfotte  of  ilierifame:  she  ^a$  thea  in  the  bloom  of 
h^r  persoo/  accoBftpliahmen.ts^  aUd  profession; 
htghlyi  Mife^ingaishfed Jfor  hfer  wit;  and,  vivacity; 
with^'a  ehftrfia  of  cpnvej-satiQft  thfit  at  once  at- 
fraQteA  Aht  adnliratiw  of  tlw  bk»>  aqd  the  envy 
ofjthe^meni  1  , 

.  Howr:«he'  was  conbidered  as  ah  actrpss  tnay  be 
t8tiHuitfed;  from  the  following  tlieatrieal  record, 
where  Victor  tells  us,  that,  although  hjer  article 
with  the  Manager  was  but  for  four  hundred  pounds, 
yet)fcy  foiir  bfher  characfteri,  [^irfo^nnetlteii  nights 
efeth  thk^aeawh;  yifc  Lady  Townly>  Maria  in  the 
Njoijafo^rSir  Harry^  Wildair,  and  Hermlone,  she 
hmikght/fcw  thousand  pounds;  W[i  instaucci  he 
adds, '  A^caf 'knJofwn  in.an)^  theatre  from  four  old 
stock  plc(y9y  and  in  two  of  which  the  Manager 
bdre:no.part 

Themext  yearStocridau  liberally  enlarged  her 
salary  to  e^At  hundred  pounds;  and, though  it  was 
ta  be  imagined  that  her  force  to  draw  audiences, 
Bauat  be  weakened,  yet  the  profits  at  closing,  tlie 
Hieateei^did  not  fell  short  of  more  than  three 
bundled  pound*;  of  the  first-seasoin.    . , 

.  :;     K'  i.     .  .,j     Her 


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f36  MElifOi*  or 

Her  company  &f  was  equally  sought  for  as  tm 
the  Stage;  and  though  she  did  not  uuich  admire 
t^e  frivolity  of  her  own  sex,  and  coase^^ueiilfy  did 
not  mix  much  with  them,  the  Was  the  delight  oi 
some  of  the  gr&t vest  and  .most  ^eMific  characters 
in  Church  and  State.  She  was  well  koowi^to  be 
at  the  head  of  the  cdebrated  Beef  Steak  Cl^b  (a 
club  held  every  Saturday  at  the  Manager's^  ex* 
pence,  and  principally  composed  of  Lords^-aiid 
Members  of  Parliament)  for  many  y^ars^  where 
no  woman  was  admitted  but  herself;  and  where 
wit  j^nd  spirit,  i^  taking  their  most  exemiave 
flights,'  never  once  broke  through  die  hms  of 
decorum.  -  . 

This  cel^bfated  Club,  lioweVeT,  which  mapdersa 
great  a  noise  at  that  time  in  the  thxiatricULivt^orld, 
and  at  which  Mrs.  Woffington  gav64md'ree^«f)ed 
such  inftnit^  satisfactioii,  after  a  few^  y^xi^ima^ 
died  Into  what  was  called  ^*Rarty  Meeting,^  where 
CJ^i/^/iW  thought  the  Coitr/  wag  toe /^pi^domi* 
nant;  and,  in  consequence  of  this  opinieq,  o«treak:-» 
ed  their  vengeance,  in  the  end,  on  the  unoffend- 
ing Mai^agen  Mus^  riVoffington  saw  these  troubles 
brewings  and  actisally  afloat  whilst  sh<?  remain^ 
in  Dublin ;  she  therefore  thought  pnsper  to  relin- 
(|uish  tbi$^*SK:^mie  of  ^^^^t^Bxt  opce  more  for  die  9^* 
gions  of  Loudon,  and  in  the  winter  of  1756,  re* 
turned  to  her  old  quarieri  under  Rich,  t|ie  Maiia'^ 
seer  of  Co  vent  Garden  Theatre. 

Though 


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CHAKLEk  KA€KLl!f.  131 

Though  Mrs.  Woffington  was  now  only  in  her 
thhrty-eighth  year,  (a  time  of  life,  generally  speak-* 
ing,  whi<5h  may  be  called  nteridUmal  in  point  of 
constitution  and  professional  talents,)  her  health 
began  visibly  to  decline :  ske,  however,  pursued 
her  pubKc  profession  till  the  year  before  her  death, 
when  her  disorder  increasing,  s]>e  retired  from  the 
stage  in  1759,  and  died  on  the  28th  of  March, 
1760. 

Many  yeats  before  her  death,  perhaps  in  the 
gaiety  of  her  heart,  she  made  a  kind  of  verbal  en- 
gagement with  Colonel  C (a  quondam  ina- 
morato of  her's)  "  that  the  longest  h'ver  was  to 
have  all/*  l^e,  however,  thought  better  of  this 
rash  resolution,  and  bequeathed  her  fortune,  which 
was  i^ove  five  thousand  pounds,  to. her  sister;  a 
legacy  which,  though  it  is  said  gfi^atly  disap- 
pointed  the  Colonel,  (who,  perhaps,  might  have 
disappointed  her,  had  it  been  his  turn  to  go  first,) 
was  more  suitable  to  the  duties  she  owed  to  so 
near  and  valuable  a  relation, 

{>ome  generalship  was  practised  on  this  occasion 
,  between  Mrs.  Woffington  and  the  Colonel  The 
former  having  neglected  to  make  the  clause  in 
favour  of  her  sister  till  this  her  last  illness,  the 
Colonel  suspected  her  intentions,  and,  with  a 
view  to  prevent  them,  was  constant  in  his  daily 

^2  visits, 


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132  MEMOIRS   OF 

visits,  almost  from  morning  till  night.  The  ^is^ 
ter  took  advantage,  however,  of  the  ColoneFa 
leaving  the  house  one  evening  rather  early,  and 
had  the  will  altered  to  her  mind;  and  which  hap- 
pened to  he  just  in  time;  as  the  Colonel  returned 
before  he  went  to.  bed,  to  bid  another  adieu  to; 
*^  his  lovely  Peggy." 

We  Jiad  the  above  anecdote  froiji  a  gentleman 
nQw  liviqg,  who  w?is  then  clerk  to  an  eminent  at- 
torney, under  whom  he  was  employed  to  draw 
the  will. 

Her  death  was  considered  at  that  time  as  a  ge- 
neral loss  to  the  stage;  and  Mr.  Hoole,  (the  in- 
genious Translator  of  Ariosto,  &c*)  who  knew 
her  perfectly  well,  has  in  the  following  lines 
(which  we  have  extracted  from  his  Monody  to 
her  Memory)  drawn  her  public  and  private  cha- 
racter so  faithfully,  that  we  cannot  better  con- 
clude this  sketch,  than  by  giving  them  a  repetition 
,in  this  place. 

Blest  in  each  ^rt,  by  Nature  form'd  to  please, 
With  beauty,  sense,  with  elegance,  and  ease, 
Whose  piercing  genius  study'd  all  mankind, 
All  Shakespeare  opening  to  thy  vigorous  mind; 
In  every  scene  of  comic  humour  known, 
In  sprightly  sallies,  wit  was  all  thy  own: 
Whether  yoi|  seem'd  the  Cit's  more  humble  wife, 
Or  shone  in  Townly*s  higher  sphere  of  life, 
Alike  thy  spirit  knew  each  turn  of  wit. 
And  gave  new  force  to  all  the  poet  writ. 

Nor 


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CHARLES    MACKLIN.  133 

Nor  was  thy  worth,  to  public  scenes  confin'd. 
Thou  knew'st  the  noblest  feelings  of  the  mmd ; 
Thy  ears  were  ever  open  to  distress. 
Thy  ready  hand  was  ever  stretch'd  to  bless. 
Thy  breast  hupiane  for  each  unhappy  felt, 
Thy  heart  for  others'  sorrows  prone  to  melt.  '       * 

In  vain  ^id  Envy  point  her  scorpion  sting, 
In  vain  did  Malice  shake  her  blasting  wing,  . 
Each  generous  breast  disdain'd  th'  unplrasing  tale, 
J^nd  cast  o'er  every  fault  Oblivion's  veil. 

The  friendship  between  Macklin  ai)d  Garrick 
continued  with  unabating  attachment,  from  ike  i 
first  period  of  their  acquaintance,  to  thfe  general 
revolt  of  the  Performers  of  Drury  Lane  in  the 
year  17*3.  During  this  interval,  the  latter  looked 
up  to  the  former  for  his  theatrical  experience  with 
Afan^gers  and  the  public;  and  as  Macklin  always 
talked  mucb  of  marketable  fame,   Garrick,   who 
had  a  great  deal  to  dispose  of,  thought  him  a 
good  chapman  to  inform  him  of  the  best  modes 
of  keeping  up  its  just  value:  and,  indeed,  so  apt 
was  the  pupil  in  those  lessons  of  economy,  that 
he  soon  soared  beyond  his  master — Macklin  hav- 
ing the  theory  only  in  his  head;  subject  to  the 
impetuosity  of  hispassions— Garrick  mixing  Meo- 
ry  and  practice  together,  under  the  direction  of 
prudeujce,*  a»d  the  nMure  of  e:^isting  circujp- 
$tanc€is. 

ITie  revolt  of  the  Performers  In  1/43,  occa- 
sioned by  the  great  irregularity  of  the  Manager 

li  3       .  Fleetwood, 


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134*  MEMOIRS   OF 

Fleetwood,  is  too  we^l  known  to  need  *  recital 
here.  The  obligations  entered  into  between 
Macklin  and  Garrick,  at  the  head  of  thi$  revolt, 
were  certainly  to  stand  by  each  other  until  their 
demands  were  compHed  with;  but  being  disap- 
pointed in  the  I-.ord  Chamberlain's  decision,*  Gar- 
rick found  all  opposition  not  only  indFectual  as 
to  the  point  in  question,  but  likely  to  be  attended 
with  very  seVious  consequences  to  him  and  his 
friends:  he  therefore  made  his  terms  with  the  Ma- 
nager, as  did  many  others  of  the  seceders,  except 
Macklin;  Avho,  in  imitation  of  Shylock,  insisted 
Vpon  the  particulars  of  his  bond  with  Ga'rrick, 
aqd  loudly  complained  both  of  the  br^cach  o( 
friendship  and  confederated  agreement. 

Deciding  upon  this  question  in  the  Court  of  Mi- 
noSy  there  can  be  no  doubt  judgm_ent  must  go 
with  Macklin ;  but  there  are  certain  circumstances 
which  cannot  be  foreseen  at  the  time  of  entering 

iflto 

♦  Tfce  I>ukc  of  Grafton,  grandfather  to  the  present  Doke^  wats 
thea  Lord  Chamberlain,  who,  on  receiving  the  petition  of  the 
Performers  for  a  licence  to  act  plays  at  some  other  Theatre,  in- 
dependent  of  their  former  Manager,  very  gravely  asked  one  of 
the  Performed  (we  beUeve  Mr.  Garrick)  what  wa«  the  yearly 
amount  of  his  salary  ?  The  answer  was,  about  500U  per  yeiif . 
**  And  this  you.  think  too  little,**  replied  his  Grace,  "  whilst  I 
have  a  Son,  who  i^  heir  to  my  titW  and  estate,  venturing  ^  life 
daily  for  his  King  and  Country,  at  much  less  than  half  that  sum/* 
The  petition  was  of  coorse  rejected. 


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^    CHAEI^ES   UACK\.l^.'  136 

into  some  agreements,  which,  thou^li,  perhaps, 
not  altogether  sufficient  to  justify,  yen  enough  to, 
apolQgi^  for  the  bieach  of  them.  This  we  iQok 
upon  4s.one-  The  performers  could  not  gain  the 
poiat  £ov  whix^h  they  confederated,  and  an  obsti- 
nate holding  out  must  have  very  materially  in-: 
jured  Garrick,  both  in  his  rising  fame  and  for- 
tune, whilst  most  of  the  others  would  be  %bsolute-t 
ly  ruined.  Conamon  prudence,  therefore,  de- 
molded  an  accommodation;  and  though  we  be* 
lieve  Macklin  would  have  taken  all  risks  sooner 
than  infringe  this  agreement  himself^  yet  the  ill- 
judged  obstinacy  of  one  man  shQuld  not.iuvolvc 
the  bread  of  others.  ^  . 

3ut  Macklin  did  not  dread  a  storm  with  the 
fears xrf ordinary  inen.  As  he  was  active  in  revolt, 
so  he  was  marked  by  the  Manager  as  a  ring-lea- 
der, and  he  did  not  disclaim  that  character.  He 
created  a  party  both  against  the  Manager  anil  the 
principal  actor,  (Garrick,)  and,  on  the  first  ap- 
pe^rancf  of  the  latter  in  the  character  of  .Bayes, 
he  spirited  up^  his  friend  Dr.  Barrowby  to  head 
this  pf^rty  in  the  pit,  which  being  opposed  by 
another  cabal  of  the  Manager's  friends,  produced 
as  great  ^riot  for  two  nights  successively,  as  per- 
haps wasever  known  within  the  walls  of  a  Theatre. 

Garrick's  talents,  and  the  general  desire  to  see 
those  talents  brought  into  action,  a^t  length  pre- 

K  4  vailed : 


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h36  MEMOIRS    OF         '     • 

vailed :  the  public  Would  not  have  fheir  amuse- 
ments infefrupted  for  the  sake  of  party  disputes, 
and  the  malcontents  began  to  relax.  Even  Dr. 
Barrowby  himself,  who  was  not  a  man  easily  intimi- 
dated, toldMacklin,  that  -' a  continuance  in  thesfe 
riots  would  not  only  shut  him  out  of  Drury  Lanef 
Theatre  for  ever,  but  perhaps' .^Awf  hitn  up  in  a 
prison,  which  was  much  worse."  The  parties, 
after  this,  had  I'ecourse  to  their  pens,  and  the 
pens  of  theiip  friends,  for  the  continuance  of  the 
war.  .     •        • 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  these  anecdotes 
to  relate  a  regular  life  of  Macklin,  which  has  been 
already  done  in  various  forms,  but  to  touch  up- 
on' poirits  of  his  long  intercourse  with  the  stage 
not  generally  known,  and  which  might  best  elu- 
cidate the  manners  and  characters  of  the  times 
in  which  he  lived.  Having  therefore  mentioned 
the  nam6  of  Dr.  Barrowby,  as  a  leading  charac- 
ter in  this'  theatrical  riot,  and  having  likewise 
brought  him  for\vard  as  the  mutual  friend  of 
Macklin'.and  Garrick  in  a  former  part  of  these 
Anecdotes,  some  little  sketch  of  his  life  maty  not 
be  unentertaining.  * 

Barrowby  was  a  young  man,  the  son  of  a  Phy- 
sician, educated  at  one  of  our  public  schools,  and 
afterwards  entered  at  Cambridge,  where  he  soon 
distinguished  himself  as  a  man  of  learning,  talents, 

and 


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CHARLES    MACHLIN^  1S7 

and  dMsipation.  H^  was  designed  foF  a  physician; 
and  as  the  celebrated  Dr.  Radcliflfd'  had  left  be^ 
hind  him  a.  kind  of  school  for  bold  practitioners, 
Barrowby  seems  to  have  formed  himself  upon  this 
plan.  He  was  naturally  forward  and  decisive, 
both  in. his  conversation  and  measures;  and  as  he 
had  a  fund  of  knowledge  to  <lepcnd  upon,  as  well 
as  a  great  turn  for  satirical  wit,  he  was  ambitious 
of  taking  the  lead  in  company,  sometimes  at  the 
expence  of  good  manners  and  good-nature. 

•  This  disposition  got  him  many  enemies  whilst 
at  College;  and  those  who  could  not  vie  with  him 
in  abilities,  confederated  to  humble  him  at  any 
rtite.  They  therefore  insidiously  circulated  a  fc- 
port,  that,  amongst  Barrowby  s  vices,  he  had  tt^ 
mxmher  ^  partiality  far  an  unmtural  passim.  He 
sGort  feit  the  influence  of  this  report,  by  a  de^ser^ 
^n  of  many  of  his  friends ;  and  he  was  resolved 
to  get  rid  of  it  by  an  antidote,  which  very  few  per*^ 
sons,  but  a  man  6f  his.  bold  eccentric  disposition^ 
would  think  of.  He  hired  ap  open  phaeton  and 
fourhorsesof  astable-keeper  atOxford,  and,  watchr 
ing  his  opponhnity,  on  a  SunJday  mornings  when 
the  heads  of  the  Colleges  were  going  to  Church, 
he  iponrited  this  phaeton,  accompanied  on  each 
side  by  two, of  the  m6st  infamons  women  from 
London,  and  in  this  situation:  drove  through  tl^ 
town  with  the  most  dete^miioed  effrontery  imai 
ginable.  ;  '  •  .  /      - 

The 


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138  WE»I0IR5  ojr 

The  surprise  aii4  cp^terQatkm  t|H$  occasioned 
may  well  be  imagined;  it  forf)ie(l  the  converea* 
tion  of  the  whoJe  day;  every  body  wondering  all 
tht  boldness  and  f^rofligjicy  of  the  measure.  The 
College,  therefore,  could  not  but  tak^  cognizance 
of  It;  and  he  making  noi defence,  was  expt^lled: 
with  recorded  disgrace. 

He  foresaw  this  coiisequence,  and  piqued  hjm^ 
self,  through  life,  on  the  ingenoity  of  it.  He 
nsed'  to  say,  he  had  no  other  way  to  redeem  his 
character.  *'I  could  not  defend  myself,  either 
by.  an  appeal  to  my  usual  manner  of  living,  or 
calling  on  my  accuiser;^  to  come  forward ;  because 
BO  direct,  or  public  charge  coyW,  or  was  ever  int^ 
tested  to  be  made  against  me.  A  not^rhusfact 
to  thexpntrary  then,"  said  he,  **  was  the  best  way 
to  get  rid  qf  a  private  insinuation."  It  so  far 
Succeeded  as  to  do  away  the  malice  of  thefirsi* 
report:  but  surely  few  men,  feeling  tlierpselves 
ifincment  of  the  crime  impute  to  them,  wottW 
trm  think  of  so  desperate  a  remedy  1  ^ 

When  he  quitted  College^  he  s^t  ¥p  as  a  pracK 
tistng  Physician  in  London,  and  might  have  q}iV 
tkined  a  considerable  share  both  of  fame  and  pro-^ 
fit;  had  he  been  governed  by  thoSeprudent  regrf- 
hrfion^  which  are  indispensibly  claimed  by  th* 
poibiic  from  men  of  Im  profeasion..  But  het  waflr 
a  wit,  and  a  man  of  pleasure;  presided  a.f  mos^ 
•:i  ,  of 


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CHARLES   MACKILIN.  13$ 

of  the  convivial  iseetiings  about  town ;  and  was, 
above  all,  considered  as  one  of  the  best  theatrical 
critic^  of  his  day. 

Some  of  OUT  readers  might  smile  at  this  last 
badge  of  distinction,  applied  to  a  professional 
man  like  Dr.  Barrowby;  but  they  must  first  take 
into  their  account  of  what  import  the  title  of  a 
theatrical  critic  was  in  those  days — It  was  the  top 
feather  in  the  cap  of  gallantry  and  literature — Jt 
was  sought  after  by  most  of  the  young  men  of 
fashion  and  polite  literature — And  he  who  could 
obtain  ^his  niche  in  the  Dramatic  Temple,  toot 
only,  obtained  a  considerable  degree  qf  fame,  but 
of  power  and  authority  pj{^  iothers. 

These  critics  were  distinguished  from  the  critics* 
of  the  present  day,  by  not  being  so  by  profe^ion, 
or  rather  by  pecuniary  engagements.     They  prac- 
tised the  art  sis  amateurs ;  and,  as  tliey  appeared 
more  in  their  own  characters  than  sls  (tnonynmci 
writersy    they  required   greater  responsibility   in 
point  of  learning,  taste,  and  judgment.     Indexed, 
5uch  was  the  popular  as  well  .as  scientific  rage  for 
the  stag^,  that  a  veteran  critic  now  living,  of 
most  respectable  autliority,  has  often  said,  speafc-. 
ing  of  those  tiuies^  ^VThat  there  were  theh  four 
Estates  in  the  Constitution  of  this  Country,  yi^ 
King,  Lords,  Commons,  and  the  Theatres.  .       - 
1  Tte 


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140  ME^tOIRS   of'       ' 

The  Bedford  -Goffee-house  was  the  great  scene 
of  theatrical  discussion,  where,  after  every  new 
or  revived  play,  farce,  pantomime,  &c^  these 
critics  issued  from  the  Theatre,  to  settle  the  quan- 
tum of  nifefit  or  demerit  of  each  piece  Being 
mostly  known  to  each  other,  they  conversed  free- 
ly arid  openly  upon  the  subject,  very  much  to  the 
amusement,  and  often  to  the  improvement,  of 
the  amateurs  of  the  profession.  Macklin  gehe- 
raHy  made  one  of  these  parties,  as  did  Foote,  and 
the  late  Sir  Francis  Blake  Delaval,  who,  knowing 
the  irritability  of  Macklin's  character,  and  the 
points  to  bring  him  out  on,  constantly  introduced 
iiim  as  ia  principal  in  these  discussions.  He  wanted 
science,  it  isf  true,  eiijual  tomost  of  his  adversa- 
ries ;  and  when  they  quoted  any  Greek  or  Latin 
author  as  apposite  to  their  opinions,  hcf  used  to 
grow  angry;  but  he  was  full  of  observation  and 
experience;  and  occasionally  let  off  a  sarcasm, 
ithat  brought  the  laugh,  in  full  tide,  agaihst  hi$ 
opponent. 

Tlie  writer  of  this  account  was  present  one  night 
"at  the  Bedford,  (towards  the  decline  of  this  cus- 
tom,) when  Macklin  attd  the  late  Hugh  Kelly  met, 
-after  the  representation  of  one  of  Garrick's  pieces, 
(he  thinks  the  musical  entertainment  of  Cymon,) 
and  when  of  course  the  merit  of  the  piece  fell  un- 
der discussion.  •  They^  soon  pitted  themselves 
'  against  each  other— Kelly  on  the  side  of  Garrick, 

and 


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CHAieiiss  MACKn*.  j41' 

and   Macklin  in  direct  opposition-*-the  fortrier  ail 
softness,  and  affected  humility-i-tbelattef  all  home 
truth  apd  coarseness.     The  controversy  lasted  a 
very  considerable  time,  to  the  no  small  amiise-  - 
ment  of  the  auditors; -when  K^lly  telling  him, 
with  a  significant  look,  that  he  \vas  willing  to  stand 
in  Mt.  Garrick's  shoes,  and  answer  personally  afay 
thing  he  could  say  against  liim,  Macklin  replied,^ 
(accompanied  with  one  of  his  scowlmg  sneers,) 
"  And  what  right  have  you,  Sir,  to  stand  inOar-^ 
rick's  shoes  ?     But  I  heg  pardon — you  are,  I  un*^ 
derstand,  a  tailor  by  profession,  and  may  be  «r- 
tided  to  provide  him  with  full  suits  of  panegy rici 
^oe^,  stockings,  and  all.' *.      ♦ 

This  raised  a  general  laugh,  which  soon  put  an 
end  to  the  dispute;  and  the  two  combatants  went 
to  supper  in  different  boxes,  with  a  sovereign 
contempt  for  each  other's  abilities.  .1 

Barrowby,  as  we  before  observed,  made  one  of 
this  old  school,  and,  according  to  Macklin,  was 
one  of  the  deepest  in  point  of  knowledge  of  the 
set:  and  yet  his  inclination  for  the  Theatre  did 
not  entirely  divert    him    from  his  professional 

pursuits.* 

*  Kelly  was  originally  bred  a  Stay-maker  in  Dublin,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  for  some  months  after  he  came  to  London. 
He  was,  however,  a  man  of  some  genius;  and  had  a  facility  and 
an  ^ease  in  writing  upon  common  subjects,  very  agreeable  t6  the 
level  of  ordinary  reaiders. 


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14S  ,  ITEMOXRS  O*  . 

pursuits.  He  was  aHow^,  by  the  best  Judges  of 
his  art,  to  bean  intelligent  Physician;  and  that 
his  parts  and  knowledge  would  have  given  him 
ceiebrity,  if  his  assiduity  4nd  gravity  of  deport^-* 
ment  kept  equal  pace.  . 

But  the  rage  of  shining  iu  another  sphere,  with 
the  constant  love  of  company,  which  too  general-' 
ly  draws  on  the  love  of  the  bottle,  made  him  pre- 
fer the  purlieus  of  Covent  Garden  to  die  regions 
of  Batson's  and  Warwick-lane ;  so  that  Btrrowby's 
pmctice,  at  last,  was  principally  confined  to  the 
Performers  of  boih  Theatres,  and  their  connec- 
tions;  here  he  mostly  lived*— here  he  amused  him-» 
self — and  here  he  alternately  held  the  bottle,  and 
filled  the  chair  of  criticism,  during  the  best  part 
of  tiie  night.  , 

A  life  of  this  irregularity  could  not  last  long— 
He  had  several  sudden  warnings  before  the  last, 
but  the  voice  of  Pleasure  sounded  too  high  for 
tiiem  to  be  listened  to :  one  day,  as  he  was  sittings 
down  to  dinner  at  a  tavern  in  Bow-street,  Covent 
Garden,  he  complained  of  a  sudden  and  violent 
complaint  in  hb  head,  which  he  hnmediately  or- 
dered to  be  shaved  close,  and  rubbed  with  bran- 
dy ;  but  this  not  relieving  him,  he  told  his  com- 
panions, ^*  t'was  all  over  with  him,  for  he  theii 
knew  his  disorder  was  fatal. '^  A  chair  was  called 
for,  to  carry  him  to  his  house  in  the  city,  wherfe 


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CHARILES   MACRLIN.  143 

he  was  put  to  bed,  and  proper  Eiedioines  adminis- 
tei^d  to  him.  He,  however,  still  persisted  "  in 
Its  being  all  \n  v^in ;"  and  hjs  prophecy  was  too 
fatally  fulfilled,  83  be  died  next  morning  in  a  fit 
of  strong  apoptexy. 

Such  was  the  short  life  of  Dr.  Barrowby;  a 
BPian  who,  by  every  account  of  his  wit,  his  strong 
iQl^itive  wd  medical  knowledge,  might  have 
b^eo  a  ^cond  RadcUfl^e,,  both  in  fame  and  fortune, 
bad  be  considered  propferly  the  duties  he  owed 
hims^  and  bis  profession.  But  the  gratification 
of  the  moment  was  his  stroiigest  impulse,  and  to 
this  every  other  consideration  gave  place. 

Hq  was  ;  accused  by  ^ome  of  irreligious  princi- 
ptes;  but  tbofi^  who  knew  him  best,  reported  of 
him,  tbftt,  although  he  wight  be  negligent  in  ce-' 
r^n^oni^t),  and  ^t  time$  loose  in  his  manner  of 
talking  on  i«ligiOu$  subjects,  he  was  by  no  means 
an  unbeliever,  and  in  his  dealings  most  certainly 
i  moral  man',  his  imprudence,  however,  in  talk- 
ing freely,  and  often  at  improper  times  and  places, 
made  this  ref)ort  scarcely  scandal;  his  wit  and  hu- 
mour wcFe  always  uppennost;  and  to  indulge  thi^ 
vein,  he  often  not  only  made  enemies,  but 
left  the  other  parts  of  his  character  open  to  sus- 
pieion. 

One  day,  as  he  was  eating  pork  chops  for  his 
dinner  at  a  public-house  in  the  neighbourhood  of 

Covent 


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144  iiEMdiRs  or 

Covent  Garden,  a  Jewof  hb  acq[uairitance  aik^ 
liini,  how^  he  could  eat  pork  with  such  a  gbtit? 
"Because  I  like  it,"  said  Barrowby;  **  and  all 
Vm  sorry  for  is,  that  I  was  not  hbin  a  Jew,  for 
then  I  should  have  the  pleasure  of  eitifig  pprk-^ 
chops  and  sinning  at  the  same  time." 

He  evidently  eould  have  ho  Cfth^r  meaning  iff 
this  loose  riemark  but  a^'ew  rf'e^/>nV;  and  yetth^ 
mind  that  suffers  itself  to  think  in  this  manner, 
though  jocularly,  by  degrees'  indisposes  it  ifdt 
more  serious  meditations,  and  does  a  mischief  in 
the  example  of  more  extent  than  it  is  awire  of. 

But  to  return  to  Macklin,  whom  we  left  on  the 
pave  after  his  dismissal  from  Drury  Latie  Thea- 
tre. Hi$  situation  here  (as  far  as  €odld  be  judg-' . 
ed  by  a  common  observer)  was  truly  pitiable,' 
but  perhaps  not  so  much  felt  by  himself:  a  man 
of  Macklin's  pride  must  have  fed,  not  a  httlej  oti 
his  anger  for  some  time;  and  as  he  was  conscious^ 
of  his  own  resources,  he  consoled  himself  with 
making  Garrick  not  only  the  butt  df  his'  resent-* 
ment  in  paragraphs  and  pamphlets,  but  by  every 
,  little  anecdote  in  private  life,  which  be  thought 
could  depreciate  his  character.    .  * 

Garrick's  avarice  (which,  by  the  bye,  was  not 
generally  founded)  was  ;all  through  life  a  constant 
theme  of  Macklin's  declamation;  and  it  does  hot 

a  little 


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x:harl£$  macrlik.  145 

t  little  redound  to  the  former's  general  reputation, 
that  hi^  most  inveterate  en^my  could  bring  no 
other  charge  against  him  than  this,  which,  as 
far  as  ever  we  could  learuj  was  no  more  from  the 
beginning,  than  a  laudable  resolution  of  teing  in- 
dependent. The  needy,  the  disappointed,  and 
the  envious,  however,  joined  in  the  cry ;  and 
whenever  MackUn  talked  of  Garrick's  avarice,  he 
was  generally  believed.  Indeed,  the  very  iustan^ 
ces  themselves,  which  he  brought  in  proof  of  this 
charge,  are  of  so  trifling  and  laughable  a  nature, 
that,  although  they  might  mdirectly  point. out 
an  economical  character,  they  ire  far  from  esta^ 
Wishing  that  of  the  professed  miser. 

To  illustrate  this,  we  shall  produce  some  of  these 
instances.  Garrick  and  Macklin  frequently  rode 
out  together,  and  often  baited  at  some  of  the 
public  bouses  on  the  Richmond  road.  Upon 
these  occasions,  whenever  they  came  to  a  turn* 
pike,  or  to  settte  the  account  of  the  luncheon, 
Garrick  either  had  changed  his  breeches  that 
morningf  and  wa*  without  money,  or  else  used  to 
produce  a  96s.  piece,  which  made  it  difficult  to 
chsmge.  .  Upon  these  occasions,  Macklin,  to  use 
his  own  phrase,  **  stood  Captain  Flashman;*'  that 
is,  paid  tke  charge.  This  went  on  for  some  tune, 
.iKhen  M^Win,;lindii?g  tliat  Garrick  never  took 
his  turn  of  paying  the  expences,  or  repaying 
those  he  had  advano^  for  him,  challenged  him 

^    '    T 

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146  HfiSCOlES   OF 

one  day  fcir  a  debt  he  owed  him,  and  then 
puHed  out  a  long  slip  of  paper,  in  which  the  se- 
veral disbursements  were  entered  according  /# 
^/c,  pldc€y  ^Lndcompmiy  i  **  and  which,  Sir,"  satid 
the  veteran,  *'  amounted  to  between  thirty  and 
forty  shillings.  The  little  fellow  at  first  seemed 
Surprised,  and  theh  would  have  turned  it  into  a 
joke:  but  I  was  serious.  Sir,  and  he  paid  me  the 
money  J  and  after  that  wq  jogged  on  upon  our 
own  separate  accounts.^' 

Another  time  Gtrrick  gave  a  dinner  at  hb. 
lodgings  to  Harry  Fielding,   Macklin,   Havard/ 
Mrs/Cibbef,  &c.  &c.  and  vails  to  servants  being 
then  inuch  the  fashion,  Macklin,  and  most  of  the 
Company, .  gave  Garrick'is  man  (David,  a  Welch- 
man)  something  at  parting— some  a  shilling,  some 
half  a  ctoMTi,  &c*  whilst  Field  ihg,  I'ery  formally, 
slipt  a  pidoe  of  paper  in  hishAnd,  with  ^(rtnething 
folded  in  the  inside.     Whctt  the  company  wel?e  all 
gone,  David  seeming  to  ht  hx  high  gle^,  Oarrick 
dsked  him  how  much  he.  got     *'  I  can't  tell  you 
yet^  Sir,"  said  Davy:  "herein  half  a  cfeWnftom 
Mrs.  Gbber,  Got  pless  hut-— ifer^j  is  ft  billing 
fr/oni  Mr.  Majcklin~befe  is  two  from  Mr.  Ktevundl, 
&c.*— and  -hei-e  is^soiti^liing  more  ffo^  the  JPoiJt, 
(Sot  -  plessc  his  merry  heaiH,^^    5y  this  tittle'  l)«vid 
bad  aiifiykted  the  paper,  wlitte,  t(^liisgtaa%eirtoftish^ 

metit,  life  saw  it  tontafn  Vio  more  x)x?Lti  pntfdfiifyl 
G^riek  felt  nettled  at  X\\%  ^nd  next  day  spolce 

*  to 


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CHARtSS   HACKLIN.  147 

to  Fklding  about  tbe  impropriety  ofjesiing  with 
a  servant.  "  Jesting  l"  said  Fielding,  with  a 
seeming  surprise :  "  so  far  from  it,-  that  I  meant 
to  do  the  fellow  a  real  piece  of  service;  for  had  I 
given  him  a  shilling,  or  half  a  crown,  I  knew 
jnwi  w<)uld  have  taken  it  from  him;  but  by  giv- 
ing him  <miy  a  permy^  he  had  a  chance  of  calling 
it  his  own." 

* 
In  tdling  tlusse  anecdotes,  Macklin  used  to 

add,  ^'  Sir,  he  wat  n(^  only  avaricious .  himself^ 
but  he  taught  his  man  David  all  the  tricks  of  his 
profession;,  and. the  fellow,  Sir,  was  an  apt  scha* 
lar,  knowing  how  far  it  would  recommend  himi 
to  his  masters  notice.     One  day,  Sir,  when  those 
jrnscala  the  bRiliflfe  were  in  possession  of  poor  Fleet- 
wood's'  Theatre,   (as  was  often  the,  case,)  and 
vcrc  rummaging  for  property  about  the  Green 
Boom,  they  aeized  upon  a  hat  of  Garrick's,  which 
ke  usually  wore  in  Richard  the  Third,  and  which 
beifig  adorned  with  mock  jewels  and  feathers, 
they  ihought  a  great  prize,  though  not  intrinsi- 
eaily  worth  five  shiUings,     David^  however,  feel- 
ing -for  his    nmstsers   property,    sputtered  out, 
^Holloa!  Gentlemen,  take  care  of  what  you  ane 
about:  n«yw,  look  ye,  ^hat  hat  you  have  taken 
away  belongs  to  tbe»iirm^,  '(meaning  King  Rich- 
ard;) and  when  he  misses  it,,  there  will  be  the 
Devil  and  all  to  pay.'    The  Bailiffs  understanding 
tbb'  in  diQ^ri^alsfiise,.  and^that  the  bat  actually 
':  I       i.  :^:^'  belonged 


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/1 48  MEMOIRS   OF 

tbclonged  to  ICing  George,  immediately  detivered 
up  their  prey,  and  made  a  thousand  apologies  for 
their  mistake.'* 

Whilst  Mackltn  was  allaying  his  resentment  by 
^qubbing  ofF  satirical  anecdotes  against  Ganick^ 
he  was  not  idle  in  respect  to  himself;  for  thougk 
excluded  from  Drury  Lane  Theatre,  lie  collected 
together  a  company  of  unfledged  performers  at 
^he  Little  Theatre  An  the  Hajrmarket,  which  he 
,c^ened  in  the  spring  of  1 744 ;  and  where,  amongst 
others,  the  afterwards  much  celebrated  Samuel 
Foote  made  his  first  appearance  in  OtheUa 

To  those  M  ho  remember  the  figure,  the  impa- 
tience of  temper,  and  the  general  harsh  manner 
of  Macklin,  it  is  diiBcult  to  conceive  ^how  he 
could  be  well  quailed  as  a  theatrical  preceptor; 
but  what  he  wanted  in  the  force  and  insinuation 
of  personal  example,  he  made  good  by  the  just* 
,ne8S  and  propriety  of  precept.  He  had  studkd 
his  profession  with  that  attentipn,  which  arises 
from  natural  propensities^  and  the  love  of  fame; 
and  as  he  was  indefatigable  in  every  thing  which 
he  seriously  undertook,  be  formed  a  theory  upou 
such  strnplciand  natural  principles,  as  must  great* 
ly  benefit  those  wiio  intcttded  to  makr  the  stage 
theiittprc^ssion. 

\    We  have  seen  him,-  many  years  after  this,  more 
than  once,  instructing  pupils  in  the  art  of  actings 

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CHARIS5  MACKXIN.  149 

and  the  principal  part  of  hi3  method  seemed  to  be, 
ia  restraining  them  from  those  artificial  habits  of 
speaking  which  are  too  generally  pre-conceivcd 
to  belong  to  the  stage.  Putting  them  thus  in  a 
course  of  Nature,  they  felt  the  effects  of  her 
powers ;  and,  instead  of  that  titum  turn  manner 
cdf  speaking  which  was  the  predominant  mistake 
of  the  old  school,  those  who  weie  capable  of  at- 
tending to  his  advice,  spoke  the  language  of  the 
character  they  represented,  as  little  mixed  with 
art  as  stage  performances  will  admit  of.  He  had 
carefully  observed  one  fault,  too  common  with 
many  performers,  (and  some  of  them  of  generallj^ 
established  reputations,)  that,  however  sufficient- 
ly loud  and  articulate  they  were  in  many  parts  of 
their  speeches,  they  failed  of  being  heard  towards 
the  clo&&,  owing  sometimes  to  too  gri^at  an  impe*- 
tuosity  of  utterance,  and  sometimes  to  an  impror 
per  management  of  the  voic^ .  This  be  was  parr 
ticularly  careful  to  guaird  against,  by  shewing 
tliem,  though  it  may  be  often  necessary  to  lower 
the  tones,  these  tones  should  be  always  audible, 
without  diminishing  tlfie  harmony  of  the  sentence. 
He  'was  oandkl  enough  to  instance  the  merit  of 
Garrick  in  this  particular,  as  we]l  as  in  his  wfii^ 
pers  and  sidespeecheSf  which  were  all  so  articulated, 
and  weU  heard,  as  formed  no  inconsiderable  part 
of  the  praise  which  belonged  to  this  inimitable 
actor. 

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150  MEMOIRS   or 

.^  Of  his  lectures  on  grace  wjc  cannot  ^ay  much. 
He  had  conceived  very  justly  what  proportion  of 
grace  and  dignity  belonged  to  Inost  characters  of 
the  drama,  which,  as  far  as  theory  could  instill, 
was  useful;  but  when  he  came  to  example^  in  kUi 
awn  person^  (which  he  frequently  did,)  it  was* 
laughable  in  the  extreme.  To  see  aman,  likt  Mack^ 
iin,  gravely  attempting  to  wave  his  neck  in  alt 
the  undulating  forms  of  elegance,  and  call  up 
the  loves  and  graces  in  his  eyes;  **  must  havee^c* 
peeded  all  power  of  face :"  and  here  we  may  rea- 

'  sonably  conclude,  *Vthe  pupil  must  be  left  to  his 
own  discretion." 

He  was,  however,  soon  relieved  fVom  the  toil 
of  a  preceptor,,  as,  in  the  winter  of  1744,  we 
again  see  him  on  Drury  Lane  boards,  re*canting, 
in  the  following  prologue  of  his  own  writing,  his 
'  late  quarrel  with  the  Manager,  and  uniting  him- 
self in  bonds  of  amity  with  the  rest  of  bis  bre- 
threh  of  the  drama. 

PROLOGUE, 
.    Writttm  mti  ip^en.^  Mr.  Mac^viv  on  Bifi Retifrm to Drm^ 
iMtte  Theatre,  December  l^th,  1? ^^^yn  wikh  Nighf  he fcrfrrmgi 
Shi/lock  in  */  The  Merchant  of  Venice.*^ 

From  schemtbg,  pelting,  fi^mine,  apd  despair. 
Behold  to  jjrac^  restor'd  ap  e^iird  Pla/r: 
your  sanction  yet  his  fortune  must  compleat, 
And  give  him  privilege  to  lai^h  and  eat. 

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CHARLES   MACKLIN.  151 

Ko  revolution  plots  are  ipipQ  again; 
You  jjce,  thank  Heaven,  the  quietest  of  men. 
I  pray  that  all  domestic  feuds  mi^ht  cease; 
And,  beggar'd  by  the  war,  solicit  peace: 
When  urg'd  by  wrongs,  and  prompted  to  rebels 
I  sought  for  freedom,  and  for  freedom  fipll ; 
What  could  support  me  in  the  sevenfold  dame  ? 
I  was  no  Shadrockf  ^and  no  angel  came. 

Once  wam'd,  I  meddle  not  with  state  affairs; 
But  play  my  part,  retire,  and  say  my  pray*rs. 
Let  nobler  spirits  plan  the  vast  design. 
Our  green-room  swarms  with  longer  heads  ih4n  mine« 
1  take  no  part-^no  private  jars  foment, 
But  hasten  from  disputes  I  can't  prevent ; 
Attack  no  rival  brother's  fame,  or  case; 
And  raise  no  struggle,  but  who  most  shall  please. 

United  in  ourselves,  by  you  approv'dy 
lis. ours  to  make  the  slightest  muse  belov'd ; 
So  may  the  stage  again  its  use  impart, 
And  ripen  Virtue,  as  it  warms  the  heart,  • 

May  Discord,  with  her  horrid  trump,  retreat. 
Nor  drive  the  frighted  Beamty  from  her  seat ; 
M^y  no  contending  parties  strive  for  sway^. 
But  judgment  govern^  and  the  stage  obey^ 

Towards  the  close  of  the  season  of  174^-7^  thp 
reputatioB  of  the  Suspicious  Hu^band^  that  fidmi- 
rable  comedy  of  Dr.  Hpadley's,  stirred  up  a  num- 
ber of  greeu-room  wits,  &c.  who,  seeing  the  dis- 
tance thj^y  were  thrown  at  by  tlie  deserved  suc- 
cess of  this  comedy,  had  i^o  other  meaijs  of  re- 
taliation, than  abusiug  it.     MackHn  thought  this 

L  4  a  good. 


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152  MEMOIRS   or 

^  good  oppoftunity  to  enter  the  list?  qs  an  s^dvo^ 
cate  for  genuine  comedy ;  and  produced  a  farce, 
tp wards  the  close  of  this  season,  entitled,  **  The 
Suspicious  Husband  Criticised;  or,  the  Plague  qf 
Envy:"  but  here  his  intentions  appeared  more 
laudable  than  his  execution ;  fine  irony,  or  deli- 
cate satire,  was  not  his  forte.  The  audience  like- 
wise thought  so,  and  it  never  appeared  a  $econ(| 
time. 

Previously,  however,  to  the  bringing  out  thi^ 
little  piece,  he  had  read  it  in  the  circle  of  many 
friends,  and  particularly  at  the  Grecian  Coffee* 
House,  which  he  at  that  time  much  attended, 
aftd  where,  in  the  circle  of  young  Templars,  (most 
of  tliena  his  countrymen,)  he  often  "  gave  his  lit* 
tie  Senate  laws.*''  From  one  of  these  young^.genr 
tlemenhe  received  an  anonymous  letter,  inclosing 
him  a  Prologue  for  bis  Farce,  in  the  character  of 
JEm?y,  which  was  much  spokep  of  at  that  time 
for  its  general  satire,  as  well  as  neatness  of  allu- 
sion to  several  temporary  objects.  Macklin,  for 
many  years  afterwards,  did  not  know  the  author, 
till  he  avowed  himself  one  night  over  a  bottle  in 
Dublin;  and  who  turned  out  to  be  no  less  a  man 
than  the  late  Right  Honourable  Hely  Hutcheson^ 
Provost  of  Trinity  College,  and  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  orators  at  the  Bar,  or  in  the  Irish 
Hbuse  of  Commons.*  We 

.♦  Wheu  Mr,  Hutcheson  wrote  this  Prologue;  he  wa^  a  Student 
of  the  Middle  Temple. 


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CHARLES   MACKLIK.  ISS 

We  are  now  arrived  at  a  period  when  Macklia 
bad  the  honour  of  introducing  to  the  English 
^tage  one^of  its  brightest  ornaments,  in  the  per^ 
son  of  the  late  Spranger  Barry ;  but  **  as  the  ani* 
mated  graces  of  the  player  can  live  no  longer 
than  the  instant  breath  and  motion  that  present 
them,  or  at  best  can  but  faintly  glimmer  through 
the  memory,  or  imperfect  attestation  of  a  few 
surviving  spectators  ;*'*  and  as  those  few  who  re* 
mebfiber  this  incomparable  actor  in  the  meridian 
of  his  powers,  must  be  hastening  to  **  that  bourne 
from  whence  neither  biographer  (or  common 
traveller)  ever  returns;"  to  give  an  attestation  to 
his  merit,  is  a  debt  so  justly  due  to  genius^  as  to 
need  no  apology  for  the  following  sketch  of  his 
character. 

Barry  was  bom  on  the  19th  of  November, 
1719.  He  was  descended  from  a  genteel  family, 
who  long  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Dublin;  but 
as  his  parents  could  not  afford  to  give  him  an  uni- 
versity education,  after  having  gone  through  the 
grammar-school,  and  the  ordinary  course  of  Eng- 
lish  literature,  he  was  bound  apprentice  to  ^  sil- 
ver-smith in  Dublin ;  and  soon  after  he  was  out 
of  his  time,  married  a  lady  of  decent  fortune  in 
that  capital,  and  set  up  on  his  own  account  It 
is  in  vain,  however,  to  circumscribe  nature;  with 

such 

*  Cibbers  Apology. 


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154  Mzuoi^i  x)W 

,  »uch  a  number  of  ccmcurriog  qualities  for  the 
stagp  as  Barry  possessed,  the  dull  entertainu^ent 
of  a  shop,  ^vith  the  still  more  insipid  detail  of  me- 
chanical profession,  (with  whatever  lucrative 
advantages  they  were  attended,)  could  not  iQUg 
retain  him  in  that  situation.  A  very  few  yeai^ 
settled  the  account  of  profit  and  loss  in  the  silvejR- 
smith  way;  and  as  a  new  business  was  to  be  cho- 
sen, the  Stage,  which  before  had  engaged  a  eoa- 
siderablc  part  of  his  attention,  now  engrossed  hina 
solely;  and  in- the  winter  of  1745  he  made  his 
debut  in  the  character  of  Othello,  under  the  m^ 
nagement  of  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Sheridan. 

-  The  state  of  the  Irish  Stage  before  Mr.  l^er^* 
dan's  management  had  been  at  a  very  low  ebb. 
Whilst  Ash  bury  and  EIrington  were  Managers,  it 
supported  a' considerable  degree  of  eredit;  bat 
after  their  death,  matters  were  so  ill  directed,  and 
»0  much  under  the  government  of  chance,  that 
few  performers  of  any  eminence  were  even  so 
much  as  sought  after';  and  dramatic  performances, 
of  course,  till  ab«ut  the  year  1740,  vere  sunk  in* 
'^  to  the  lowest  contempt. 

Sheridan,  who  took  the  management  9  few 
years  afterwards,  remedied  these  ^bpses  with 
that  zeal  and  ardour  which  he  was  weU  kw>wn  t<i 
possess  in  all  literary  and  scientific  pursuits. 
Born  a  gentleman,  and  ?du<pated  at  Trinity  Col* 


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CHARLES  MAdiniy.  155 

lege,  Dublin,  he  laboured  to  render  the  profession 
he  had  chosen  as  respectable- hi  the  eyes  of  the 
world  as  he  could.  He  was  countenanced. in  thb 
by  all  the  old  friends  of  bis  father  (Dp.  Shferidian) 
and  Swift;  whilst  the  members  of  the  College, 
with  that  e^rit  du  eorpi  for  which  they^ver  dis- 
tinguished themselves^  rallied  round  him  as  his 
principal  supporters. 

Othello,  as  we  beforg  observed,  was  the  cha- 
racter Barry  iirst  appeared  in ;  and  never  did  a 
young  actor,  perhaps,  shew  such  judgment  in  the 
choice  of  a  part.  The  harmony  of  his  voice,  and 
Hit  manly  beauty  of  his  person,  spoke  him  alike 
the  hero  and  the  lover;  and  those  who  before 
doubted  of  the  poet's  consistency  in  forming  a  mu- 
4:ual  passion  between  such  characters  as  the  btack 
Othello,  and  the /air  Desdemona,  were  now  con- 
vraced  of  his  propriety.  They  saw,  from  Barry's 
predominant  and  fascinating  mariner,  that  mere 
colour  could  not  be  a  barrier  to  affection;  and 
they  united  in  opinion  with  the  heroine  of  the 
play,  "  of  seeing  Othello's  vitiage  through  his 
naind." 

In  short,  so  much  did  Barry  establish  his  repu- 
tation as  an  actor  in  this  and  sorfie  other  subse- 
quent parts,  that  Garrick,  who  was  then  playing 
in  Dublin,  and  at  the  same  Theatre,  Mfote  over 
^everat  letters  to  his  friends  in  confirmation  pf  his 
,  uncommon 


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iS6  MEMOIRS  OF 

uncommon  talents;  and  in  one  particularly  de^ 
scribed  him,  ^^  as  the  best  lover  he  had  ever  seen 
on  any  stage."  Lacy  likewise  was  in  Dublin  at 
the  same  time,  vpon  the  recruiting  service  fop 
Drury  Lane,  the  patent  of  which  he  had  just  ob* 
tained  through  the  favour  of  the  Duke  of  Graf** 
ton,*  and  immediately  engagefl  him  at  a  very 
considerable  salary  for  the  nqxt  season. 

It  must  be  confessed,  that  the  Irish  Stage  shone 
with  ux\ri vailed  lustre  at  that  period;  and  it  brings 
an  incontestible  proof  of  the  sterling  merit  of 
Barry,  that  he  could,  at  once,  start  into  such  higb 
reputation  amongst  such  a  cluster  of  celebrated 
performers.  Victor,  who  was  present  at  several 
of  those  performances,  speaks  highly  of  the  infi- 
pite  pleasure  they  afforded  him ;  particularly  iu 
the  Fair  Penitent,  where  Garrick  acted  Lothario; 
Sheridan,  Horatio;  and  Barry,  Altamont.  "  To 
see  them  all  now  in  one  play  (says  he  many  years 
after  this  period)  would  be  a  pleasure  greatly  to 
be  envied." 

On  Barry's  arrival  in  London,  he  was  introdu- 
ced to  Macklin,  whom  Lacy  had  engaged  at  the 

s^me 

-  ^  Lacy  Is  s^id  to  have  attracted  the  notice  of  the  Duke  of 
QraftoD,  by  attend]^  his  hunting  parties,  riding  with  uncoiot- 
mon  spirit^  ^nd  having  always^  when  opportunity  offered,  §ome 
elegant  and  savory  refreshment  to  offer  to  his  Grace.  These 
qnalitrei,  it  is  said,  prodnced  an  intimacy,  which  smoothed  hh, 
ivay  to  the  patent. 


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CHARLES   MACKIIN.  }57 

same  Theatre,  and  who^  as  we  before  observed, 
had  giren  many  proafs  of  his  being  a  good  pre- 
ceptor. It  is  true,  Nature  had  been  so  lavish  to 
Barry  in  figure,  voic^  and  manners,  that  he 
wanted  little  assistance  from  art;  yet  -  this  assis- 
Unce  is  necessary  to  the  sublimest  genius ;  even 
Shakespeare  felt  its  benefit,  as  we  are  to  ascribe 
some  of  the  most  finished  of  his  pieces  to  that  pe- 
riod when  he  was  better  acquainted  with  the  prin- 
ciples of  his  profession.  ^Macklin  oflfered  his  ser- 
vices to  his  young  countryman  with  a  zeal  well 
known  to  be  congenial  to  his  temper,  viz.  to 
lo^er  his  old  adversary  Garrick,  who  had  just 
listed  under  Rich  at  Covent  Garden ;  and  as  this 
veteran  of  the  stage  not  only  knew  his  art  scien- 
tifically, but  was  likewise  well  acquainted  with  all 
its  finesse  and  dexterity,  there  is  every  presump- 
tion to  believe  that  Barry  benefited  by  his  precepts. 

B«tfry's  task  was  critically  arduous.  With 
veiy  little  assistance  in  his  line  of  parts  but  him- 
^If,  he  had  to  contend  with  an  actor  who  was  ge- 
nerally esteemed  by  far  the  first  of  his  day,  and 
who,  beside  this,  had  the  warm  support  of  his 
amntrymen,  naturally  inclined  to  be  partial  in  ob- 
jects of  national  competition.  With  these  advan- 
ta^^es  against. him,  he,  however,  took  the  field; 
and  thou^  justice  obliges  us  to  decide  that  Gat- 
tick  was  the  best  general  actor  of  the  two,  as  well 
as  the  he$t  general,  yet  in  particular  characters^ 

we 


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15*  JtEMOIBS  Of 

ure  have  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  Barry  hi^ 
j&uperior.  There  are  not  many  now  living  •  \i^hD 
remember  both  these  extraorxlinary  actors  in  the 
meridian  of  their  powers;  but  to  those  few  we 
SLpp^a]y  whether  in  Othello  and  Jaffier,  Castalio^ 
£8sex,  Orestes^  Romeo,  &c.  Garrick  could  equal 
brm:  in  short/  in  all  the  scen^  of  love  and  do- 
jmestic  tenderness  he  stood  alone;  but  in  the  ' 
blended  passages  of  rtf^e  and  heartfelt  4^ectwn^ 
^such  as  in  several  passages  of  Othello,)  be  caB 
only  be  remember^  with  enthusiasm. 

But  a  competition  of  a  more-particular,  nature 
«oon  oflfered  itself  in  the  rival  repre^ntation  of 
Umio  and  Juliet.,  In  ^  infancy  of  Garr^kVs 
Ria^agement,  he  revived  this  fevourite  play  oi 
Siakespeare'^,  which  ha9  lain  upon  the  shelf  fot 
Hear  eighty  years,  and  very  properly  appropriatied 
the  principal  parts  to  Barry,  Mrs.  Gibber,  and 
Woodward;  and  the  revival  deservedly  i»et  with 
ibe  greatest  applause*  But  in  one  of  those  rjevo- 
Jutions  which.  tak€  place  in  theatrical  9&pxm^ 
JBarry,  disgusted  with  being  under  the  controul 
of  a  riyal,  who -certainly  had.  it  in  his  poorer  noft 
to  shew  him  fair  play,  revolted  to  fiich^  and 
Jbroug^t  w'ith.him  Mrs/  Cibber,  reinforced  by 
Quia,  JMrs*  Wk)$lf»gton,;  apd.  otherti.  These  fofBoj* 
ed  a  gfund  oppoi^itton;  and  as  X\m  Tragedy >  of 
RoniiEjp.and  Juliet  had  so  lately  brought  ot^iy 
flowing  houses  to  Drury  Lane,  it  was  onie  of  the 

first 


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CUARLXS   MACKl^iy*  159 

first  plays  seized  upon  for  representation  at  Cp* 
vent  Garden,  and  no  doubt  a  skilful  manoeuvre 
in  turning  the  enemy's  cannon  agains.t  themselves." 

Garrick  appeared,  however,  not  to'  be  discom- 
fited. What  he  wanted  of  the  Han's  skin  in  the 
combat,  he  endeavoured  to  lengthen  out  by  the 
/arV  tail:  he  therefore  concealed  his  design  of 
(^poshig  them  play  to  play>  whilst  he  secretly 
studied  the  part  of  Romeo  himself,  and  instru<;ted 
Miss  Bellamy,  then  a  rising  young  actre;^  with 
promising  powers,  in  tKc  character  of  Juliet* 
Sec^ngly  secure  of  no  opposition,  Rich  an^ 
nounced  the  night  of  representation;  whilst  Gar- 
rifcfc,  eqikally  rd^ady  to  take  the  field,  suddenly  called 
the  public  to  the  same  entertainment  on  tlie  sam€ 
night  it  Drury  Lane.  The  matter  was  now  at 
Jssue,  and  the  public  were  to  judge  between  the 
merits  of  two  of  the  greatest  actors  of  their  day 

TKs  tragedy  run  so  many  nights  at  both  The- 
atl^  that,  although  it  ^as  admirably  acted,  the 
rep^titibn  b6gan  to  disgust  the  town,  as  they 
foutid  they  were  put  under  the  necessity  of  sacri* 
RoiDg  tiieir,  aaiusement  to  the  jealousy  of  rival 
ftctors.  ttwjy  ^fcpr^ssed  tlieir  resentment  in  many 
squibs  and  paragraphs,  which  have  been  long  ^ 
since  consigned  to  oblivion,  except  the  fpllowing, 
tfh^th  it  ir'^ought  Garrick  wrote  himself,  in 
.^  "     \  *      ;i  -  .    .     "       ^rdef 


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160  *iEMoias  ow 

order  to  get  rid  of  a,contest,  in  which  he  Was  seiisJ* 
ble  he  had  the  worst  of,  both  in  fame  and  profit ; 

•*  Well,  what's  to  night  ?*'  says  angry  Ned, 

As  up  from  be^  he  rouses; 
"Romeo  again  1"  and  shakes  his  head ; 

**  4^  •  P^^  ^^  ^oth  your  houses !" 

Accident,  however,  put  an  end  to  this  contro* 
versy.  Aftpr  twelve  successive  nights,  Mrs.  Gib- 
ber's strength  failing  her,  aflother  play  was  obli- 
ged to  bfe  given  out;  which  Garrick  taking  ad* 
vantage  of,  had  the  parting  blow,  which  he  closed 
with  a  diverting  epilogue,  spoken  by  Mrs;  Clive. 

Parties  were  much  divided  about  which  of  the 
Romeo's  had  the  superiority;  but  the  critics^eem^ 
ed  to  be  unanimous  in  favour  of  Barry.  His  fine 
person,  and  silver  tones,  spoke  the  very  voice  of 
love.  The  laoer  was  likewise  his  predominai^ 
character  in  private  life;  whilst  Garrick  wanted 
these  requisites,  at  least  in  that  eminent  degree. 
**  The  Drury  Lane  hero  (said  they)  is  the  modern^ 
theCovent  Garden  hero  the^/T^itinai;ooer;"and, 
indeed,  those  who  saw  him  in  the  several  tender 
interviews  with  his  beloved  Juliet,  (even  many 
years  after  tliis  contest,)  mustconftss  he  \wm%  the 
Romeo  which  Shakespeare  drew.       ;  ^ 

In  this  dispute  the  friends  of  Garrick  often 
wanted  to  compromise  it,   by; giving  Barry  the 

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isuperiority  in  the  three  first  acts,  and  Garricfc  in 
the  two  last;  and  some  of  them  supported  this 
opinion,  by  frequently  leaving  Covent  Garden  in 
the  middle  of  the  play,  to  see  it  finished  at  Drury 
Lane.  But  \K\sJinwe  did  not  succeed.  Romeo's 
meeting  with  Paris  in  the  tomb  scene,  and  his 
last  interview  with  JuBet,  were  i%  fine  specimens 
of  Bapy'^  4iJ^i}iltie8  a^  any  in  the  course  of  the 
play»  But  wbat  seems  to, decide  the  superi- 
ority now,  b^ter  than  any  specukiiotf  at  that 
ti»e,  is  this,  that  JBiurry  was  a  &vourite  Romeo 
with  the  pvblite  whikt  be  had  aay  remaintng  poir- 
ei»of  health «od  juvenility;  whilst  Garrick,  with 
}hs  i$mal  prutkmx^  gave  it  up  for  life  after  tliis 
contest. 

.  In  King  Letfr  (which  W2^  ]xkevfisc  a  bone  of 
(!Olite»ti<i>n  between  tlie  rival  performers}  Garrick, 
bdwerer^  h»d  the  advantage;  fitw  though  Barry 
w»  very  impresiiive  in  some  passages,  Garrick'd 
was  a  finer  study,  and  a  mwe  perfect  general  ex* 
hifeitioa^  The  bert  judges  of  that  day  thought 
so,  2ts  appears  by  the  two  following  epigrams^ 
which  ,w*re  much  talked  of  at  that  time- 

On  the  tjvo  Lean*  ^  , 

Th©  ^wn  hft^  found  out  different  wnyt 

To  praise  the  different  Lears : 
To  Barry  they^  give  loud  huzzas  j 

',  .^   7!^  Oar/ick-r-only  tijars.  .     .      -      I 

'■  '-  ^-    ■  '  •-'  ■^.     •    '      '     M  '    Another. 


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162  utuoiM  oi 

'       Another  • 


Sucfc  Barry  doth  appear :  :      ,      \ 

B.ut  Garrick*s  quite, a  difFefent  things*  . 

*  *  'lie  s  evert/ ifich^King  Lear.  '      ^ 

i     For  twelve  long  yeaps  did'  Barry  nieft  his  ahta* 
'gonist-inthe  tented,  field,  Hvherein  both  Generals 

*  reaped  'mkny  and-  d6«ei*ved  laurels.  G'arrick  had 
tu,  grfeater  variety  of  part^,  both  in  tragedy^  co^ 
(medy,  and  farce,  ^-hrch  undoiibtedly,  aa  a  g^i^ 
-ral  actor,  gave  him  th^  pre-eminence:  b^tBarry 
ihad  ^enough  for  fame;  and  in  s^6mfe  ohiiractci^s, 
jwhich  we  have  already  mentioned,  he  had  no 
competitor. 

But  neither  fame  or  profit  will  sometimes  com- 
pensate for  the  love  of  vanity.  Whether  Barry  en- 
vied :Garrick  tlie  superiority  of  *mdg:ea)ie«^,  by 
>which;he  could  always^^  draw  out  hife  talents  to 
greater  advantage,  or  whether  actuated  by  sim- 
ple vanity,  he  .  was^  determined  to  wield  A  Mana- 
ger's truncheon ;  and,  under  this  impul$e  of  this 
)nad  ambitioiiy  dpentd  a  -  negociation, -aboui  the 
year  1757,  with  the  proprietors  of  the  Music  Hall, 
Crow  Street,  Dublin,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting 
a  new  Tlieatre  there,  in  opposition , to  Mr.  She- 
ridan. :  M  ' 

It  was  generally  thought,  at  that  time,  that 

Macklin  (between  whoni  and  Barry  there  >^as  al- 

1  >'  ways 


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cwiys  fei  ^oh^kiit  friendship)  \ras  his  principal  iad- 
*vis«T. :  :Amongst"MackHi)i*8  oddities>  heinnas  ai- 
:wayi  a^  gfeM  projector^ ;  and, -  liicei  iriost  people  who 
take  'Up  t!)te  charactaer  firora  a  certain  restlessness 
of  tem^r/  his  pt6jeot«  ivere  -geneially^unsuqcesa- 
£a\  Imth  -to  '^hlmsl^f:  and  friends  J  One  should 
inmgivieh\mi C&fnrjian  Sense  wooid  te  parry's  best 
^OtinseJlbr  in  ?aa  iffeir .  of  ihisf  kind*.  Ile^i  at 
the  pinnacle  oif?famq  and  Salary  ia  Ibndon,.where 
.4twaS'theinte^st  of  Managers  to  find  Jiim  a  suita- 
ble hJercwnc.w'Hd'^ad  saved  no  fortune,  to  cna* 
4>fe*biih''to.*fial^er experiments;  aiad he  must  have 
known  (did  he  think » proper,  ta  take  it  undef  his 
tjotjsideiut&^n)  *  that  Dublin, .  half  a  century  ago, 
coaWWotp^sibly  support  two  Theatres:  HeTiad 
even  the  offer  of  his  rival  (Sheridan)  to  -engage 
him  at  the  greatest  salary  ever  given  to  a  perfor- 
mer, br  to  admit  him  to  afeharebf  theprofits,  and 
afterwards  leave  the  Theatre  entirely  to  his-  ma- 
nagement; ;      : 

'  No!  fhe  die  was  cast!  he  would  rise  by  the 
stiitggksofopp&siitiim.  He,  Macklitiy  and  Wood- 
wafd,  in  tbfe  summer  of  1758,  landed  in  Dublin; 
and  soon  after  their  arrival,  the  walls  of  the  late 
Music  Hall,  Crow  Street,  Dublin,  with  some  ad- 
*jacent  buildings,  were  levelled  to  the  ground,  to 
lay  the  foundation  of  a  new  Theatre:  '*  a  founda- 
tion (as.  Victor  truly  observed)  of  misfortune  to 

'  ^  ^-^'1-:  ^  '  ■■•-M  2-  '^     -  '  .  'The  ' 


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- ,  The  public  arc  too  wtll  accjuaiated  with  tli* 
]bartictilaril  o£  this,  mild  goose  choH  to  ur^  a^ftpo^ 
4ifck)n  here.  Barry,  AvSth  the  cxpeoce.of  boUding 
a  new  house^  and  engaging  a 'set  of  performtrs, 
^rho,  for  excellence  and  variety,  wcre>  perlupa^ 
nsvd  equilled.  in  any  other  theatite  att  one  tiikne, 
Jiad  the  poof  satisfactioii  of  ruijiing  his  rival, 
Jdmiy  to  be  at  last  devoured  himfelf*  In  shorty 
a£ter  combating  difficulties  upon  difficultieSi  si'ter 
involving  tves^  friend  that  wa>  concerttrd  witli. 
4uin  in  pecuniary  embarrassments,  he  wasobligtrd 
to  take  a  Freiidi  leave  of  bi^  project,  and  r(tutft 
to  London  in  the  ycfir  17@S— *a  $ad  memei^to  to 
aH  those  men,  whb,  aceordi^ngto  S^KK^ho's  pror 
Verb,  **  w<)uld  have  better  In'ead  thra  is  n^d^  <?f 
-wheat.''  •":'-./.  ■,'■•*.       .[;  ;:    , 

.  On  Barry's  return  to  Ijondon  in  1766,  h^  I^ad 
-tto  previous  engagement  )at^ny  of  tb*  Tlwssttes 
here;  he  trusted  entirely  to  the  force  of.  hip  long 
and  established  merit,  and  such  merit  was  sorely 
•  '/^no  bad  letter  of  rfccOmmend^ion/'  itie,  hbw- 
ever,  had  been  between  eigfet  Aod  nine  years -ab- 
,se6f,  (an  ag€\n  !the  wortd  i^  tau^te  «ad  Ikshioiv) 
•in  which  time  ne^fr'  audiences  ht^  started  up,  p^w 
prejudices  and  attichitne^tsi  ]^d  arisei},  i4ilch  are 
often  fatal  to  moderate  abilities,  imd  rfiquire  ^y^ 
the  efforts  of^eat  jgenins  tojeooyov  ! 

He  arrived  here  about  the  beginning  of  JtU;!^ 
-w!lit;n  the  two  Theatre*  \Wre  shut,  a  great  part  of 

the 


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tbe  il^bUity  and  j>rinclpal  gentry  Out  of  toMrn, 
whilst  Fol>te,  at  the  little  Theatre  in*  the  Haymar-' 
ket,  attracted  the  remaining  part  of  the  public^f 
iKrho  prefen^d  his  t&it  ahd  humour  to  the  routidtf^ 
dfRandagh,  and  the  saunters  of  Vauxball.    Itt 
such  a  situation,  it  may  Very  well  be  supposed^' 
that  Barry  had  no  other  alternative  than  to  wait 
for  the  opening  of  one  of  the  i^^inter. Theatres^ 
but  neither  his  spirit  or  purse  coUld  brook  such 
ordinary  delays,  -  He  rented  the  Op^lra  Ho\iisc  id 
the  HaymarRet  ft>r^a  certain'  iHimber  iof  nights;  , 
Atid;  with  thei  assistaiice  o*^  Mrs.  Dattcerj  'after* 
W4rd*  his  ^#ife-^late  Mrtr  Crawford,)  the  lati 
Mr.  Eee,  and  a  few  others;  life  opened  that  Thca* 
trtwi*hthe^  Tragedy  of  OthtBo.        -  >  ^  V^ 

This  celebrated  character  had  almost  lain  dor* 
,  lirimtJ^A  t\it  theaffriiar  shelf  sihce  fearty  Ipft  Co- 
V^t  Garden  Theati^.  Gdrrick  was  wise  eniHigh 
n6t  to  WsijueTiis  reputlitidn  on  it  after  one  trial; 
and'^6iigh  tiow'ind  then  a  few  young  perfbr*- 
raers  rifi^lde  the  attempt,  experience  ahewed  them 
thei#  i^WHty ;  so that/like  the  ahttoM of  A^Hfe^ 
It  laj^  affected  In  the  abstinde  of  the  mMitrj  hth 
tie  kn&wn  *t)  the  «tage,  or  Ae  public.  Hofyi  H 
had'ijbWwy.  Bartjfs  name  was  another  novelty; 
&nd  these  co-operating,  produced  otie  of  the  finest 
houses7*rfii<:h  could  be  ei^peiited  al  thW  tiw«  of 
the^taft-'  ... 


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tl>is.cha5a§a9rfl;aft«r^i{r  Ipipgjajic}  «ptsiife1ied!.TPTr 
piitatiqn^ifi  it.  t^id  npf  fei?:,i?arti.ci|lar,.f»9|tipij5| 

«xpcctatifta(;ty|:j|jf|^5;bi8  s^ejegli  it^Jtl^^^flnf^e^ 

riumdiJig.1*'  figW)^  '•-WilA  a!.9ifilp(|ioHSiafl4i5}§Bti}^«ci 

tion  of  tfee,\di#j)5,lilct»^,  ..Tfeft  PjJl,Mf(,;?P^«S 
gave;hiinjalj;lh(9  4I»p¥vsf  ,<?pasMi.an,^ffO;tli?/g(?Ofi 

(airiatogs*  J^^hp»9l.  we,pouldf;4isti9giii?h;  !th§.>\|oic?}r 
of  several  of  Barry's^(H»»tfj'i|je9)  «Jip.u,tffl(J9i|pa^§ 
of  triumph. 

-i!>;>Uij:i    ;.•..'!.■,!;.'■'   ;it')ii!;;!;   li  .',,<(i'''")  '.;..r 

-  /HetjiroceeleA  regMl^rlyi^gq^iflg  qfi  .tb«lh*dT 
mJBBtiion  tHl  he,icajpje;fp,ihe  .t^ir4.apti;  V^  i?«9 
^ctt^ve^.bim  !tji?i<bim.  of  jealousy.  ,^4f¥'^!an4 
<iw)QU^h  th6\wbplf  EOH5Sg9|'ftlv.s  J^c^  Ji?j^ine4 
Wtireuposfltisioa  of,  |^ir  fgeUi^gjs  ^^  and tjift  g^ojCr 

^1^-  fnam  itbejri^eftysi}-  jWllQ  is  iiw  ^h^miag  roan.> 
?yij^O^  co^^J^f:?  ;;^G.-&q. .;  MmyS^il^^-^fi^k 
tTvde  'nflvpx:sa¥fi  hi«i  ;l>||firp;.  othprs  .'|r?jgjHi;hav^ 
jcew.bjdi  bpfQr§  tbsir; t*f^e  badrbeeij  ftfe^^^i'mo, 

vji:^i.}u^^fmi  m^^*:M^w..  p^^{'fimy<iM^3  ^ 

else,  without  the  least  trace  of  memory,  ,<)f;<>|>s^rr 
.^tion;   whilst  a  comj^igfively  smaller  number 

saw 


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CHAHLE8    HACCriN.  167 

s/iw  and  felt  an  actor  return  to  the^  sUigiy  who; 
had  been  long  otteof  its  bdgfatest  supjlorts  and' 
oroaHi^iits.  .1  :  » 

We. must;  likewise  confisss,  iarjusiicet  to  the* 
wlmle  of  the  perfbrmaifqc^  it  was  very  ably  sup-J 
ported*  ;  Mts. .  Dancer, :  who  -playvd .  Desdembna,  i 
was  tha»  in  the  bloom  of  youth*  and  /  bcoirty  ?  she  > 
h^  been  for  soite  years  under  thef attrition  oft 
Barry,:  -ihfl,  to  a  fm&naturai*  genius  for  hetpro-'  . 
fesaion^^  ihe  acquuied  .the  Iianiioity  of;  his  tiotties. » 
Desdeniona .  too  was .  a-f)art  seeliiibgfy^.congeniall 
to  her  feelingft;  and  it  mu^t  be  feirieihbei'ecl,> 
through  the  whole  cmirse  of,  her  stage  life,  she. 
had  no  competitor  in  this  character— a  character 
whickf  iik^.  the  smplkky  lof'  jine  writimg^ ,  ^'good 
breedingii  induces  mfifiy.  to  attempt,  -without  thisc 
piepa^tpry  knowledg^i   t^  .that  art  is  nec^saryi 

to xana^ftl wt,"  v.;     :  ,'     ,.  :  ;-i 

:      :..  .     .^  'i;-.!..  i\        .;  •  •-  v-  ^'' 

Lee'$  I'ago,  tpb^' >m^s  yeiy  respectaUc, .  andr 
$hewed/a  ^ood  jud^ntent,  and  thorougli  represen-t 
tatioa  ibf  the  cbarbctex*  .  This  actor  was  notv 
without  ccin3iderat>W  pretensions,  Were  they  not 

.  more  than  allayed  by  his  vanity.  He>  had  a  good. 
persQu,  a  good  voice*  ♦and  a  more  than  ordinary 
knowleilge  in  hi^  ptoftsaion,.  which  he  sometimes 
shewed  without  exaggeration ;  but  be  wanted  to. 

.  be  placed  Jn  the  cliair  of  Garrick,  and,  in  at- 
tempting to  reach  this,  he  often  deranged  liis  na^ 
M  4  ^  tural 


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t6^  naMotM  ow 

tuiaii  ^hiktks.  He  -was  fov  ever,  as  Footr  md^ 
*f  doiogithc  honours  of  his  f^e;"  he  affected  mi^ 
common  long  pauses,  and  frequently  took  such^ 
out-of-the-way  pains  with  emphasis  and  articula- 
tion^ that  the  natoral  actor  seldooi  tjpptmed:  In 
this  carcox?;^  he  was  supported  by  Many  of  hir 
bottk  companions^  as  well,  as  those*  di^ppointed 
critics  who  were  glad  of  an  enguie  igaii^  Gpar« 
rick ;  but  the  consequaice  of  tdiis  temper  was,  he 
was  chmsetd  from  aluuost  every  Theatre^  buDtks^ 
of  fiuth^i  Adhere,  between!  iebturipg*  and  attting^i 
he  contiHued  till  he  died^^^Aoother  sad  memento 
of  the  fiolly  of  weighing  9  man's  irteritt  in  the  ba« 
laiiee  of  h»  own  imaginatmi^ 

V  Otbdlg  was  played  dereml  nigbts  to  overRow- 
ing  audieiioes ;  to  which  succeeded  many  of  hid 
principal  ports;  sndh  as  Jaf&er^  OriestKtt^  Essex,. 
Lord  Townly,  &c.  &c.  In  sh<*t,  the  seasop  was 
so  successful  to  him,  both  in  point  of  profit  and 
feme,  tibaC  Foote  jocularly  said^  **  he,  bad  much 
father  give  him  boa»i  and  lodging*  at  hb  awn 
house fvrnothing^  than  have  him  so  troufclesom^ 
a  neighbour.  '•  The  conseqnei^ee  was,  he  etigageit 
Barry  and  Mrs4  Dancer  for  the  next  season  at  hi« 
Little  Theatre  in  the  Haymarket;  and,  after  tfee 
former  had  gone  over  to  Dublin  **to  makeup 
his  mangled  mitters  as  he  could/*  he  i^etuffled  tq 
London  as  the  place  of  his  future  pripeipal  resi- 
dence* ^ 

Tlieir 


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Tl^ir  re;^a|)pearaiice  .  was  iaVtbe  summed  of 
i767 ;  and  as  JPbote  had  pl^eparrd  the  town  for  the 
tecep tKMx  of  bis  celebrate^  ri^iiHors^  be  secUced .  tq 
himself  crowded  andienccd^:  The  insensibleff  of 
&shion  fallowed  him  bcciusit  it  was  the  rage-^^ 
the  crhics  hailed  him  as  o&e.of  the  grdat  supper^ 
tei3  of  tlieatrieal  taste^-r^Ad^  John,  Bull  simply, 
for  the  gratification/of  his  fectings :  ^o  that  all 
eon^iirred  so  much  in  their  i»diniration  of  him^ 
^kUv  aithoogh  the  summer  was  a  remarkabty  hot 
one,  the  Honse  coastimied  to  fill,  night  after  nighty 
to  the  coBcluaion  of  the  ieasotoi  i 

.  Merit  like  tisiis  c^uld  liot  kog  lemain  trusting 
to  sisch  casualengs^ments^  Garrick  cast.hia 
eye  ufxm  those  two  per&otihen  the  suminier  ho^ 
fore^  as  neee«»aty  reisifoircenidiits'  to  his  theatrical 
<WpS|  apd  ti^is  suitinaer  hecfteti  tirade  one  of  the 
?it  inithe  Ha3rtnarfcet  at  some  of  ^theiar  caqyitialre^ 
presentaftions.  He  l)4d  long'  before  known/  an^ 
justly  appreciated,  Barry's  merits. .  Mrs.  Danc^c 
was  a  novelty  to  the  Lpndon  boards;  but  she 
ibade  her  impcessions  so  forcibly  cin  this  great 
J4wige  of  Ins  art,!  that  he  candidly  confessed,  **she 
had  capabilities  to  make  a  first-rate  actress/'  Hd 
aa^ordingly  engaged  them  faoth  for  the  nextt  sean 
ma  pt  Drury  Lane  Theatre^  at  the  very  liberal 
saiary  of  fifteen.  huAdred  pounds. . 

ThestateofO[dT>rury  had  abootthis  period  beea 
nitber  in  a  decliping  condition;  principally  owing 

to 


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170  *  .jo^koirs.of:     j 

to  t\^t*rmsigmJ^Hina,r>1^ha  ultup^ktdy:  '^  spoils 
©0Sry.  till wg^he  ltak€8»:i|y  hpiid,?'  j  *  Mis^iCibber  bfiM* 
jusfc JGlQSed  ^i  life>bf i  h^ii::  t&eatridli '  repmiatiQn, 
wJhere  Jl^r^ttinscdiidetttoine^  vsarietV' 

erf  ^arts;  iftiti^tr^be  fe€4ingly..rehleinb]ditfd  byiiall 
those  wh^^ha^  the  jlteasflore  ofisedrig  liei.  Phwdl^ 
ar  rising  iyoong^adtoby  frem  whominmeb  was  ob- 
tained, i^tkV  mme^expeci^dj  hadino  sooner  revolt- 
ed to  CoveritGajd^i  Theatre,  (wbcre  hehad:pnr- 
(rhdseAJa^hare  in >tbe\pataBtt;)  tbanhs^  fell  avictipr 
t(x%  raging  feveir;  Mrsj  Pritchard  was  on  the  eve* 
of  retirement;  so  waa;Mr&*.Clive;.  whilst  Havard 
felt  a  decline  of  powers,  (never  much  above  par,) 
irhitely  I  tendered  ;ra©it-jDf  bis  partsi.very  imbedle 
petforaxancas;  so  tl^tthcrwl^ofe  Iweight  of  :thft 
'FbesBtxmhy  between iGsunai^yjik^  aad  Mrs.^ 

Yatt&-:TbeIfb*%?ifcimnBt  be  confessed,  f*  »  bcwtt 
within  himselfifft  thje^cofadwitb  very  re$pectablje> 
abiljtifis ;  andiiiie  iaatiChavingt  just  reached  that, 
JKxint . of  cfaih©  iwbidhiauked.fher  one  of  the  firat 
actresses  ofi^er .tiaiic;..  ,\    '  :  /  -  :    ii 

■  :    ..:•:    ^■:,:;^i  ,:.,:■       •  ,.  ,       '  -.; 

:  Garrick,  in  making  this  libepal  engagement 
with 'Barry,  no>longei*  considered  bim  as  his  rivai 
He  had  in  himself i  a  satiety  of.fkme^  fairly  givea 
hitn  byapplaudii^.  mtions  fora  xrourse  of  near 
tTiicty  years,  and  which  »he.  knew  hJow  to  maintain! 
with  unimpaired  fcriUiancy.  /He:^raa  likeM'ise  ar?^. 
rived  at  that  period  of  life,  when  other  passions 
btejid  themselves  with  the  love' of  fame,  viz*  the 


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CHAtIi£d:K>lCKtIN.  171 

U^epfa^fi^tJkuhdonj  ati^  who  so  lUkely  to  add  ta 
tbe.xQp.uHnoft.<rfhis4tog^  and  ttie  profits  of  his 
inar^fig^^fltt-ft^  twoyiwdi ^^erformeri?  Beside 
tlus^^iGai;fiftl|^n)«^ted  r^n  ro<:te#>na^  writ  of  ease 
for  hinf^lffc'J^n^  "^^  fcnA*  Bairy,  from^lrisMKi'* 
velty  and  merit,  would  draw  audiences,. .he.  en*^ 
deavoured  to  render  his  situation  as  agreeable  to 
Miofk  ^  he-coftl^}  hy^  giving  ^ijn  w^^wncoiitwBifed 
^Jioiw  .of  parfe  ,and  consiiltiog  \m  eajse  aad  con-^ 
vei^ieuce  as  ii^^f elf  as^  tloe  Uwmess  of  th^  Theatre 
youjd  a4iiwf.r .:;       ;;      .  ;  , c  .  :   .. 

;  Tl^U  $,fra!^gcffl>ent  an^wi^red  every  fwiPpoie.of 
the  xjortte^^g  parties*  Bari^y :  and  his  &ir:  he-j 
toine  carHe4»ftU  before  them :/  sjle  was  the  .Desd6-t 
»M>fl*  tf^ibi^  Pthello— the  BLutland  to  his  Essexr^ 
tbe.jM^wm4  to  his.  Cwtftlio,  3rc.  &c4-^whilst 
Mj^.  Yis^tes^  in  -the .  lofticn  tread  of  Imperial  Tra-r 
gi^^yi  .g*v(^  Vjery  consid^i-^ble-ftssigtiqjice.  ;  Jn  thia 
group,  ;^Q0,  must  be  bu:mli>^fed  the  late  Mi^s^Pope^ 
(tbep.  Mi$&;:Y^vnge:)  ^he-tv'^s  at  that  perk)sd  just 
making  her  4^but  on  tlte^Stftge;  but  ev^  j«  this 
early  trial,  she  exhibited  such  strong  marks  of 
theatricjal.  g^i?i,us^  as  -eFi4«nt^y  pri^clainjed  srhe 
woul4;  not  jlopg  be  coi^tent  with  ^  second  place. 
Time  justiffi^;  her  pretensions,  as  she  was  for  ma- 
}\y  y^ars  as  great  an  ornament  to  lier  profession 
as  shp  Tjifas.r<?spectab{e  in  tlie  duties  of  private  life. 

^     '   '  •:  7  i^r.y  ,.    .  -';.  '        "   ^.         '      i        ■    ■. 

In,  the  <JOipic.  line,   Mrs.  Abington  (who  had 

JBSt  returned  from  Ireland,  crowned  with  theatric 

laurels) 


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172  MElilOiRS  *#/ H  » 

lanida)  rto6d  alone.  ^  She  was>  fey  turnip  ftie  *«>» 
pnesdntatire  :  of  Mrs.  PnWhjifd  litid  Mrt.  iClit«/ 
occa«biially  fiHing  die  parts  of  th^se^distingulsh* 
cd  actretees  witk  the  hi^ieat  rq^JUtatltftij  as  her 
EstifaniOy  Portia,^  Mi%.  Oakly\  'S^Ci^^.  fully 
evinced..'  '     ;-,  j'.      \   -     :     ■     - 

Having  aoMr  »o  actress  in  the  same  liftii  cyf  pre^ 
emineace  to  contend  with,  (which  iri  others  titlght 
tehAtt  the  ardour  of  profession  j)  she  called  out  the 
full  force  of  her  abilities.  Nothingitt  the  rang* 
of  comedy  escaped  her,  from  the  pert  chamber- 
inaid  to  die  acccmiplished  wommiof  fishloftj'ind 
in  all  she  Was  excellent.  Who  that  ren^embers  he^ 
MissPrue^  iu'^' Love  for  Love/*  wit\^  het  gk*li9h 
tmeSi  B,nd  hoklemng  airs,  drawing  almost  thi  Whttlrt 
attraction  of  this  delightful  comedy  to  herself^ 
could  suppose  it  was  the  same  acttes%  who,  per* 
haps,  the  next  night,  performed  the  part  of  Vtha 
high-bred,  accomplish«l  Milltmant?  Yet  it  irad 
difficult  to  say  in  which  she  cxcefled— JV^#f/r* 

and  aft  were  so  much  at  h0r  devotion,^ 

'  -  '  '       ' 

It  must  gyc  great  pleasure  to  every  amateur  of 
the  drama  to  be  informed,  that,  although  this  ac-* 
complished  actress  has  retired  from  the  .Stage,  she^ 
still  enjoys  the  jotium  cum  dignilate  in  good  health 
and  spirits,,  and  in  the  bosoiti  of  many  of  tJtOse 
ladies  of  rank  and  respectability,  who  patronized 
her  for  so  many  years  in  her  public  profession. 

Miss. 


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CHARLES  HACCLIN.  173 

Aim  Pope  played  a  good  back  liaad  to  Mrs. 
Abiiigton,  and  an  many  of  Mrs.  CliveV  charao^ 
ter$,  and  others  of  a  similar  cast^  gave  great  sup^ 
port  to  £hjs  Theatre;  which  idle  still  supports  with 
hrfmrfamej  and  seemingly  unduninishedabilities^ 

From  this  period  (1768)  to  1774*,  Drury  Lane 
revived  to  its  higliest  point  of  attraction.  Tlie  fri- 
voiity  of  modem  tim^  l;^d  not  tb^n  reached  either 
Green  JRoom— ^«  Managers  were  content  prin- 
cifally  tp  sqtfsi^  on  the  good  old  stock  ^Trage- 
dies and  CouvBdie$  left  them  by  Shakespeare,  Jon-  ' 
son,  Otway,  Rowe,  Gibber,  ^Steele,  Addison, 
Cofrijgycv^  &f .  &c,  now  and  then  rdnforced  by 
mure  i^odern  pr^uction^,  Avhose  anthors  '  were 
^ppo^d  to  hav^  sf>m€  capacity  for  writing,  as  well 
as  fpme  Utile  acquaintance  with  the  rules  of  their 
art  Actors,  likewise,  constantly  studied  in  the 
Uogoage  of  such  Avriters,  became  prograisively 
\^rsed  in  the  elements  of  their  profession;  and 
tlHi$  the  Theatre  exhibited  a  school  of  improv;&» 
meat,  a3  well  as  entertainment— Tragedy,  by  it^ 
Javfui.  energies,  terro^^  and  covipassion,  purifying 
the  heart;  whilst  Comedy  shewed  the  world  in 
all  its  great  variety  of  real  characters* 

Frionj^  Barry's  age  he  might  have  calculated  up^ 
m.^  j|\Mch  longer  ri|n  of  theatiicalpowecs;  but 
aa^rly^goat,  ipore  hereditary  than  hrought  about 
b^  ^{^  iaitemperance,  ooc^ionally  much  afflicted 
ti»?;j  jsometimes  by   confining  him  to  his  room, 

3  and 


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174  ;      .        iMBMaiBS   (XF...^ 

.and  gr^dtiaHy  3iEdafceiring!;hisrgrfn?i^l  Jjawiits  of 

-exertion.     He  ofteh  complained  :of :  thie^ ila;  his  ' 

friends,  ami  paiticularly .  to  •  Mn  Murphjr^  .  (tbfe 

.weli-knowp   dramatist,)  reqaesting  himi  ttt^tliB 

jsame  time,  to  turn,  his  thoughts  to  same  tiageily 

where  a  proper  niche  might  be  found  for  him  un- 

d^F  the  then  imhecility  of  his  poiv^ei's.     Mr.  Mur- 

"•ph^f  felt  the  force  of  this  request;  and,  with  that 

urbanity,  and  disposition  to  oblige,  which  has 

cvM  marked  hiis  character,  took  the -subjectiiiid^r 

his  imiSediate  consideration,  and  in  the  eti^tiin^ 

•%?iilte^  (1772)  produced  his  GreewrwD^^e/^Aiferi 

/  Of  this  Tragedy,  Hhose  who  cari'femembfer  Baf- 
ty  Jn  Evander,  and  Mrs.  Dancei"  (noW  Mfe.  Bar- 
ry) in  Euphrasia,  must  hkewise  remember  with 
what  exquisite  sensibility  they  were  entertained. 
Nothing  could  be  more  luckily  hit  off  by  the  au- 
thor thail  the  story,  as  by  it  the  principal  cha- 
racter became  peculiarly  adapted  to  th^  imbecifi- 
'ty  of  the  actor's  frame;  whilst  the  music,  and  en- 
chanting breaks  of  his  voice,  gave  a  pathos  to 
the  performance  which  was  excellence  itself.  •  Eu- 
pli^rasia*  was  likewise  sustained  thrdugliout  with 
great  ability;  all  that  firmness  and  corisfamcy- in 
"^  the  hour  of  danger — all  that  sweet  solicitude  for 
her  felher's  safety  land  existence,  were  pbufrtrajred 
^vith  such  a  true  and  feminine  expression,  as  all 
acktiowtedged,  ^nd  all  repatid  with  theft  tciar». 
AVfe-h^ve  often  seeh  this  character/performed  by 
.  -     -  .  ^    V  ;.  others, 


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CHAELES;:irAGKLIN.  'liS 

others^ ,  and^by  some  with  mach  applause*}  but  ih 
^ur  (Opinion,. the  naturai'Euphrasld is  nownomore. 

A  situatkm  so  desirabk  as  Drory  Lane  Theatre, 
with  siich  a  salary,  and  all  the  indulgences  pa-id 
by  Garrick  td  Barry's  infirmities,  'coold  not  give 
coiistahcy^tb  this  actor's 'mind.  Sohiepfete^iided 
disgust,  or^.  what  1  is  most  pit^lmble,  the  prospect 
of  gaining^  9i3lill.la%er  income,  induced- him  to 
listen  to  iproppsals\  fromi  th^sPatentees  'of  Cavent 
Garden;*  ^henv  ufter  a  few  meetiogs  for  this  pur- 
pose, thi  terni3  of  «gneemeiit' were  closed  ^  him 
and  bis  wift,  in  1774,  at  the  extraordinary  sdlary 
of  seventcieii  hundred  pojflhdsw  .  .    .  , 

,  Some'  exertiiotns  were  now  necessary  to  <rompen* 
'  sate  fok*  this  generous  engagement;  and  it  is  but 
justice  to  both  performers  to  say,  they  called  out 
the  full , force  of  their  abilities  in  most  of  their 
^^rincipal  partis.  . .  But  illness,  hke  anger,  "  hai  its 
privileges:'^:  Barry's  infiniiiities  rapidly  increasing 
ok  him  after  the  firat  season,  he  perforftied  but 
-seldoni^  zxiA  then  gerieralUy  in«och  characters  as 
were  beatrsiiited  to.his  inibecilitics ;  and  yet  now 
and  ihbn  Jthft  genuis:  of  the  player  b»oke  put  in.Sts 
original  isplwidor,  \  We  maw  him  the  If  st'  time  he 
iappem-e^dmhiaLfavouiriteidiiracter  o£»Ag$Eer^-  ari<^ 
S4X  ihfirht  idid  be  af^Fear;  before/ the  jcnntainjdrei^ 
|ip^  <^hat  it  was-the-gcarctalopinionihijOHiMln^ 
goithjrough  Jthe.part;  but  no  sooiierlw^s  he.wtftti- 
ed  in  the  interest  of  the  scene,  tio-^BOQuerdid  he 

feel 


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J7(5  MBMojts  <n 

feci  the  glow- of  lore  aaad  tenderness,  than  Jic 
c^mmviiiicated  his  feelings  tx>  all  aroimd :  bp  went 
through  the  play  with  the  same  animation,  but 
retiirned  to  the  Grees  Room  almost  in  a  state  of 
insensibility. 

Powers  so  much  debilitated  could  not  last  loi^ : 
one  half  of  ht5  tinue  confined  to  a  bed  of  sickness^ 
the  duties  of  ins  profession  became  painful  ta 
bim.  Nature  too  forcibly  told  him,  he  could  no 
longer  phty  the  Awer,  or  the  Aero;  and  a«  be'  was 
never  much  indebted  to  ari^  she  could  less  assist 
him  under  «uoh  trying  circnmstances.  He  stnig^ 
gled  in  this  .manner  till  the  close  of  lie  season  of 
1776,  when  he.  was  obliged  to  take  eirtifdy  to  hrs 
bed,  where  he  lay  under  the  excruciating  pains  of 
gout  and  rheuihatism,  till  the  lOtK  of  January, 
J  777,  and  then  was  released  from  aUbis  labours; 

He  died  at  his  house  itt  Cecil  afreet,  Strand; 
and  after  a  itw  day^  was  interred  m  a  priratp 
manner,  attended  by  a  few  friends  in  tWo  coaches^ 
in  the  cloisters  of  Westminster  Abbi^.  His  okl 
friend  and  preceptor  Macklin  Tvab  611&  of  those 
who  appeared  muchaflfected.  .  While  tiiq?t  were 
fifling  up  the  grave,  be  exclaimed  several  times^ 
''  Alas!  poor  Sprangcr!"  And  whpn.jraie  of 
fche  company  pulled  Wmhy  the  deeiirei  ito  tcB 
him  the  coach  was  wairiagv  hi  tuonedtiaboirt: 
with  a  aettled-meiMjMrholy  in  his  fa«/  aiid  i^|>li*fl^ 
^'  Pray,  Sir,  don't  disturb  ine^oonsi&rl  lam  noi^^ 


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CRARLES  MACKLIK.  177 

Such  was  the  cod  of  Spranger  Barry^  aii  actor 
as  little  known  in  the  present  day  (aWpwing.  for 
hii»  extraordinary  abilities)  as; any,  perhaps,  in  the 
annals  of  the  Stage.  There  are  two  caose^tassign-^ 
able  for  this:  the  firit,  bis  long,  absence  from  iLon** 
don^  wherethe  quick  succession  of  novefty  scarce- 
ly leaves  any  thing  to.be  long  reme!nbei;ed ;  and 
the  second,  still  more  prevalent,  his  extreme  care- 
lessness of  temper,  arising  almost  to  a  total  neg- 
lect of  keeping  up  his  fame  with  the  public.  He 
was  so  fnsensibte  to  this  last  particular,  that  even 
in  the  meridiaii  of  his  reputation,  courted  By  the 
great^  arid  followed  by  the  crowd,  there  did  not 
appear,  nor  does  appear  to  this  day,  in  any  of  the 
print  shops,  a  tolerable  hkeness  of'hhh,  nor 
scarcely  any  recorded  eulogium  to  be  found,  but 
in  the  voluntary  effusions  of  the  journalists  of 
tliose  times,  or  in  a  ftw  clumsy  periodical  publi- 
cations.. This  is  certainly  one  of  the^  strong 
marks  of  original  genius,  but  fatal  to  the  lasting 
reputation  of  an  actor,  who  can  unhappily  leave 
no  memorial  of  his  art  behind  -him,  save  what,  at 
best,  can  be  but  faintly  described  by  the  poets  ot 
historians  6f  his  own  times. 

To  rescue  a  character  of  this  eminence  from 
such  obhvion,  shall  be  our  attempt  in  the  foHowilig 
sketch,  which  we  do  as  much  from  a  general 
principle  of  justice,  as  some  little  remuneration 
for  the  nxany  exquisite  hours  of  delight  vhich  his 
iine  exhibitions  afforded  iis*-^nods  that  are  still 

N  •  turned 


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it9  iiE.uoiu8  ot\     , 

turned  i)4ck  foas  one  df  :t^ie  plea^ag  resbuit:^ 
of  literary  reflectioii;^  and  still  remind  us^  that, 
hotveror.  the- Stage  may  fee  under  a  temporary  de- 
presskm^  fjrom  the  predominancy  of  afalse  taste^ 
k$  character,  when?;  supported  with  sufficient  abi- 
fities,  will  always  render  it  a  public  school  €>f 
irvaan;ers^  and  morsil  improvemeiit. 

Barry  was  inhis^  person  above  five  feet  elevc;» 
inches  high,  finely  formed,  and  possessing  »  eoun'- 
tena^vce  in  which  manliness  and  sweetness  of  fea^ 
til  re  we;re  so .  happily  Wended,  as  formted  one 
Qt^.  tli^  best  imitations^  pf  the  Apollo  B^lvi^tre.^ 
Witl|  this  fine  commanding  figure,  he  was  so 
much  in  the  free  and  easy  management  of  his 
tjmbs,  as  wver  to  look  eDPCuihbered,  or  present  au 
ungraceful  attitude,  in  all  his^  various  moivements 
on  the  Stage,  Even  his  ^xiU  and  his  tntranQc^\^ 
peculiar  graces,  from  their  characteristkr  ease  and 
simplicity.*  In  shp^t,  M'hen  he  appeared  in  the 
scene,  grouped  with  Qth^,r  agtors  of  ordinary  si2e, 
he  appeared  asniivi<^]^  aboverthemin  nis  various  qua- 
il ficj^tionjs,  as  iq  the  pyp'i>4,^ttp® fixity  Qf  his  figure^ 

**  So  vrlien  a  weH-grap:*^  i9f ^r  k^yes  Ike  st^e^    \ 
"  AH  eyes  are  idly  bent  on  kim  wko  folloAvs  nexl.*^ 

.-  ■  .  ,,  .  ....■■ . ..■    V-:. ..';'' 

/  ,  f  VCM^^jinust;  l^vp  gt^at^y  ts&i^tfed  Barry  m  tbe^rsP*.  «^♦- 
ease  of  jtreajlingthe  SfagCj  was^bis^^k^ll  iq^da.qcin|  and  ftx^S^^y 
the.first  of  which  he  was  early  in  life  very  fond. of;  and  on  hi»- 
cpmiffg  to  Ehglandj^  again  instructed  i^,  under  Ae  care  of  the  ce* 
rJblatVd  Denoyer, 'DanChigrMastfer Vo  Frei^^ritk ^fhde  of Waies^ 
farftii}*,  Tbi*  was  done  £jt the 'Prtn^'s  request',  fefte»*  b4  4»ad  m^^ 
N^  IvBiiplnjr  Lord  Townly  in  the  Jrovokcd  Husband* 


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To  this  figure  be  added  a  roice  so  peculiarly  ntu* 
Steal;  as,  very  ^arly  ih  life,  ofetaii^d  him  the  eha^* 
racter  of-"TheSilver*ft(m€d  Barry;"  which,  in  all 
his  low  Scenes^  (lifted  up  by  the  smiles  of  such 
w  couBteiianoe,'')  was  persiKisidn  itsdf.  Indeed^ 
so  strongly  did  he  communicate  his  feefKngs  on 
tiiiKK?  occasions,  that,  whoever  observed  the  ex- 
pressive couiitenances  of  most  of  die  female  parts 
of  hh  audience,  each  seemed'  to  say,  in  the  Islw^ 
guage  of  Desdembna;  "Would  that  Heaven  had 
made  me  such  a  man  /'*  Yet,  with  all  this  softness, 
it  ims  -dqmble  of  the  fullest  e!xtent  of  rage,  which 
be  o^asw  most  po wer^sUy  exemplified,^  in  several 
pa«i^^?  of  AEesatider,  Orestes^  Otlieib,  &c.  &c* 

We  arrc!  aware  of  ChurchiU's  oriticism  in.  the 
Boiciad  standiiig  against  us,  where  he  $3}'$,  "his 
vmEtt  comes  forth  Uke  Echo  from  her  ^eH/'  JBut 
howiever.pffr/y' might  have  criedi  up  this  writer  as 
a  Poet  and  a  Satirist  of  the  first  order,  Goldsraidi 
hail  the  sense  and  msniisiess  to  tell  them,  "  what 
tbey>  called  satires  were  but  taAvndry  lampoons^ 
whdase.tufbulence  aped  the  quality  offeree,  whose 
phrcMy  that  of  fire.**'  Beside,  Churchill  had  a 
stronger  motive  than  prejudice  or  whim:  the  great 
heio  of  his  poem  was^  Garrick;  and  a^  Barry  was 
his  most  formidable  rival,  he. had  little  scruple  to 
sacrifice  him  on  this  occasiori.^ 

N  2  Butj 

)        •  See  Goldsmith's  Dedicatiofif  to  the  Trateller. 


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180  MEMOIRS    OF 

But,  to  leave  the  on tidimia  of  this  literary  Draw- 
cansir  jto  tliat  oblivion  to  which  they  seem  to  be 
rapidly  hastening,  let  us  examine  the  merits  of 
Barry  in  some  of  diosie  characters  in  which  he  was 
universally  allowed  to  excel;  and  on  this  scale 
we  inust  give  the  preference  to  Oikclk.  This 
was  the  first  character  he  ever ,  apf^ared  in— ^the 
first  his  inclinations  prompted  him  to  attempt— 
and  the  first,  without  question,  that  exhibited  his 
genius  in  the  full  force  £ind  variety  of  its  powers. 

In  the  outset  of  Othello,  when  he  s^ieaksbut  a 
few  short  sentences,  there  appears  a  calmness  and 
dignity  in  his  nature,  as  evidently  shew  *^  the  no- 
ble qualities  of  the  Moor."  These  sentences  we 
have  often  heard  spoken  (and  by  actors  too  who 
have  had  considerable  reputation)  as  if  they  had 
been  almost  totally  overlooked ;  reserving  them- 
selves for  the  more  shining  passages,  with  which 
this  tragedy  so  much  abounds :  but  Barry  knew 
the  value  of  these  introductory  traits  of  chariacter, 
and  in  his  very  firet  speech,  *^  Its  better  us  it  is,'' 
bespoke  such  a  pie-eminence  of  judgment,  such 
a  dignified  and  manly  forbearance  of  temper,  as 
Toused  the  attention  of  his  audience,  and  led  them 
to  expect  the  fullest  gratification  of  their  wishes. 

His  speech  to  the  Senate  was  a  piece  of  oratory 

worthy  the  attention  of  the  critic  and  the  senator. 

lu  the  recital  of  his  ^'  feats  of  broils  and  battles," 

1  /         the 


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CHARLES   MACKLIK.  181 

the  cours^  of  the  soWier  was  seen  in  all  the 
chamis  of  gallantry  and  heroisift;  but  when  he 
came  to  those  tender  ejaculations  of  Desdemona^ 

"  In  faith  'twas  strange — 'twas  passing  strange ! 
Twas  pitiful>  'twas  wond'rDUs  pijtifiil !'  * 

his  voice  was  so  melodiously  harmonized  to  the 
expression,  that' the  sig^h  of  pity  comnjunicated 
itself  to  the  whole  house^  and  all  were  advocates 
forthesufferingsof  the  fair  heroine.         - 

In  the  second  act,  when  he  nieets  Desdemona 
at  Cyprus,  after  being  separated  in  a  storm,  his 
rusliing  into  hjer  arms,  and  repeating  that  fine 
speech^ 


rf'  a!mysotil*8J<qr! 


IfUfter  eyerj  tempest  c<>me  such  ca1ms/^  &c. 

was.  tl^i^  voice  of  love.'itself;  describiiag  tjia^  pj^s** 
sipn  iuj^o  extatic  a  manner,  as  i?eemii^ly  justi*- 
ficd  his  fears,  ;.  , 

"  Th^t  not  another  fomfurt  likie  to  this 
,    Succeeds  in  unknown  fate," 

Through  the  whole  of  the  third  act,  wliere 

lago  is  working  him  up  to  jealousy,  his  breaks  of 

l(we  and  rage  were  master-pieces  of  Nature,   and 

communicated  its  first  sympathies;   but  in  }iis 

N  3  conference 


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copfereneer'w^th  Des^BEK^aa,;  in  the  .ftmiAlD  act; 
jrfi^r^  het.descrites  the  agoniating  state  <^ of  hi» 
}mnd^^md{'then  Jookteg  tenideply  ^i^ialrlier^  e»^ 
plaims,  ,  ^ 

^*  But  there,  where  I  hedgafrtere4  wp  rayldftrt^' 
Where  pitfaer  I  must  live,  or  bear  no  life/* 

ihc  extreTWs  of  love  arid  ml^jy  wiere  riso  power- 
fully paintjEid  in  his  face,  and.  sp  impressively 
given  in  his  tones,  that  the  wdience  seemed  to 
lose  the  e;?erg-ic^  of  their  hands^  and  could  oply 

'  -  \  J  -  •  ^,'."-  •  '"  •  ■ 
r  W^.  have  .to  lanpcnt,  that  in  tnany  of  the  i^st  acts 
of  some  of  our  best  dramatic  writers,  therplfwasts 
that  degree  of  finish  and  grouping  equal  to  the 
rest.  Shakespeare  s6i»etiiricd  has- this  want  iu 
commcm  with  others;  blit  in  thi^  p^ay  hi?  has  lost 
none  of  his  force  and  propriety  of  character—^ 
ilere  aU'coSatinue  to  speak 'the  feiigua'ge^  dl^- their 
lebtiforii^tibh,  and  lose  none  of  tHdr  originaMm- 
portance.  Barry  was  an  actOr  that,  in  thts'pkyti- 
ciilar,  kept  pace  with  the  great  poet  he  represent 
ed — he  supported  Othello  throughout  with  unar 
bating  splendor- — his  ravings  over  the  dead  body 
of  his  f;2woce|z/Desdemona,  his  reconciliation  with 
Cassio,  and  his  dying  soliloquy,  were'all  in  the 
fuli'play  of  varied  excellence,  and  forced  from  the 
severest  critic  the  most  unqualified  applause. 
'      '  Tha^ 


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*rhat  this  our  oj>mioti  b  not  *5taggertited,'  w^ 
teferto  thatijf  Colley  CiblMsr,  suai  uiiqcbestionabte 
good  judge  of  his  art,  and  who,  wkh  afi  bis  p^t* 
tialities  to  Betterton,  yet  gave  Barry  the  prefe- 
rence in  Othetkx  In  §}ioit,  it  was  from  first  to 
last  a  gem  of  the  noblest  kind,  Mvhkit  tan  be  n^ 
otherwise  defined,  Tjli^n  leavkig'  6^^oa6  at  li- 
berty to  attach  as  mtich  fe^^eMenee  to  it  Whe  can 
coiiceive,  and  then  suppose  Barrjr.td  have  reafched 
that  point  of  |)erfection,  ^  -  •  v-  ■      '  **i 

His  otW  fkvotirite  ehawic«e#s  wefc,  JtiB^, 
Orestes,  Castallio,'  Pboeias,  VaitmMk,  Eise:tf, 
Alexdniler,  RonMo,  kc.^^c^^  In^sXl^hdniUtm^ 
this  staMp,  wheiie  tb«  k>v«r  iir  K^^'^ttm  M^btMcf^ 
hibited;  Ba^riy  ^^as  uin^;  iAs6ti[\mK  tikc^yl^titk 
Mrs.  Cibber,  whose  reputation  for  love  ^InSd  ^1^1^^^ 
tive  tenderness  was  well  known,  played  with  Gar- 
Hok,  sihe  gener^dly  tepreseniml  bis  ^^mightiid  or 
^wfcTU^xvith  Barry  Ihe  was  always  Im  mUresi^ 

He  likffwt^e  eKeeHed"  in  miny  patts  ef  genteel 
coi«fedy ;  such  as  Lord  Townly,  Yoarig  BevUte, 
kc.  &c.  The  Bastard  hi  King  John  was  ditother 
fine  charactei*  of  |ii«f,' which  Gaitick  atcemptjed  in 
vain— -having  neither  sufficiency  of  figure,  or  he* 
roic  jopiifatity.  To  that  may  be  added  Sir, Gal- 
laghan  0*Brallaghan,  in  Macklm's  farce  of  JLove- 
frb-Mode;  a  part  in  which  he  gave  such  specie 

N  4  n)en8 


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iMnsiiOf-tihegall^tainapHcity  and  ktegftty.ofi^^ 
IVMhJ3i^!^»(in^  ;as  w^ereisuffipient: toestebHsh  an 

iQst ,b3&  5jkjco^ifiparis<?4.Ajfc^itl>jGftirrieJ4 :  here. the. latter 
QheMj^tl^  misHf^  mjm  uitGQWna©i»[4egre;^S  ^  be 
did  in  aH  /  the  quicfe;  [  ^wiH(aibP.d  f>$rt|i  ^f  jiyagt^dy. 
Jn  the  sprightly  light  kind  of  gentleman,  -Garrifik 
bad  likewise  the  advantage;  and  in  the  whole 
jiafige'pf '  Jqw  camedy,  rbe  bfcnded  suifea  toow- 
kdgtf  of  ;hWFftrt. Vith  ^he  simplicity  of  .hatju^,.  ^ej^ 
walk: all, . the llmiititige  of  libe  pictDj-e-^pmpleite. 
^ilftlhfts  Jiiiel  Jk:uggw;  >fa#  ^s  .perftctrW  design 
#i«i'Qi)l0prjrtg^.ffta-tJ^ej»  ap4  dis<;ress€s  of 

.u  la  telfci%  of  these . ^or/s,  7 Ife  is  impojaibte  for 
iik^xiimtmrs  of  tbfe.  stage  1^%  to  r^gr^t  their  loss 
with  some  degree  of  sensibility — not  only  as  men 
iwhocorilafibuted  taibf  f^itfef tjaijunent  apdfrefine- 
Irtfent^f  titeir;  yotithj  /bufeiiiiose  d^^s-  6cei»  to 
.  threaten  a  d^ciy  .of  ithje  i  profe*^9li  ifisplf. . ,  There 
Jtre  :peri(3Nds.  when  tli/s  aft^.v  audi  Sjcien^p ,  s^^na  to 
mouwi/in  stillen  silence  ..die  departiyce,  of  those 
original  gediusesj  who,j  fof  ypars,  imp^yed,  exr 
^Ited,  and  i:efined  them ;  andjlike  widoiws^  whose 
iiearts  .w.er^  sinq^erely  pledged,  tp.  their  first  lords, 
will  not  sacrifice  on  the.aHar  of  affection  to  secon-^ 

dartf 


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CHABLIS  MACKLIK.  18^ 

dary-jM>er$'  Paintiog  and  statuary  surfed  suck 
a.loss  in  t)ie  dfaths  of  Tifmn,  Raphael^  and  Michael 
Angth^  .that  .mose.  tban  two  centuries  have  not 
been  aWe.  10  s^upply  it;  aad  hovr  long  the  pres^ 
Stag€  m^y  want  the  aid  of  such  powerful  suppor(> 
jers  as  Oarrick  and  Bartj^  the  experience  pf  n^ar 
thirty  ys^aw  holds  out  but  very  little  liopes  of 
encouragementr    : 

•  <  '    '  ■  * .  r 

Mrs.  Barry  (the  wife  of  Spranger  Bai^-y)  sui^ 
vived  him.fuU  tw^ty-fiye.  years  afterwards;  fpid 
a6^heiWas:90c€niinent  i^  her  profession,  as  well  as 
so  intimattl^iOQiiiiected  with  him  in  her  public 
and  ptixate  duties^  •  we  thiqk  her  too  corresponding 
epor^mtto  be  omitted  here;  more  partiqularly, 
h&th^  ichanges  df  fartum  which  she  experienced 
towards  the  ckN^  of  her  life,  inculcate  the  most 
useful  purposes  of  biography— that  of  philosophy 
teaching  by  example. 

This.  Iiadyj  was  born  at  Bath  about  the  year 
1734,  and  wiw  die  daughter  of  a  very  respectable 
apotl)ecary.in:that  city^  whose  income  enabled 
•  hhn  to  Jive  gent^ly,  and  to  give  his*  daughter  all 
the  accomplishments  necessary  for  a  woman  of 
fashion.  She  had  a  mind  capable  of  such  im- 
provements, which,  added  to  a  figure  pleasingly 
feminipje,  (rendered  her,  as  she  grew  up,  an  object 
rf  general  ^rttachm^ut. 

When 


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oTlWk*  father's  hott^;  U^l^tt  l*^^^««4^atmot»l5fta 
Tiilffself  as  her  ioV^i^;-  a«il  a^'hfe  W^i' two^^dod  a 
hiafth  to  ble  refu6ed'by  the  fttnily,  ail*>hHd  wad* 
his  impressions  on  the  lady,  therd  seemed  t^  be 
no  impediment  to  their  happiness. 

'But'  whilst  things  weri?  in. this' tmiti,  an  unex^ 
pctttd  UtttT  arrived,  advfeirig  the  loV^r  of  bis  be^ 
ing  feft  heir  to  an^uticle  of  his  nviw  h$d  juM  6ied 
in  Loiidort.  This  caused  ii  ietPi^tatfii\mncei 
but  under  a  solemn  aVoW  df  ^  ifpeedy  retorfei)  and 
ii  conjiigkl  cdnsummatidn.  But  hcw  fleeting  ara 
lovefs  promises !  Thealrof  I-otido|i,  the  accei»i6it 
af  fbrtnriij.  together  with  abteh^e^  €?ot)qi  dipsipated 
his  vows;  whilst  the  amiable  o"bje{!*idfth«ttva*te^ 
waiting  two  months  in  daily  expectation  of  hear- 
ing fr6m- hiin,  had  the  iiiortili)cati«n  one  liiomibg, 
6f  rec¥i*tn§  the  fatal  netrs,'thatiierteviriira^j46t 
marn>d  to  inothe^  Iftdy,  Whom  he  ted  premAuiy 
paid  his  iddresses^  to>  &hd  t^'h^lx,' frWltt' w  ftcddewi 
al  meeting,    recalled  him  to  his  drrt,  vOWi^  »fl4l 

rivetted 'him^  in  her  chains  for  evef» ^ 

•     .  -        -  •  -♦ 

Tlie  ckagPin   she.  was  .thrown    into  on   dwi  . 
account,   visibly  impaired   httr  health  Aind\sfto 
appeared  to    be    hastening  Ao  a   consumption; 

till 


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till  a  ^fmenily  phj^inan^  f  au  aequawitance  '61  her 
fitberX  preioribed  thtftnioAt  tfiScaciotis  rettiedy 
fof  loMT  •SpiritsH-ra  coMMmi  lucteision  of  company^ 
m^  the  iiath  ^^f  publk  mhusements.  Of  %b^ 
fetter  kkid,  our  heroine  had  40  early  prefi^rence 
for  the  Tb^tm;  and  as  there  was  a  iolcrabl* 
company  at^  Batii  stt  that  timCj  she  frequented 
it  alntost'  evety  nigtit,  and  soon  found  in  this 
favorite  resource,  ^  fall  re<:oVery  of  her  fornaei: 
health  and  i^rits.  . 

Disappointed  love  sometimes  leaves  the  heart 
more  Uable  to  other  attachments :  this  appeared 
to  be  our  heroine*8  fate.  Amongst  the  performers 
there  wa3  a  person  of  the  name  of  Dancer,  whon^ 
«he  Rrsttho^ght  fevourably  <yf  as  mcfCtor,  and, 
from  some  opportunities  of  seeing  him  in  private 
^bciety,  stitl  tkdught  more  ftvourably  of  as  a  man. 
He sooti  discovered  her  partiality  for  him;  and  as 
the  lady  was  suppo^d  to  have  a  good  fortune,  and 
at  her  own  '^iisposal,  he  k)st  no  opportunity  of 
urging  his  suit,  till  he  prevailed  upon  her  to 
marry  him.  This  being  soon  mad^  public,  Bath 
could  no  longer  be  the  scene  of  their  residence, 
(as  all  her  relations  set  their  faces  against  her  for 
what  they  called  rf?>^raciw^- her  family,)  and  the 
young  couple  immediately  set  off  to  enjoy  the 
^oney*mQpfi  at  Plymouth, 


It 


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188  ^J&WQI^S  lOF       ^ 

,  It  w^s  in*^lm  town  that. Mf«., Dander anade  her 
first  appearance  upQAan^^iStage,  in.  the,  character 
of  Moniviia^  in  the  <?ri?Aw,  wberey-frOmher  youtlj, 
b^^uty^  ^ifi>dencei  an4  embarrassments^  more  t|iaii 
from:  her  jreal  talwt$>  ih§  M^as  favourably  fenougb 
received,  iSo  as,  to  be  .entered  upon  tlie  list  of  that 
company  at  a  resp^ctfkble  salary,  i  But  the /aite 
pride, (ii  h^r  relations  ^ould  npt  su£6sr  them  to  ea- 
joy  this  situation  by  their  infhience,  they  first 
prevailed  in  dislodging  them  itom  Plymouth, 
when,  after  trying  York,  and  other  country 
towns,  they  at'last  settled  in  Crow^Stpeet  Theatre, 
Dublin^  jwst  thentopened  upder  the  management 
of  Messrs.  Barry  and  Woodward*  ,  ' 
-      .:/       '■-.^V  •       -....    ;.'.'.         ;      , 

/  It  is  rather  extr^p^rdiilary  that  When :  Mrs.  Dan- 
cer made  her  firfit  a|>pearance  upon  the  York 
Theatre,  very  little  j^v^.  expected  frcto  her  abtlir 
ties.  Her  person  and  voice  (though  the  latter  was 
rather  feminine  than^harlnaonious)  seemed  the  only 
requisites  in  her  favour^  Maqklin  saw  her,  during 
l^r  first  season,  and  said,  in  his.  ogn^atacal  way, 
•*  That  she  would  UjCver  do."  But  we  must  do 
justice  to  thii  veteran's  judgment  afterwards,  that 
be  pronounced  her,  in.  some  particular, parts,  to 
bp  one  of  the  first  actresses  he  ever  saw. 

Strange  as  this  may  appear,  Cibber  gives  us  a 
more  extraordinary  account  of  the  celebrated  Mrs. 
Oldfield,  who  had  been  some  years  on  the  stage 

before 


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CHARtES   HACKXIN.  189 

before  slie  began  to  be  noticed;  At  that'tiaie  he 
says,  **  he  ran  over  the  scenes  with  her  inadver- 
tently, concluding  any  assistance  he  could  give 
herVouldbe  to  very  little  ^purpose.?'  Prtbhc  appro- 
bation, however^  is  tl^e^sunsWde  of  genius,  which 
will  soon  bring  it  forward  to  Avhatever  perfection 
nature  originally  designed  it.  The  Dublin  au- 
dience, perceiving  Mrs.  Dancer  possessed  of  in- 
ternal powers,  called  tiiem  out  by  every  little  ii^- 
dulgehce,  which^  in  ttie  cbyr^  of  the  season,  had 
such  an  effect,  as  to  give  Ker  a  vei^y  considerable 
estimation:  as .  an  actress;  j  :  Barry  now  uiidertook 
her  tuition,  aaid,  f  with  the*  advantages  of  such  a 
preceptor;  shdsoon  became  one  of  the  principal 
supports  of  Crow*Street  Theatre. 

But  whilst  she  was  rising  m  reputation  as  an 
actress,  she  felt  nneasiness  as  a  wife.  Her  hus- 
band's temper  was  not  very  well  calculated  for 
domestic  happiness :  he  felt  a  disappointment  in 
her  want  of  fortune,  andwas^  beside,  meanienough 
to  be  jealous  of ,  her  superior  abilities.  This  pro-, 
duced  a  numiber  of  altereatrons*  in  one  of  which 
she  left  him,'  and  took  a  jaunt  a  few  miles  out  4)f 
town  with  a  female  friend  of  hers,  where  having 
been  joined  by  a  celebrated  male  dancer  belong- 
ing to  the  same  Theatre,  it  gave  rise  to  a  niimber  of 
little  scandalous  anecdotes^  epigrams,  &c.  ,   ' 

-  •  The 


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t90  ifx]«o*R5i  ar  • 

The  husliatid,  hbwever^  soon  saw  his  error  hi 
aiding  tliese  reported  and  was  reconciled  to  his 
Vife,  to  whom  he  afterwards  behaved  with  more 
kindness:  but  that  kindness  was  not  to  continue 
long,  as  he  died  about  two  years  afterwards^  and 
left,  his  bloomiiig  widow  in  possession  of  every/ 
thing  bnt  fortune.  .  She  had  youth,  beauty,  wit, 
and  rising  theatrical  znent :  nor  were  the  gallant 
world  insensible  of  these  attractionsi  baring  ma/*. 
liy  offers  of  oonsicksaid^  consequence,  ;Md  po^i 
in  particular,  frama  Nobk  Eari  nQw4iviiig,  who,- 
though  he  proffered  her  h»  heart,  and  a  x^hm^fi 
hlandUy  both  were  rejcactcd  with  contempt*  Barry 
had  already  secured  her  heart;  and  though,  from 
reasons  of  an  insuperable  nature,  be  could  not 
then  accept  her  hand,  time  clearing  away  that 
icnpedimeht,  he  mairried  her  about  the  year  1769 : 
and  at  this  period  she  had  g^ned  the  first  rank  in 
her  profession 

We  have  already;  detailed,  in  the  life  of  hcf 
husband^  their  rectf>taoin  and  progress  on  the  En|^ 
lish  Stage,  from  l^eir  arrival  hereto  the  period 
of  hi^death  in  1777.  She  was  theh  iw  the  for ty-s^ 
eond  year  of  herag;e,  strllretainiog  waoy  of  the 
chartos  of  her  youtlr,.  and  in  thefluHposseadisM 
of  her  abilities.  Garrick  wrote  aiMoirody  on  her 
husband's  death,  which  she  jwrt  only  ddivered 
upon  the  first  night  of.  her  appearance  on  the 
Stage  after  that  event,  but  for  several  nights  af- 
terwards. 


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CHARLES  MACKtIir«  l^l 

tefwardsL  The  lines  themselves  \i'Cfe  of  the  me*- 
£ocrc  kiuA;  hnt  the pr^mste^cumcss  of  tJiC  repeii* 
tiiM  waa.  aA  acting ^opgxUf  Y€i|y.iU  advised  iaher 
ciccuinstaiicea.       ^    a :  ':  ?    f,    /        -  ,      . 

Had  Mi^^if^UTy 'QOflBtiimeflt  on  the!  Stage  «  &ir 
years  longer^,  and  remained  a^iv^idojr^  she  mightv 
perhaf|9|:  hav^  been  noiv:  enjoying  tlieo^m  cum 
£gmtal£;  but  in  about  a  year  oVtwaafterBMiy'a 
deaths'  &he  M^as  ii;idufied  Ito.  marry  a  yoim^  Irish 
barrister  of  the  name  of. Crlwlbrd)  AVithoutieitlier 
fortune,  assidu^ty^  or.  prudeiiee;  and;  tho«f h  ht 
made  great  professions  of  love  and  attachment 
before  marriage,  sooru  denmged  both  hei^  fortune 
and  theatrical  pursuits.  He  attemptetl  the  Stage 
himself,  and  she  was  partial  enough  to  think  him 
qualified  for  that  profession;  but  the  public  thought 
decidedly  otnerwise:  she  then  purchased  for  him 
one  hundred  pounds  per  yearto  make  him  inde* 
pendent.  But  neither  love  or  gratitude  could 
bind  a  nian  of  his  erratic  disposition:  they  at  last 
parted;  and  his  excesses  soon  after  brought  him 
to  an  untimely  grave. 

She  was  now  once  more  her  own  mistress^  living 
tpbh  the  scanty  remains  of  her  fortune,  but  with  a 
pmdenfce  which  always  ^as  far  as  respected  her 
own  economy)  wa^  very  becoming,  when  liberal 
offers  were  made  herj'  about  four  years  before  her 
death,  by  the  M apager  of  Covent  Garden,  to  re- 
3  turn 


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192  .       MEMOIRS   OF    • 

turn  to  the  Stage  once  more.  She  was  tlielflrst  to 
feel  her  oavh  inabiUties  ^ibr  such  an  attempt :  her 
friends,  hoMrever,  persuaded  her,  and  st^  accepted 
the  offer. — ^But  what  a  falling  off  was^tliefe !  Her 
looks,  it  is  true,  recognized  her  person  a  little, 
and  uoMrand  then  the  ^lea»»  of  former  iiEcellence 
ap^red;  but^  alas!  they  were  momentary, ^  and 
produced  nothing  bjuta  melancholy  comparison 
betweemmhat  she  hudbem^* (mdwha^sheihehwas. 
A  fbw  trials  convinced  her.  it  was  too  fate,  zxA 
she  ■  retired  from  the  Stage  for  ever ; '  giving  ano- 
thei'  proof  to  this  poetical  i  precept,        / 

>       >^  Walk  sober  off,  before  a  spr%htli<^r  «ge . . 

Cornea  tiUeriogjo^,  and  shoye  you /)Q9m  the  stage/'  ; 

On  her .  retirement  from,  the  Th^atre^  »Mrs. 
prawford  went  to  Bath,  the  placjeof  her  nativity, 
with  an  intent  to  spend  the  remainder  of  her  days 
there:  bu,t  an  absqnce  of  so  many  years  had  left 
her  no  relatians,-  no  acquaintances, .  to  talk  over 
pld  times,  and  repose  in  the  bosom  of  cont(^po- 
rary  friendships ;  she  therefore  returned  to  Lon- 
don, and  took  lodgings  in  Queen  Street,  West- 
minster, in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  lady  who  had 
been  for  many  years  htr  intimate  friend;  and  who, 
from  the  constancy  of  her  temper,  the  frankness 
and  general  integrity  of  her  heart,  well  deserves 
th^t  titje.  In  the  society  of  this  lady,  and  a  few 
others,  she  continued  till  her  death,  Avhich  hap- 
.  ,   J  ^         pened 


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peney  6h  the  Sfifth  of^  November,  1801,  and  on 
the  7th  of  December  following,  was  interred  ncaf 
her  second  husband,  in  the  cloisters  of  Westmiti^ 
wer  Abbey. 

It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  there  is  no  good 
print  of  this  Celebrated  actress.  To  remedy  thisf 
defect^  however,  vrc-  shall  attempt  a  desjrription 
of  her  person  in  the  following  sketch.' 

In  figure  she  vrzn  just  above  the  middle  si2e, 
Vith  a  fair  complexion,  wcH  made,  and  rather  i^*- 
dining  to  the  en  bon  point.  Her  hair  Avas  of  a 
light  auburn,  and  fell  gracefully  on  her  shoulders, 
particularly  in  those  parts  Avhich  required  this 
mode  of  head-dress.  Her  features  were  regular,  and 
Corresponding;  and  though  her  eyes  were  not  na- 
turally strong,  or  distinctly  brilliant,  they  gave  a 
pleasing  interest  to  Irer  looks.  To  all  these  there 
Mas  a  certain  modest  gaiti  de  cceur  in  hei*  manner 
and  address,  that  at  once  conciliated  respect 
and  affection. 

Her  forte  in  Tragedy,  was  in  the  gentle  and 
pathetic;  such  as  Belvidera,  Monimia,  Desde- 
mona,  Lady  Randolph,  &c.  &c.  and  in  Comedy, 
the  gay  and  sprightly;  such  as  Rosalind,  Mrs. 
Sullen,  Mrs.  Frail,  the  Widow  BelmoiTr,  Widow 
Brady,  &c.  &c.  In  these  parts  we  never  saw 
her  exceeded ;  and  in  the  two  last  characters  of 
Tragedy,  perhaps,  she  had  no  equal. 

O  Tliough, 


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194  MBMOIRS   OF       ^ 

.  Though,  for  the  sake  of  >  giving  a  cpntiuued 
sketch  of  the  ipemoirs  of  Mr.  and  Mr3.  (Barry, 
(performers  of  too  much  eminence  to  be  intro- 
duced in  profile  to  the  public,)  we  have  been 
obliged  to  anticipate  the  order  of  time,  we  now 
return  to  that  point  from  which  we  aet  out,  which 
was  about  the  year  1747,  when  Macklin  had  been 
for  some  time  reinstated  in  Drury  Lane  Theatre,, 
and  when  he  was  considered  as  an  actor  of  very 
considerable  talents  in  many  characters  beside 
his  Jew;  whicb,  with  the  abilities  of  his  wife, 
rendered  their  engagement  at  any  theatre  a  very 
considerable  acquisition.  \ 

We  therefore  find,  that,  although  Garrick,  in 
conjunction  with  the  late  Mr.  Lacy,  became  joint 
Manager  of  Drury  Lane  in  1747*  8,  he  forgot  all 
former  disputes,  and  engaged  the.  Macklins  at  a 
very  considerable  salary.  Garrick,  like  a  true 
politician,  **  neither  loved,  or  hated,"  in  the  way 
'  of  business;  if  the  parties  were  useful  to  him,  that 
was  sufficient:  it  was  his  duty  to  form  as  strong 
a  company  as  he  could ;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mack- 
lin could  do  so  many  things,  and  so  well,  he 
thought  his  corps  could  not  be  complete  without 
them. 

Macklin,  however,  was  the  reverse  of  Garrick 
in  temper  and  prudence— he  Avas  never  long  con- 
stant to  any  Theatre.     Scrupulously  attached  to 

what 


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CHARLES   MACKLIN.  IS^ 

what  he  called  fame,  unconciliating  in  his  man* 
ners,  and  suspicious  in  his  disposition,  it  was  at 
best  difficult  to  make  him  draw  quietly  in  the 
team ;  but  when  he  founds  or  perceived  he  found, 
the  kast  difficulty  thrown  in  his  way,  h^  bec^m* 
restive  and  ungovernable.  The  lat6  Mr.  Sheri^ 
dan,  Manager  of  Smock  Alley  Theatre,  Dublin, 
caught  him  iii  one  of  those  moods,  in  the  spring 
of  1748,.  when  he  had  been  but  one  season  at 
Drury  Lane;  and  making  him  and  his  wife  the 
tempting  offer  of  8001.  per  year,  he  articled  with 
them  for  two  years;  and  they  soon  after  landed  in 
Dublin  to  perform  their  (engagements. 

But  the  proverb  of  **  Coslum  non  ariimufn  mU^ 
tant,  Ssc.'"  was  exemplified  in  Macklin..  His  c^is-^ 
position  to  jealousy  and  dissatisfaction  still  pre-* 
vailed;  for  scarcely  had  he  been' a  month  in  Dub- 
lin, when  he  begian  to  find  out,  that  the  Manager 
chose  to  perforin  Tragedies  as  Avell  as  Comedies 
at  his  Theatre;  that  his  name  stood  in  larger  cha- 
racters in  the  play-bills;  and  a  variety  of  such 
griecom  matters;  not  considering  that  his  and 
his  wife's  salary  was  fijced,  at  all  events,  for  twa 
years;  and  that  any  reasonable  arrangement  which 
the  Manager  might  adopt  for  his  own  emolument, 
would  the  more  enable  him  to  perform  his  contract 
with  them ;  but  consideration  was  lost  upon  a  man: 
of  Macklin's temper  Avhen  oiice  resolved;  he  there- 
fore gave  a  loose  to  his  passions,  which  at  last  be-, 

0  2  came 


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jQBkvdt  s;o  intolera,ble,  that,  acci^rrilog  to  tbe  lai>- 
guage  of  Trinculo^  •'  though  Sberid^u  vas  King, 
vMaqklin  would  be  yicflrpy  over  Wm;**  which  the 
former  not  agreeing  to,  det€|rm|i^  bim  to  shut 
t}ie  doors:  of  bis  Tbcjatr^  against  bot;b  MacUim 
4nd  his  wife* 

iThis,  however,  so  far  from  bijingirtg  hitn  to  rea* 
50%  provoked  hi^  irritabilities  the  njoi?e.  IJe  se^ 
veral  times  presented  himjsclf  at  the  stage  dooi^*— 
No  admittancQ.  He  then  sent  the  Manager  an 
attorney's  letter— No  answer.  He  then  c^m* 
menced  a  chancery  suit;  and,  after  waiting  the 
whole  winter  unemployed,  he  returned  to  England 
with  some  hundred  pounds  mnus,  and  a  snug 
law-suit  upon  his  sh^fulders  into  the  bargain. 

,  On  hisr  return  to  England,  l>e  con>menced  Ma- 
nager at  Chester  for  that  i^a^on ;  and  xn,  the  wint 
ter.w^  restored  to  Covent  Garden  Theatre, 
Avhere  he  performed  Mercutio  durii^  the  celebra- 
ted run  of  Romeo  and  Juliet  betw^n  the  two 
hoi^ses*  How  Macklin  could  have  been  endured 
in  a  character  $o  totally  unfitted  to  his  powers  of 
Bftind  apd  body,  is  a  question  not  easily  resolved 
at  tliig  day ;  particularly  as  Woodward  played  tbii* 
very  character  at  the  other  house,  and  played  it 
in  a  style  of  cxcellendfe  never  perhaps, before,  or 
since,  equalled;  so  that  those  who  could  not  even 
judge  of  the  Poet's  diesign  in  the  character,  one 

'should 


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CHARLES  i»tA«*€IN,  Tp7 

should  suppose,  might  judge  by  comparison  of 
tlie  actors. '  That  he  mfght  have  thrown  some 
tricks  and  buffoonery  into  Mtrcutio^  so  as  to  ma&6 
it  laughable  to  the  crowd,  was  a  talent  which  we 
have  seen  him  Dcicasionally  exercise;  and  {lerhaps 
this  was  his  passport,  as  the  j6urnali4  of  those 
days  JtfFord  no  proofs  of  public  reprehension.  „  We 
have  talked  to  hinrupon  this  subject  as  delicately 
as  the  nature  of  such  a  conversation  would  adniit; 
and,  w  hat  is  rather  istraoaige,  he  always  spoke  of 
Mercutio  «s  one  of  his  favourite  parts,  and  en- 
larged upon  it  in  full  confidence  of  his  powers.. 

He.  continued  at  Covent  (J^rden  a  season  or 
two  longer;  when,  towards  JEhe  cldse  bf  tlieyear 
1753,  having  obtained  from  Mr,  Garrick  the  use 
of  hi4  Theatre .  for  that  night,  he  tQok  a  fcMmal 
leave  of  the  Stage  in  tte  following  Epildgue, 
written  on  the  occasion  by  Garrick,  iffyhidhhe 
introduced  his  daughter  as  Jaii  actriess  id  'the*  pro- 
tection of  the  public.*:   J  EipitOGUE, 

♦  Miss  Mackliri  hftd  pcrfbfitied  the  Biike  olf  Yofh  id  Richard 
the  Third,  !rd«*ftrfy  fi  ttf«  flOti  irf  Deoember,-  If  4<2*  JivtRe  sea- 
son of  1751-2,  ske  t)ei?formed  Jtent  Sboratwiccy  and  Lady  Town- 
]y  once.  On  her  father'js'rtBKbtpiitfhing  tkre  Stage  In  11753,  she 
engaged  &t  Drury  Lawef,  ai4d  p^rlurm^  #itli  Mr.  iGwrricfe  with 
great  success  till  1760,  when  shediafigisd  to  Covent  GUrdeA,  and 
quitted  the  Theatre  about  17M.  Sb«  was  ani  aictress  highly  ac- 
complished, btil  biid  little  df  the  fo<c^,of'$atfv«egeniirt  iibotit  her. 
She  was,  however,  always  received  with  great  favour  whilst  at 
Drury  Lane,  bttt  felt  off  in  he/flc4ng  at  Cofeitt  Gl»rdein.  She 
died  the  3d  of  July,  17^1.  f'srther  p^rticuiars  oi  hew  #iLl  be 
fcmtui  io  the  course  of  these  Memoirs. 


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198  .^    MiKMOIHiS  OF     : 

,       .      .,  .  EPILOGUE,  • 

{Spoken  bj/  Mr,  Magklin,  upon  taking  hate  of  the  Stage,  20M 
of  December^  1753,  after  the  Comedy  of  "  The  Refusal 

foQx  l^  tosf'd  up  and  down  from  shore  to  shore,  . 
Sick^  w^t,  and  weary,  will  to  sea  no  n^ore; 
Yef  'tis  bome  comfort>  tho*  I  quit  the  trade,  \ 

That  this  last  voyage  with  success  is  ipalde,  > 

The  ship  full  laden,  and  the  freight  all  paid.  ) 

Since,,  then,  for  reasons,  I  the  Stage  give  o'er, 
-  And  for  jfdvr  sake^  write  t^agpdiel  no  more,.  ' 
t.      §omp  other  schemes  of  course  possess  my  brain; 
X^or  hfi  who  once  has  ?at,must  eat  again; 
And  les^  this  lank,  this  melancholy  phiz, 
.    .•3hould  g;rj0\y  more  t%nk^  more  dismal  than  ili^, 
Ji  scheme  I  hav6  in  hand,  will  make  you  stare: 
Tlfo'  off  the  Stage,  I. still  must  be  the  player; 
Sltill  Tmiist  follow  the  theatric  plan,     - 
Exerf  my  comic  powers,  draw  itU  I  can, 
/   >    Ahd  to  each  goest-rrrappeat  a  .different  mam    , 
I,;l\k^  vf^  liquor,  must  ea^h  palate  hit; 
Hake  with  the  wild— ?-be  sober  with  the  Cit; 
Nay.  sometimes  act  my  least  becoming  part— the  wit 
W'ith  politicians  I  miist  nod— seem  full, 
.'  Ahd  adt  my  hest  becoming  4)art—rthe  dulU 
-    -'  My  f)lanJ8  thi€-r-Man'»  form'd^a  social  creatjujoe, 

;  Requiirihg  converse  by  the  laws  of  Nature ; 
•>-  -  .Andiasitbe  jxiPQQ  c^n  r^iise  the  s^relling  flood,         \ 
^   .Ot\  astlie  .wind  i*^  in/iuen/s'd  by  the  blood,  v 

:        So. do  l.miikj^  myself  weU  understood.  '   J 

-     I'm  ipuzzl'di  faith-T-Lct  us,,  like  Bayes^  agree  it,  . 
. .    '  ^¥oti?U  know  my  plot  much  better  when  you  see  it. . 


Bbt  truce  with  jesting,  let  me  now  impart 
Tbe.  warm  a'ierilowiDgs  of  a  grateful  h^s^t. , 


Come 


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CUARLBS   HAb&LIN..  199 

Come  good,  come  bad,!  wbHst  life  or  inemor^  last, 
My  miod  ihall  treasure  Up  your  favours  past ; 
Ai^d  might  one  added  boon  increase  the  store. 
With  much  Itess  sorrow  shoul'd  I  quit  the  shore. 
To  mine  as  you  have  been  to  me,  prove  kind, 
Protect tiire 'pledge  my  kindness  leaves  behind: 
To  youy  her  guardians;  1  resign  my  can, ' ' 
Let  her  with  others  your  indulgence  share. 
Whatever  my  fate,  if  this  my  wish  prevails, 
Twill  glad  the  father,  *  tho'  the  schemist  fails. 


What  induced  him  to  quit  the  Stage  in  the  full 
vigour  of  fauie  and  constitution,  was  one  of  those 
schemes  which  he  had  long  previously  indulged 
hinaself  in,  of  suddenly  making  his  fortune  by  the 

establishment  of  a  tavern  and  cofFeerhouse  in  the 

•  *  ... 

Piazza,  Co  vent  Garden;  to  which  he  afterwards 
added  a  school  of  oratory^  upon  a  plan  hitherto 
unknown  in  England,  founded  upon  the  Greek, 
Roman,  French,  and  Italian  Societies,  under  the 
title  qf  \'  The  Briti^  Inquisition,"     : 

The^first  partoftliis  pjan  was  oppued  on  the 
the  11th  of  Marcli,  1754,  by  a  pvbKc.  ordinary, 
(which  was.  to  be  continued  every  d^y  at  four 
o'clock^  price  three  shillings,)  wlxere  every  per- 
son was  permitted  to  drink  port,,  claret,  ov  what- 
ever liquor  he  should  choc^se— A  bil}  of  fare,  we 
must  confess,.,  very  encouraging,  even.  •  in  ■  those 
times,  and  which,  from  its  cheapness  andnovelt}^  * 
dre\y  a  cousiderahle  resort  of ,  company  for  some 
time.  •    . .  0  4  ,       As  . 


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9Q(f  u%utn»3  or 

4 

As  curiosity  must  not  be  a  Itttle  excited  to 
know  something  of  Macklin  in  this  new  light  of 
a  taveni-keepef,  we  have  it  in  our  power,  partly, 
tp  gratify  them,  on  the  authority  of  a  literary 
Gentleipaq.  now  living,  whp  often  formed  erne  of 
the  ordinary  during  the  course  of  the  first  season ; 
^nc|  his  relation  is  as  follows. 

Dinner  being  announced,  by  public  advertise*^ 
inent,  to  be  ready  at  four  o'clock,  just  as  the 
clock  had  struck  that  hour,  a  large  tavern  bell, 
which  he  had  affixed  to  the  top  of  the  housed 
gave  notice  of  its  approach.  This  bell  continued 
ringing  for  about  five' minutes:  the  dinner  was 
then  ordered  to  be  dished;  and  in  ten  mitjuteS 
afterwards  it  was  set  upon  the  table:  after  which 
the  outer  room  door  was  ordered  to  be  $htit,  and 
no  other  guest  admitted. 

Macklin  himself  always  brought  in  th?  first 
dish,  dressed  in  a  full  suit  of  clothes,  &c.  with  ^ 
napkin  slung  across  his  left  arm.  When  he  pla- 
ced the  dish  on  the  table,  he  made  a  low  bow, 
?ind  retired  a  few  paces  back  towards  the  side- 
board, which  Was  laid  out  in  a  very  superb  style,' 
and  with  e^^ery  possible  convenience  that  could 
be  thought  of.  Twa  of'  his  principal  waiter? 
stood  beside  him;  and  brie,  two,  ot  three  more, 
as  occasidn  reqiirrcd  them.  He  had  trained  up 
all  hiB  scrv&hts^  scv^cpal  months  before  fbr  this  a)t- 

tendance; 


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tendnnce;  and  ooe  principal  rule  (which  he  laid 
down  as,  a  sine  qua  non)  >v'as,  that  not  one  single 
if^r4  v^  to  be  spoken  by  them  whilst  m  the 
room,  except  \rben  asked  a  question  by  one  of 
the  guests.  The  ordinary,  therefore,  was  carried 
oa  by  9ign^  previously  agreed  upon;  and  Mack- 
Ijn,  ^  principal  waiter,  had  only  to  obseiTC  when^ 
any  thing  was  wanted  or  called  for,  to  com* 
municate  a  sign^  which  the  waiters  immediately 
understdocl^  and  qompUed  with.  , 

Thus  was  dinner  entirely  served  up,  and  atten* 
ded  to,  on  the  wde  of  the  hou^,  all  in  dumb  sbeW4 
When  dinner  was  oyerj  end  the  bottles  *nd  glasses 
ftU  Jftid  upon  the  tiWe,  ^I;*ckli%  quitting  his  for- 
mer Jirtuatioii,  walked  gravely  up  to  the  front  of 
the  table,  and  hoped  ^*  that  all  things  were. found 
agre^ble;"  a.fter^hiGh,  he  pasrsed  the  bell-rope 
rouifcd  the  back  <?f  the  el>air  of  the  person  who 
happened  to  sit*  ^t  the  head  of  the  table,  and 
making  a  low  bow  at  the  doorj  retired. 

Though  all  this  h^d  the  shew  of  a  formality 
^aedn^ingly  tpuehing  too  much  on  the  freedom  of 
social  meeting,  it  appeared  to  have  a  general 
good  effect:  the  company  not  only  saw  it  as  a 
thin^  to  wbieh  they  had  not  been  accustomed, 
but  it  gave  them-  by  degrees,  from  the  example  of 
taciturnity,  a*p(?rtain  mixture  of  temper  and  mo- 
deration in  their  discourse;  and  it  w^s  observed, 

that 


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fi02  MEMOIRS   OF  - 

that  there  were  fewer  wrangles  and  disputes  at 
this  ordinary,  during  the  time  Macklin  kept  it; 
than  could  well  be  expected  in  places  which  ad- 
mitted of  so  mixed  an  assembly  of  people. 

The  company  generally ,  consisted  of  wits,  au- 
thors, players,  Templars,  andlounging-meaof  the 
town. 

Of  the  other  part  of  his  plan^  which  he  called 
*^The  British  Inquisition,"  it  is  impossible  to 
think,  without  ascribing  to  the  author  a  degree 
of  Vanity  almost  bordering  on  madness.  By  this 
plan,  l>e  not  only  incited  a  discussion  on  almost 
the  whole  cirj6le  of  arts  and  sciences,  which 
he  was  in  a  great  ineasure  to  direct,  but  took  up 
on  himself  solely  to  give  Lectures  on  the  Comedy 
of  the  Ancients;  the  use  of  their  masks,  flutes,> 
mimes,  pantomimes,  &c.  He  next  engaged  to 
driaw  a  comparison  between  the  Stages  of  Greece 
and  Rome.  To  conclude  with  Lectures  upon  eacfe 
of  Shakespeare's  Plays,  commenting  on  the  dif- 
ferent stories  from  whence  his  plots  were  taken, 
the  uses  which  he  made  of  them,  Avith  strictures- 
on  his  fables,  mlorals,  passions,  mauners,  &c. 

But,  in  order  to  let  the  projector  speak  for  him- 
self, we  here  subjoin  a  copy  of  his  first  advertise- 
ment to  the  public  on  the  occasion. 


^'  A* 


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CHAKIES   MAe^LlK.  £0$ 

*^  At  Macklm'i  G^ai  Room  i$i^  HartStpeetj  Covenf  Garden^  thh 

Day  f  being  the  2Ut  of  November^' Kill  be  opefted 

"  THE  BRITISH  INQUISITION." 

**  This  Institutipn  h  upon  the  plan  of  the  ancient  Gre^,  Ro-? 
mart,  and  modern  French  and  Italian  Societies  of  liberal  investi- 
gation. Such  subjects  in  Arts,  Sciences,  Literature,  Criticism, 
Philosophy,  History,  Politics,  and  Morality,  as  shall  be  found 
useful  and  entertaining  to  society,  will  be  there  lectured  upon, 
i^nd  freely' d^l)ated;  particularly,  Mr.  Macklin  intends  to  lee* 
ture  Upon  th^;  Comedy  of  the  Ai)cienta>  the  use  of  their  masks 
and  flutes,  th^  mifaie^  and  pantomimes,  and  the  u^  i^nd  abuse 
of  the  Stage.  He  wilj  likewise  lecture  upon  the  rise  and  progress 
of  the  modern  Theatre^,  and  make  a  comparison  between  them 
and  those  of  Greece  and  Rome;  arid  between  each  other  he  pro- 
poses to  lecture  also  upon  each  of  Shakespeare's  Plays;  to  consi- 
der the  original  stories  from  whence  they  are  taken;  the  artifi- 
cial or  inartificial  use,  accoi^ding^o  the  laws  of , the  jdr^imm  that 
Shakespeare  h^sm^de  of  them:  his  fable^  moral  character,  pasv 
sions,  manners,  will  likewise  be  criticised ;  and  how  his  capital 
characters  have  been  acted  heretofore,  are  acted,  and  ought  to 
be  acted.  And  as  the  design  of  this  inquiry  is  to  endeavour  at 
an  acquisition  of  truth'  in  matters  of  taste,  particularly  theatri- 
cal, the  lec^ur^  being  ended,  any  gentleman  may  offer  his  thoughts 
upon  the  subject, 

"  The  doors  will  be  opened  at  5,  and  the  lecture  begin  pre- 
cisely at  7  o*clo<!k,'  every.  Monday  and  Friday  evening. 

''  Ladies  will  be  admitted,  price  one  shilling  each  person. 

•*  The  first  lecture  will  be  on  Hamlet.  -t 

"  N.  B.  The  question  to  be  debated  after  the  lecture,  will  he, 
whether  the  People  of  Great  Britain  have  profited  by  their  In- 
tercourse with,  or  their  Imitatibn,  of  the  French  Nation  ? 

.  *'  There 


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804  .  MJBMOIftS  0* 

"  There  is  a  public  ordinary  every  day  at  4  o'clock,  price 
IhrcQ  shillings  each  p«r9on;  to  drink  port^  dar«t,  or  whatever 
liquor  h^; shall  choose. 

"  N.  B.  This  evening  the  public  subscription  Card-room  will  be 
€f>ened.    Subscriptions  taken  in  by  Mr«  Macklin/' 

In  respect  to  his  knowledge  of  ancieni  Comedy, 
and  hi6  attempt  to  draw  a  comparisau  between  the 
Greek  and-  Roma^  Stuge,  he  must  hay«  obtained 
ijt  (if  luc  made  any  Kterary  inquiry  at  all)  from 
Prydeii^s  prefaces,  and  other  detached  English 
writers  on  the  subject ;  as  he  Was  totally  unac- 
quainted with  either  the  Greek  or  Latin  langua- 
ges, and  did  not  understand  French  well  enough 
to  avail  himself  of  their  criticisms*     A»  to  the 
original  of  Shakespeare's  stories^  and  the  uses  he 
made  of  them,  &c.  he  \vas  still  in  a  worse  predi- 
cament, as  this  required  a  course  of  reading  in 
the  contemporary  writers  of  Shakespeare's  age, 
too  multifarious  either  fw  the  grasp  of  his  mind^ 
or  for  the  time  which,  from  other  avocationSj  he 
could  spare;  so  that  to  every   body,    but  him* 
selfy  Macklin  stood  in  a  very  ridiculous  point 
of  view — ^under  the  responsibility  of  large  pro^ 
mises,  with  very  httle  capital  to  discharge  them*. 

Of  his  illustration  of  Shakespeare's  plays^  we 
believe,  there  are  no  records,  as  he  was  not  quite 
fool  enough  to  print  them,  nor  has  even  ridicule 
consigned  them  to  memory;  but,  as  a  proof  of 

2  what 


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whzX  he  was  capaUe  of  dotog  a^  a  critic  va  this 
line,  wc  sul>j(iin  the  following  proposal  he  made 
to  Garrick,  as  a  kind  of  grateful  compensation  to 
him,  for  giving  him  the  use  of  his  Theatre  for 
one  night,  apid  for  writing  a  farewell  Epilogue 
for  him  on  the  same  occasion. 

In  a  conversation  he  had  with  Garrick  about 
the  great  run  of  Romeo  and  Juliet,  he  told  him, 
that  as  the  town,  had  not  properly  settled  which 
was  the  best  Ilomeo,  Barry  or  him,  be  meant  ul-' 
timately  to  decide  tliat  question  in  his  next  lec^ 
ture  on  that  Tragedy.  Garrick,  who  was  all  alive 
to  fame,  iastantly  cocked  up  his  ear,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  Ah !  my  dear  Mac.  how  will  you 
bring  this  about?"  "  I'll  tell  you.  Sir:  I  mean 
to  shew  your  different  merits  in  the  garden  scene. 
Barry  comes  into  it.  Sir,  as  great  as  a  lord, 
swaggerifig  about  hb  love,  and  talking  so  loud, 
that,  by  G— ,  Sir,  if  we  don't  suppose  the  ser- 
vants of  the  Caputet  family  almost  dead  with 
sleep,  they  must  have  come  out,  and  tossed  the 
fellow  in  a  blanket.  Well,  Sir,  after  having  fixed 
my  auditors'  attention  to  this  part,  then  I  shall 
jtek.  But  how  does  Garrick  act  this?  Why,  Sir, 
sensible  that  the  family  are  at  enmity  with  him 
and  his  house,  he  comes  creeping  in  upon  his  toes, 
whispering  his  love,  and  looking  about  him  jW/ 
like  a  thief  in  thenigbt/\  At  this  Garrick  could 
hold  out  no  longer— he  thanked  him  for  his  good 
*  intentions, 


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206  •  M£;Moiiur  or     ^ 

intentiom,  but  begg«H  he  would  dOTline  his  pur* 
p08€^  a^,  after  all,  he  thought  it  a  qfuestion  bet-. 
tcr  left  to  the  opinion  of  an  audience  than  the 
subject  of  a  lectuTe.  '  ';        ! 

With  these  qualifications  as  a  critic,  much  suc- 
cess could  not  be  augured  from  the  lectures. 
The  eVeiit  turned  oiit  so;  as  in  alittie:tinie  the 
few  Ai^ho  resorted  to  his  rooinsgaveaip  all  ideas 
of  improvement,  and  the  whole  assumed  an  aif 
of  burlesque ;  which  was  still  heigh tteneid  by  the 
gravity  of  Mackliri,  who,  thisting  to  the  efficien- 
cy of  his  own  posters,  appeared  eveiy  night  full 
dressed,  dictating  to  %ht  town  in  all  the  airs  of 
superior  intelligence.  ' 

Foote  Stood  at  the  head  of  the  wits  and  laughers 
on  this  occasion.  This  ex^traordinary.  genius, 
whose  memoirs  form  one  of  the  greatest  desiderata 
of  modern  biography,  had  been  introduced  a  few 
years  before  to  the  town,  and  Was  then  in  the 
full  flow  of  wit  and  humour:  his  constant  lounge 
was  the  Bedford  Gofiee-House,  tiie  resort  of  the 
wits  at  that  time,  where  he  was  the  idol  of  the 
place :  every  bpdy  who  knew  him  came  early,  in 
hopes  of  being  one  of  his  party' at  supper;  and 
thosp  who  were  not  acquaintances,  had  the  same 
curiosity  in  engaging  the  boxes  near  him.  Foote, 
in  return,  was  no  niggard  in  his  conversation; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  was  as  generous  as  he  was 

affluent: 


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CHARLES   MACKIIN.  207 

affluent:  he  talked  i^pon  roost  subjects  with  great 
knowledge  and  fluency;  a^id  wherever  a  flash  of 
wit,  a  pun,  orajok^  came  in  his  way,  he  gave 
it  in  such  a  style  of  genuine  humour  as  was  al* 
ways  sure  to  circulate  the  laugh;  and  this  laugh 
was  his  glory  and  triumph. 

:  To  a  man  of  this  character,  Macklia  was  as  the 
iace  to  the  pike^  a. sure  prey.  He  accordiugly. 
made  him  his  daily  food  for  laughter  and  ridicule, 
by  constantly  attending  his  lectures,  and,  by 
his  questions,  remarks,  and  repartees,  kept  the 
audienqe  in  a  cpntinued  roar.  Macklin  some- 
times made  battle — but  it  was  Priam  to  Pyrrhus; 
he  now  and  tlien  came  out  with  a  strong  remark, 
or  bitter  sarcasm ;  but  in  wit  and  humour,  poote 
was  greatly  his  superiof.  Foote  likewise  had  the 
talent  of  4ceeping  his  temper,  which  still  added  to 
his  superiority. 

One  night,  as  Macklin  was  preparing  to  begin 
his  lecture,  and  hearing  a  buz  in  the  room,  he 
spied  Foote  in  a  corner,  talking  and  laughing 
most  immoderately.  This  he  thought  a  safe  time 
to  rebuke  him,  as  he  had  not  began  his  lecture,  and 
consequently  could  not  be  subject  to  any  criticism : 
be  therefore  cried  out,  with  ^ome.  authority^ 
"Well,  Sir,  you  seem  to  be  very  merry  there; 
but  do  you, know  what  I  am  going  to  say  now?" 
'*No,  Sir,"  s^ys  Foote;  **  Pray  da  your    The 

ready 


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ft^dyitid  utt«mbafrtt*»ed  matmut  of  this  Tep(y 
At6\ronj&Wfh  a  burnt  of  laughter/  a^  silenced  thd 
lectttrdr  for  some. minutes;  nor  cOuM  he  then  get 
on,  tin  called  upon  by  the  genetal  voice  of  the 
*Ouipaiiy» 

Another  time,  Macklin  undertook  to  shew  the 
causes  of  duelling  in  Ireland,  and  why  it  was 
jtittch  more  the  practice  of  that  nation  than  any 
other.  In  order  to  do  this  in  his  own  way,  he 
began  with  the  earliest  part  of  the  Irish  his- 
tory, as  it  respected  the  customs,  the  education, 
and  the  animal  spirits  of  the  inhabitants;  and,  a^ 
tier  getting  as^  far  as  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
he  was  again  proceeding,  when  Foote  spoke  to 
order.  ''  Well,  Sir;  what  have  you  to  say  upon 
this  subject  ?"  **  Only  to  crave  a  little  attention. 
Sir,  (says  Foote,  with  much  seeming  ihodesty,) 
when  I  think  I  can  settle  this  point  in  a  few  words.  ** 
**WeIl,  Sir,  go  on."  ''Why,  then,  Sir,"  says 
Foote,  ''to  begin,  what  o^clock  is  it?'"  "O'Clock!"  ' 
says  Macklin;  "what  has  the  clock  to  do  with  a 
dissertation  on  duelling?"  '*  Pray,  Sir,"*  says 
Foote,  "  be  pleased  to  answer  my  question/' 
Macklin,  on  this,  pulled  out  his  watch,  and  re- 
ported the  hour  to  be  half  past  ten.  "  Very  well,** 
says  Foote ;  "  about  this  time  of  the  night,  evety 
gentleman  in  Ireland,  that  can  possibly  afford  it, 
is  in  his  third  bottle  of  claret,  consequently  is  in 
a  foir  way  of  getting  drunk :  from  drunkenness? 

proceeds 


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proceeds  quarrell^%g^  ?W^  f^^^  ^uarreHing,  dueV* 
ipgy  ix^:9Q^  there's ^n  ewl  of  the  chapter."  The 
compi^3;}f  seemed,  fully,  satisfied  with  this  abiidg* 
meat;  aud  Macklin  shut  up  bis  lecture  for  that 
evenii:^  in  ^eat  dudgeon..  ;       ^ 

i^iuither  night,  rtbeing  at  supper  with  Foote  and 
some,  others  at  the  Bedford  Coffee-house,  one  of 
the.  Qomps^ny  was  praising^Macklin  on  the  great  re* 
gularity  of  his  ordinary,  and,  inparticular,  hismau'^' 
ner  of  directrog  his  waiters  by  &gnals.  ^  *  Aye,  3ir, " 
says  Maclflin, ;  *  \I  knew  it  woulddo.  And  where  do- 
you  think  I  picked  up  this  hint?  Well,  Sir,  I'll 
tell  you,  I  picked  it  up  from  no  less  a  man  than 
James  Duke  of  York,  who,  you  know,  Sir,  first 
ijiventedi  signals  for  the, fleet"  "  Very  apropos ! 
indeed^"' say3  Foote^  ^*  and  good  poetical  justice; 
Bsfrom  thej^cet  they  were  taken-rso  to  tAe  Fleet 
both  master  smd  signaU  are  Jikely  to  return/' 


•All  this,  though  ga^Kng  to  Macklin,  was  fun 
fqr the  public;  andif  if  ^^endspdhere,  would,  per- 
haps, have  .served  Maql^lin  in  a  pecuniary,  way,  as 
much  as  it  hui{tihis/ee^ings  in  another:  b^t. Foote 
did  not  know  when  he  had  enough  oj^  a  good 
thing;  he  introduced  him  into  his  Theatre  at  the 
Haynj^JceJt,^  whe^e  neither  cut  so  good  a  figure  as 
they,4j^,ip  tlbe  Br^tiflji^|pfiuisition}  and  Macklin, 
in  rjB^urpi.  retorted  >  ift  all  kind  of  abusr  ax^l  ca* 
luin|iy.^  ^thQ  public  at;  J^fe  g^ew  tired  of  the  con- 
J  P  trover^', 


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troversyj  fr6m  bfeing  tak^  out  of  its  proper^  {>laecj 
ahd  the  Sritish  Inquiiitibn  ho6n  after  this  begaa 
to  fey  a  graduaK  decay '%' all  its  departments. 

Most  people,  besiMe- the  pmjectdl-,  salr  the 
seeds  of  a  speedy  dissolution  in  the  very  princi-  . 
|4es  of  this  scheme.  '  In  the  "first  place,' Jt  was 
upon  a  large  expensive  scale,  and^quitc  nbvdin 
this  country;  it,  therefore,  not  only  required  a 
greater  capital  than  Macklin  was  master  of,  but 
much  greater  talents;  as  he  had  neither  learning, 
i<eadiiig,  figure,  or  elocution,  for  the  oi^torical 
part;  nor  assiduity,  knowledge,  or  temper,  for 
keeping  a  coffee-house  and  tavern.  Whilst  he 
amused  himself  with  drilling  his  waiters,  or  fitting 
himi^lf  for  the  rostrum,  by  poring  ova*  the  Jthc^ 
nian  Oracle f  or  ParHamentdry  Debafe^y  his  wai- 
ters, in  return,  were  robbing  him  in  all  directions. 
His  cook  geheifally  went  to  market  for  him ;  and 
his  principal  waiter  was  his  head  butler.  lu 
short,  Macklin  had  lefl  hirtigelf  little  mbte  to  do 
in' the  essential  parts  of  this^  business,  than  paying 
the  blAh;  and  these  iodn  pdured  in  upon  him  so 
fks^  that  he  could  not  even  acquit  lihnsdf  of  this 
empltiyment.  :  n    :.    •     .     .    :   .  .w 

Thingfs  could  not  long  continue' m  tMs  de- 
ranged state.  He  soon  found  k  dfifficuhy  itl^sup- 
parting  the  daily  expeiices  of  tiiehousfe;  but  still 
he' trusted  to  the  fbrforri  hbpt  of  better  times,'  and 

luckier 


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CHAttLBS  KACKXIN.  SU 

luckier  oppottunitien.  His  friends  had  now  the 
oonfidence  to  leH  hmi,  that  his  icheme^  from  the 
he^nliiag,  wa^  illi-matured^  and  he^  above  all 
others,  the  mmt  unlikely  to  sticceed  in  it.  This, 
instead ^fi«structi«ghito,'  piqued  his  pride:  he 
called  his  want  of  success  illlucki  a^d  tlmt,  as 
luck  would  turn  if  money  would  hold,  he  would 
try  it  another  winter.  Accordingly,  the  next 
winter  did  ultimately  decide  the  question,  as  wc 
find  inth  a  bankrupt  ott  the  £5th  of  January; 
175i(,  under,  the  titk  of  "  vintner^  coffee-man,  and 
chapman.'*    ■ 

On  his  examination  before  the  Commissioners 
of  fiankrtiptcy,  every  thing  turned  Out  to  his  cha*- 
rafcter,  but  his  prudenctj  6^  it  appeared  he  lost  his 
money  parfljr  by  the  sums  incurred  in  building 
and  fitting  up  the  rooms,  and  partly  by  the  tiade 
■not  bting  adeq^iiate  to  such  a  scale  of  expenditurei 
One  circumstance,  however,  should  hot  be  omit- 
ted here,  which  redounfds  to  h?s  character  as  a 
father,  which  was — that  it  was  proved,  by  suffi- 
cient  documents,  that  he  laid  out  no  less  a  sum 
than  tmetve  hundred  pounds  on  the  education  of 
his  daughter— an  cdncatton  iiOt  ill  bestowed,  as  it 
respected^ exterior  aceompliishmeiits,  Sec.  but  which 
made  so  Httle  impression  on  her  gratitude,  that, 
at  her  death,  (which  happed  when  her  father 
was  Above  ^ig;hty  years  of  age,  wd  when,  it  was 
weH  kiftowh,  he  wa^fai-  f#om  being  independent,) 
'      PS  she 


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212  HEHMits  or 

she  bequeathed  tjie  bi^t  part  of  hf i;  fortune  to 
stmngers— giving  him,  at  the  i3ame  tim^j^  such  an 
eventual  title  to  the  other  part,  as  was  worse  than 
absolute  neglect — it  was  a  legacy  iu  mockery,  as  if 
she  only  thought  of  her  father  to  tantal^e  him 
with  fruitless  expectations. 

Macklin  being  now  released  froni  the  duties  of 
a  Lecturer  and  Tavern-keeper,  (duties  which  nei- 
ther his  talents  or  temper  ever  designed  hon  for,) 
*^  the  world  was  all  before  him,  wi>ere  to  choose 
his  place  of  happiness  and  rest;"  but  bis  passions 
were  too  turgid  to  admit  of  much  rest,  and  his 
judgment  too  much  governed  by  his  passions  to 
seek  the  proper  sphere  of  happiness.  However, 
indolence  was  never  amongst  his  vices :  he  was 
always  doing  something,  or  had  a  projtet  in  his 
head  whioh  was  to  do  a  great  deal.  The  project 
of  the  moment  was,  to  found  a  new  Theatre  in 
Ireland,  in*  conjunctfon  with  the  late^  Spranger 
Barry,  (fpr  this  was  the  first  sketch  of  the  plan,) 
which  was  tp  outdo  all  former  outdph^g^. 

Balry  (as we  have  before  observed  in  the  course 
of -these  anecdotes)  was  tlien  in  .tliCi. height  of 
power  and  reputation ;  and,  nothing  ^ut  the  very 
^ritation  and  restlessness  of  ambitiop  qquld  have 
prompted  him  to  phang^  a  situation  $0  desirable : 
whereas  Macklin,  just  emerged  frflm  bajuKnjptcy, 
and  not  havipg  as  jqt  ifccoye^e^  ^^js  ^^ijtuation.on 
■  -  .  ^  the 


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CHARtES   MACtCLlN.  2f3 

the  LoMbnrTIieaLire,  had  nothing  to  Ibife,  with  a 
certaraty  of  ■  giiriing  son^thing  by  fh^.  struggle.  ^ 
Witli  tfh^se  prepossessioiis^  he  ear^iggtd  ^Barry  ' 
(himdelf.**^iiothirig  loth")  so  constantly  about  the 
powei^' of  a  Manager,  and  the  fixed'  and  perianal  ' 
iient  profits  of  a  Theatre,  which  by  its  depiita-  v 
tions  coftld  ebtiittiand  the  whole  kingdoiii,  that  he ' 
detenriined '6H'the  trial,  and  proposals  were  sent ' 
over  to  Irelaiid'f6r 'that  purpose.-      .    ;     ;  ^  ^         ^ 

During  this  interval,  Macklin's  house  under 
the  Piazzas,^  Covent  Garden,  Was  constantly  open 
for  thdT^fosof  the  profesrsion  to  give -specimens 
of  tiseif  different  talents:  from  Uti  to  twelve 
o'clock,  three  timeg  a  week,  he  gave  audiences 
for  this  ^tfrpo^e;  a:nd  it  formed  an  "object  6f  ;^io 
little  cariosity  to  see  the  veteran,  irf all  the  forma- 
lity aii^ ' port  of'  a  Theatrical  ■  Inquisitor,  settling 
their  various  pretensions.  .'  '>    i;    ;     ; 

Many  stories  flew  about  the  town,  at  that  time, 
df  the  various  bdd  and  whimsical  chara^te^s  who 
presented  themselves  for  engagement :  some  real, 
no  doubt ;  and  somte  which  may  be  set  down  to 
the  account  of  Foote,  (his  old  and  constant  ludi-» 
crous  tormentor,)  which  may  be  classed  under 
the  title  of  "  poetical  prose. '* 


One  was  of  a  man  who  offered  himself  for  • 
Othello,  who,  as  he  was  giving,  by  Av!ay  of  speci- 

P3  men, 


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214  MJ>^H)IRS   OF  ; 

Tn€n,  the  speech  before  the  Senate?,  imsr.oji^ftenred 
to  tlnow  back  his  left  arm  witb^greacf .^vicJiCnce 
pretty  co«f^Titly^  **  Pray,  Sir/;  says^Mafklioi, 
"  keep  bacl^  your  kftarm  a  Mftle  more:  you  are 
now,  consider,  addn^ssjpg  the  Semyte^  aijiA  the 
rightrband  is  the  ,^fle;  to  give  grjtc%  ap^  enfi^  to 
you  renunciation/'  *'0,Sir,  (replie4:^lipqu5idi4ate 
very  coplly,)  it  is  only. th^  slcey^  of ^lynp^al^  [which , 
I  forgot  to  pin  back,  as  I  lost  ray  Ifift  aT#  .waaay 
years  ago  on  boalrd  a  man  of  war. 


99 


Of  another,  who  presented  himself  as  a^cafiidi- 
date  for  Kqnt  in  King  L^r;  but  A^acfalinf^us^' 
peeting  the  ^mim's  qualifieatifoms  from  Ifis  ^ppear^ 
aittcei  asked  \mth  what  sor|  of  charafifer  ^^id  hfi 
auippose  Kfjitt  to  be,  *^  Character,"  ji^flkdt^e 
man,  *'  ^hy.^Physickn  Sfurely!"  '^^  P%Mcai^ 
Sir !"  .§ried-  MapkUn :  "  d^— ran ,  i%,  h^^Hrcto,  you 
make  that  out?"  **  Oh  !  very  clearly^,  from  tiiiis 
reply  of  Kent*s-r-*^  Do— r-kill  thy  Physician,  Lear.'* 

Of  aft^^fef  r,  who  offere4  fo,r  thp  Cock  in  HoffOeti 
^li4;of  aaotlier,  who  sei^t^ia^  list  of  Smii!^  capi-r 
Xvii  liragedy  parts„  who,  ov  an  int^rviewj^  turned 
cut  to  be  a  Plajckamoor. 

Whilst  Macklin  was  thus  eragloyed,  ^  sci^^  of 

another  nature  took  place,   which  ranks  his  cha- 

lactet  in  a  more  respectafa^^  point  of  vi^w*    We 

hafVe  already  observ^d^  tha^  >I^kKn,  previously 

:..  '  /to 


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to  his.  tufning  O^AoVr^  liqviMtor,..  anfl  Tavcrlir 
keeper,  had  iatroduced  his  daughter  to  the  .Stage^ 
in  a  Prologue  written  for  that  purpose.  Though 
Miis.  Mackiii'  was  iidit  ihaadfionie,  J^ie/Mifas  i^enteel 
m  ber  tpnsolv  and  bemg;  li^lify  edacajbcd^!  w^ 
£iJ^]Miiable  ih  ber  niaiiifi8i's>lnd  depdrtntenti  She 
lirjaihtmdci  aiTciry.risin^^'^^ctmsy  aiKi  gay^  spe-- 
cimens  of  hev  singing  wUfYiandi%'iiiocG;fi^^ 
filtellaiinnent»^whkrbiqaki)e\her/a  gristatfarQurite 
with  the  town.  "  jV..  :  :     .. 

S<>in6  days  previously/ to  i:her  bra^,  Whilst 
Macklin  was  sitting  at  bre^kfaiftt) .  a.  loud  knockh 
iug  at  his  door  announced  the  name  of  a  Baronet, 
at  tbat  lime  as  well  knnWii  on  the  4urf,/  as  he  has 
smoe^bemiia/thc  <^racttr  of  ia  J/oI&%e  j&o/tfp>iaaid 
6nM^I/dgaiFirm)tiiimer.::AftiT:  the  beremdtiies 
of  introdikottoa> wf re brcry/  MaiekKii .ftopfed:? ^  he 
Wcmld  d6  hitn  4^ ;  hohoffir/  of  jl»ieak&f  ting  with 
him;'*  wMch  the  otb^:  itidry  fffLnl^y;a)Gbcptttd^0^ 
and  tlietHm^erisatlcfjabecbmegdnvrth:  fThe stagey 
of  course,  formed  one  of  the  topics;  when  the 
Baix)net  took  this  opportunity  to  praise  Miss 
Maeklin'  iii  the  higbesf  -vtriadns  x)f ;  panegyHc. 
This  Maeklm  thbiight  a^pt^diomen  fbr  his  ^aaigh"* 
Wsrbei^fitiiight,/ai^ibowedi¥iostgh)iibuvly  to 
all  his  ^itoon>iQms;;^lAtShtft,  ii^rla  shorib  paose^ 
(arising,  ^  MatHliitrdiots^ll^  fmiti'l|isc>dmten1i;s3> 
liient  abqut  tb^  manner  of  a  jkingt  for  tuiketft, )  the 

.       /.  * .  ;         .  ;  ..:  fi4  /      -BaroMt 


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Baronet  ibq^an  the^  &iUawifig(  ^ci^idasL  ccmrar^ 

•Mackiin;  .yobjma)?  subppse  J  femmol  iixssfisiUb  of 
Jier  merits.  :I  meani  to  he:  hec  i  fn^id' ;  iiiet itt  il*e 
article! iofiaddng.tickets^or  her  bmiefi^^i  >i^  such 
tiifliBQg;  actsiQ£iifiis^faUp;o  ir^  m^acwithmg 
anore  thiin  theicaiut(^3(k£.patroii^qftI)mf£tato^ 
her  friend  for  life."  .n  ..w;  yb  [■  :/; 

i    f'.Whit  doJycw^aUadc^toioiSiri^  ss^Macklin, 
caused  at. this  l^stueipredskai;. . :  ;  i ,  ^  cB^r  xi  i  I . :  »  K. 

-;  :f  ^  fWhy,'fiJsaJdithe*  atlierjr  .i*^:fcineaiB*sH  jsayj  to 
toak^^he^jT^^l^ind  £91!  tt&.*:a5id  a^IiyoiiiaiFela^nmB 
<of  tfaeiwiorld^iaml  'ti^s  fit.yj(m'i$hotildbk^ipeJistflbff6d 
jri  thikh}is&essmL  ii^AV^iinaktnjrQuraii'^ 
Mildred!  fjQunds  jpen  jraac  (foil  yaitr  rdaAgtuteiv  ^  :a»d 
^d  hu»dt®d.perg/i'eaTi^  jjdnwjself;  th)3bb/s6tjured 
pni^anyliif  niyicatatcffr]d»ttigt)bQthr3iimr  joatJiral 

iives.'Mv/   :...  ./).^_,    '>  )   b/;  i  •/-■.:-..:    .V.,:.^)     ^« 

.    -^  I  n^  at.jthatitime/^c^ffiidMajckliB;,!  ^^s^eai}'- 
^ngsopi€(bufter4mifaycig>H,jai|fl>lidppm^;td  ha^     ^ 
in  niyJ^mda  lacgc  iX2af8edkinafe^..iyi^iichri9ra6^hg; 
fm4  looking  stttadily  ^ittie.\BapDn€ii^  desised  bins 
imtm^yiitfxqnitimy  ^^9^  hi^,   at 

the  ^ame-tiimp^  \  1;^L!I  A^ftsia^inmcfa-  sttjrprised  a(t 
Ifii^  fQ%  as  his  profligacy^  in  thus  attempting  the 

honour 


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Google 


honour  of.?(  ohild  thfougk  tJ|e  naciiiuiw  oChfr-paa 
tent.  He  n^cteU  -  mA  l<\  n^ml-iwe^  aad  w^  ^pfQf 
ceqding  .  with;  *Qi*e  :Cparsw^?i/-^liep  instantly;  I 
sprcUig  frpxft  myse^t,  an^bol^fog  the  knife  ne^x^ 
Im  thr<)iai#  ;i4i:^inienaci^ng  A^an^r,;  ki^  h|v  mal^ 
tbel>^t;of  ;}Mfi;iway  dowHr  ,fi[talr9>  or  I  would  ii^^ 
sl3anitiy.4ny#:that  inatru^jnelit  into. his  heart,  as  the 
4ue  reward; of  ^ch  tase^^d  infai^oijs ,  prqpqatd& 

*'  Sir,  (continued  the  Veteran,)  I  had  no  occa- 
sion to  rep?^  r,  J^  ^nfteiMices  ft^  -siaeond  ti me^ ,  By 
G — ^,..tU^  feV^w  in?Jde  bpjt^^ne Jump  ifrpni;i24i& 
chair  Iq  tlieifji^,\ai^ j&cajppejf d  down  the^  3ta^tft 
aa  jjf  )the»  Ptt-kI  wasrm,;^^fp. ,  He  ran  ftcrq^^rt^iq 
Gard^^u  in  the^iSiame  nianaeiv;  tj^ixkii^g  I>'^uh$tiU 
at  hisjijBel)^:  ^and  so>'  Siar^/J/ never  ^poke-ito  the 


JPwvjou^Iyiito  the  indi3nturc$  being  dijaiwa^ip 
llCfcWew  Bai;jy  antlMaok^jp^!  as.  joint  Maaagers^ 
of  Crp^^^Street  Theatre,  Dublin^  Ma0k}ip  gat^  ia 
a  list  of  part9«  and  a  plan  of  man^geria^  arrange^ 
ment,  as  it  respected  his  own  power,  which 
routed  J?ar?y  to  paU^e  ^on  .fiueh  a,n ;  agreement* 
Beside rth^p^t'ts  which  he; M?%5,iJj(Stagepossess;ioa 
of,  fiuQh  aSiShyloqk,  Sir  P^al  Pliant,  the  Miser, 
Ben  in  Lov^ for  Love,  Sji  Gilbeit  Wrangle,  Scrub/ 
Trincuk),  i&t?;  ^c,  he  >wa3  for  articling  jto  play 
Hamlet,..  RicJti^rd,,  Mapbeth,  Sec,  'occam^ially. 
Seeing  Barr^  rjiihcr  surprised  at^thisja^t  prx^sal, 

— *^  Not. 


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Googk 


91S  msamn^^t  '^> 

*-f'''l^ot,  ittyidwf  Sj)mige^5  (say^fce,)  th^  1. 
nWiit^o  take  yWHr'  pfttts^>fr^>m  you/ but  by  way  Of 
^Hihg  the  toWii'wH»<y.  You  ^11  play  Macbeth 
fttienigbV^ted  I  another,  ahd  ^oti^'l^r,  wick  the 
j«t  of  the  tragkS-<Attf  aiclBi*.  Thus  we  itill  thr*>w 
Hghts  upOii  one  ah^hei^  p€rf6rtftatt<ie,  -ahd  ^gtv* 
ft  botte  to  the  Idds  oiF  ttieCollegej  *^to[>/  afteKall, 
form  a  part  of  the^^ftftAt  fcritieal*  atfdiende'  in 
Europe/* 

'  Barty  tehioudtfateH  iiv  Wi*iagttin^  this  absurd  . 
pWj^c!t,^^by  telling  hitti,^  ift-fei*'  stffli|  coiidlia,ting 
tAkVLiiet,  that  th^  veiy  Wv^rife'bf .  ^^htit  he  predict- 
^  ihust  ha|^pen/  as,  Jh  ihe  pifdjJ/bkidi  df  one  of 
theiri  being  a  ftt6^ritt  4n  anyof  tJ«]4^  dharacteis, 
the  other  tnilst  fteTtibedegtadatioft^  arid  tff  course 
the  receipts  of  the  house  would  sutfet*^— that  he, 
Macklin,  had  a  large  circle  of  comic  parts  to 
range  in,  all  at  his  owh ^disposal,  whi^h  h^6ould 
vary  as  he  liked-— which  would  be  ^ifficiewt  bdth 
Ibr  fkme  and  fdrtune;  '^nd  not  ris^i$  the  t^]% 
up  of  newbijsihess  athifr  fim#d//i/i?.  •    • 

''     .  '■•  .,       '.."'.'•.. 

Macklin  caught  flrg  at  the  word  H*§«i/e,  and; 
perhaps,  fime  d//^f,'and  tbldMin,  it  n^as  motiB  a  . 
oirtainty  than  lie  or  Garrick  wer^  atVBpe  of;  thd* 
he  had  long  thought  of  these  petrtej  ^  that  he  had 
fong  studied  them  ;  and  though  he  hSd  cteVer  be^ 
fore  then  had  a  power  to  demand  them,  he  would 
pot  now  lose  the  opportunity!  **  And,  by  G — d, 

Sir, 


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Googk 


Sir,  let  me  tcW^fm^J  tWpk  I  shajlbf  able  ^  shpw. 
the  tpwa  sopgthiug  th^y^j^vpv  sai^f  before." 

To  8uch  reaj^ouiiigp   no|:bl|^  Aould  bd|  af^liiiBd^ 
but  by  breaking  off  the  ea^gemen^ :  ^bicb  :w^ 
leordingly  was  di&SQlye^.:  %t  B^rry  jaljt^r^^s^ds; 
recoHectingj  that  SHcb  a^  fli^<a^4  M^^ij^ ..  witl^r 
the  assistance  of  bis  wi%  wauki  b^use|fil  j;p>Jiifg^i 
be  go,t,  a  tl^rd  persoji,  .^o  l^yii^  bijrpi  ris^i4,^,^r 
offering  bim  a  lai;ge  ^^^fty^HFTO  ^  P^rV^g^flpf; 
playing  tAvice  a  i^^e^  ip^^^p^Y^tji^^ifffm 
ters  of  the  Mat  ^c^  fir^|  de%r^R,j^3jr^l|9qi,bsiB^ 
concerned  in  any  x^ifjet  ^^i^.f^i^agRiu  i  M^. 
some  interviews,    this   was'  at  last  acceded  to. 
When  fianry,.  in  tlj^  po^jmitiWK  .articdedr  wiU?:  the 
late  Hary  \yimdwaj;d  as  joixx:^;  Eate^t^e^in,4  >^^r' 
nager  of  the  mteaded  Theatre,         -  .0 

In  the  Spring  of  1757,  Macklin  weiit  to  Irelan^^ 
^long  with  JBarry,  ariB  was  present  at  laying  ^the^ 
foundation  stone  of  Cf ow-Street  Theatre*  H,^:  i!^a*. 
likewise  a  constant  iDuspectox  ipf  , the* progrefs  p^ 
that  building  whilst  he  st^Lye;d  in  lreland,i  where, 
he  was  often  heard  descaniAng  on  the  stri^fjt^re  of 
the  GLreek  and  Roman  theatres,  the  natuw.  of  their, 
masks^  scenery^  8cc.  to- the  no  small  entertainment, 
of  the  by-standers>  and  oftei^.  to  the  interruption^  ' 
of  the  workmen ;  one  of  whom  at  las^  told  him,^ 
"  That  they  were  building  an  Irish,  not  a  Gjeek 
Theatre,  and  roust  build  according  to  the  plan 

.        '  lai4 


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22(V*  '  MiMbiRS^  OF   '    ' 

laid  down  for  them.  ^    This  offended  Macklin'd 
virtu  sothuch,  tlifait  he  declined  alt  future  Visits. 

Abotfl  the  September  of' the  saitie  year,  Barry  ^ 
hiring  oiytained  a  iiifficient  numher  of  subscrijj^ 
hereto  his^Tie\<r  Thekiit,  and  arranged  every  otherR 
mattfer  relative  t6^hfe  •  ^reat  desi^,   returned  to 
Londbn,   leaving  'MacfcUn'i^s  his'toduintenens, 
wlio,'te;di!^him'  ^ticle,  V^s  so  vei^  vigilant  and 
indiKSrWto  in  all'^the'^diepartkie^^  trust, 

thati^djioit  Barry V  ietijih  to  Dukin,  towards  the 
cldig  y^'^hesuitiinfeFdf '  1^48,   l3ie  Theatre  was' 
Dtearij^  ready  for  thcSr  ^performance. 

^Mi^.  MacA  di^ibout  this  time,  before  her 
husl^and  could  receive  any  benefits  frbm  her  en- 
gagement; and  he  ^seemed  much  afflicted  at  her 
'  loss,  as  her  judgment  and  good  sense  often  kept  . 
him  within  the  pale  of  propriety.  He  used  oftien 
to  confess  this;  and  at  the  stme  time  arraign  the 
quickness  and  turbulence  of  his  passions,  whicli 
too  frequently  got  the  mastery  t)f  Ifis  understand- 
iiig.  ^^She  was 'esteemed  an  excdWnt  actress  in^ 
the  W'aHc  of  her  profession ;  a  very  corisiderable 
riJader^  and  possessed  the  accomplishments  of 
singing  and  dancttig  to  that  degree,  as  w6uld 
have  enabled  her  to  get  her  bread  in  those  lines, 
was  not  her  acting  considered  as  the  most  profita- 
ble employment 

-         '   *      • 

Crow* 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


CHARLES   MACKLIN.  S21 

Crow-Street  Theatre  opened  on  the  23d. of  Oc- 
tober, 1758,  with  an  occasional  Prologue  spoken 
by  Barry,  after  whiqh  was  performed  the  Comedy 
of  ^'\She. Would,  and  .She  Would  Not ;  or,'  the 
Kind  Ymppstor/'  ,Macklin  joined  this  corps  as 
80Qn  aif  deicency  for  the  los3  of  his  wife  would  jad- 
wi]t;  buti  §uch  was  the  versatility  of  his  temper, 
'  that  he  not  only  quitted  his  engagements  with  * 
Barry  and  Woodwar^l,  a«4  returned  to  London 
the  middle  of  December,  1759,  but  made  an  en- 
gagement ta  perform  at  Smock-Alley  Theatre  (the 
opposition  house)  towards  the  close  of  that  season ; 
and  Victor,  the  Deputy  Manager  of  that  Theatre, 
jrelied  so  much  upon  this  engagement,  that  we  find 
-him  cheering  Jus  broken:  trpops,  by  assuring  them^ 
"  That  he  should  have  thie.  assistance  of-Mr. 
Macklin  and  his  daughter  for  a  dozen  nights^ 
who,  by  their  joint  novejty^  ;  and  the  fathers  ex- 
hibiting a  new  piece  or  two  of  his  own  writing, 
would,  hewas  in  hopes,. clo$e  the sejason  with  con- 
^iderable  advantage."^  ' 

This  advantage,  however,  they  were  excluded 
from,  as  Macklin^  towards  the  latter  end  of  the 
month  of  MarGh,r  agam  qhanged-his  .  mind,  and 
.acquainted  Victor  by  lettefr  .*'  That  it  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  fulfil  his  promise,  as  his  daugh- 
ter's ill  state  of  health  .  wq^uld  not  permit  her  to 
undertake  such  a  journey,  and  such  a  voyagfe." 

The 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


Tbc  doMequendeof  this  letter  was,  tlmt  Victor 
was  obliged  to  dissolve  the  company  from  acting 
any  longer  6n  Mr.  Sberidan's  kccoifnt;  and  as 
this  M^as  so  early  fes  the  20th  of  April,  when  they 
were  n6t  only  *sttfferers  by  arrears'  of  safety^  but 
iew  of  them  hatl  commenced  benefits,  thfe 
prompted  them  to  solicit  the  feVoiir  of  ^  tbw»; 
independent  of  their  Manager,  ;( which  Sheridafc 
very  readily  g;ratited,  by  giving  them  the-  use  of 
tlie  house,  scenery,  clothes,  kc.)  in  a  long  advei^ 
tisement,  signed  with  all  'their  names,  and  con-p 
eluding  in  the  following  humiliating  manner : 

**  Unforeseen  losses  will^  it  is  hoped,  tecom* 
tnend  us  to  tlie  continued  patronage  of  the  to\vil : 
and  we  beg  leave  to  assure  the  public,  that  it  shall 
be  our  pride  and  study  to  perform  the  ensuing  re- 
presentations with  as.  much  accuracy  and  dili- 
gence, now  we  are  left  to  our  own  conduct,  as 
we  have  been  compelled  to  suffer  irfegularity  and 
confusion,  from  having  been  Subjected  to  a  variety 
of  disappointments. '*• 

But,  alas!  this  advertisement  did  them' no  ser- 
vice: the  warm  weather  was  too  far  advanced; 
and  their  endeavours  eiided  with  three  or  four  un- 
successful performances,  which  thre\^  this  little 
corps  under  the  greatest  fembarrassmenfe!  Mack- 
lin,  however,  had  greatter  projects  before  Jhim  than 
joining  the  Irish  Theatres :  at  this  time  he  got  an  en- 
2  gagemeut 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


CHAai/ES   MAtraLIN.  9&S^ 

gagcment  at  Di^ary^Lane  Theatre,  at  a. very  coa*' 
siderable  salary ;  and,  beside,  had  it  in  m^itatioa 
to  bring  out  his  farce  of  Lwe-a-la^Mode  ;  whkh^* 
though  it  met  with  some  opposition  in  thebe^ 
ghming,  afterwards  received  such  applause,  both 
here  and  in  Ireland^  as  made  amends  for  all  his^ 
former  dramatic  miscarriages,  and  crowned  him 
with  no  inconsiderable  share  of  reputation. 

Of  the  origin  of  this  little  piece  we  have  ofteiir 
/  heard  Macklm  ^peak,  and  speak  with  a  pleasure 
which  most  men  take  in  telling  of  events  which, 
trifling  or  ludicrous  in  their  beginnings,  lead  to 
happy  and  prosperous  consequences.  It  was  as 
follows. 

Some  time  before  their  going  to  Ireland  on  the 
Crow-Street  expedition,  Barry  and  Macklinhad 
been  spending  the  evening  at  a  public-house  in 
the  iieighbourhood  of  Covent  Garden,  when  they 
were  joined  by  an  Irishman  who  had  been  some- 
years  in  the  Prussian  service,  and  who,  from  his 
first  appearance,  attracted  their  notice.  In  his 
person  he  was  near  six  feet  high,  finely  formed, 
of  ahandsome  manly  face,  with  a  degree  of  ho* 
nesty  and  good  humour^  about  him  which  preju- 
diqcd  every  body  in.  bis  favour. 

He  happened  to  sit  in  the  saime  box  where  Mack-- 
i     lin  and  Barry  4at;  and  as  Barry  perfectly  under- 
stood 


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Googk 


Stood  ibe /Irish  phamctfeYj.  could  teUiimnijr  agreea* 
ble  stories  in. that  way>  and  W3ls  beskle. considered 
a^  Boinconsidejuble  humh^gger,{aL  Bpecie^  of  wit 
very  mudi  attaclijed  to  an  Hiberaiaa  humourist,): 
h^  scon  scrapedaii  afccfwaintaude  withi  iiis  cottn- 
tryinan,  ^and  brought hki  out  in  the  full  blow  of 
self-eidiibitiori. 

The  stranger  told  them  of  his  birth,  parentage, 
and  educatiop  in  Irektid ;  "^  of  his  bring  originally 
designed  for  a  priest,  and  following  aaUtxcle  of  his 
tp  Frajic^  .who  was  in  that.profes3ion,  for  that- 
purpose :  that  luckily  his  uncle  died,  ind  left  him. 
at  liberty;  to,  fojlow  the;prc3ression  of  his  soul,' 
which  was  the  army  :  that  he  afterwards  listed  iu 
the  Prussian  service,  and  was  in  mo^t  of  the  early' 
battles  of  the  great  Frederick,  who  Rewarded  him 
with  ft,  .lieutenancy  for  his  services^  and.thathe 
was  ju3t:Come  over  to  Englapd  to  receive  a  legacy 
left  hiiB  by  a  cousin  of;  his  >motheir>,  who  was  a 
cheesemonger  in  the  Borough4"  ,     ,      , 

Toi  tills  account  he'gave  them  a  joug  list  of  }n%\ 
ainours  both  in  Francie  ami  Prussia*  aeccompaai^^ 
with  some  humorous  Irish  songs,  as  made  hiift, 
on  the  whole,  .a  most  diverting  character.  With'. 
all  this,  he  was  so  e5J:tr^mely  simple  and  unsuspi-. 
cious,  that  when  Macklin  (who  pasised  himself 
off  for  an  EngUshman  all  thei  ^hile)  attributed  his 
succiwse^with  the  ladies  from  having  a  tail  behind, 

as 


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Googk 


CHARLES   MACKLIK.  *£25 

as  cotnmon  to  all  Irishmen,  he  instantly  pulled 
olF  his  coat  and  waistcoat,  to  coiivince  him  of  his 
mistake,  assuring  him,  "that  no  Irishman,  in 
that  respecty  was  better  than  another  man." 

Macklin,  who  seldom  wanted  observation  in 
his  profession,  sa\^  that  this  was  a  character  who 
would  stand  prominent  in  a  Comedy,  He  there- 
fore helped  to  draw  him  but  in  all  his  absurdities, 
till  he  had  satisfied  himself  in  sketching  the  full 
outline  of  the  portrait.  The  next  day  he  commu- 
nicated his  idea  to  Barry,  who  so  much  approved 
of  it,  as  to  offer  to  play  the  principal  character 
himself;  and,  by  way  of  encouraging  Macklin 
to  go  on,  offered  him  a  wager  of  a  rump  and  do- 
zen,- he  would  not  produce  a  dramatic  piece  upon . 
that  subject  in  the  course  of  three  months* 

The  wager  was  accepted;  and  Macklin,  ac- 
cording to  his  own  account,  produced  a  Comedy 
of  five  acts,  sketched  out  in  plot  and  incidents, 
without,  having  all  the  jparts  of  the  dialogue  filled 
up,  in  the  course  of  six  weeks;  which  Barry  was 
so  pleased  with,  that  he  paid  him  his  wager; 
Macklin  pledging  himself,  at  the  same  time,  to 

finish  it  before  the  end  of  the  season. 

I 

Though  Macklin's  outline  of  "  Loye  a  la  Mode'* 
was  thus  planned,  and  highly  approved  of  by  Barry, 
for  whom  the  principal  character  was  intended^  it 

Q  was 


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Googk 


.twaB  far  fnwa  -bdiig  imifiFtea.    Iji  t^ie  cti4y/p«t  ^ 

,Jris  authorship,  MuckliB  bad  siifflBPad  from  haaly 

akeibchce;;  and  he  saemed  to  be  -detertniBad,  i© 

respect  i«)  the  .'p»MC»(t  ^roe,  to  giw  it  wer^  IwmI 

of  attention  in  his  power. 

Hts  £irst  defiign  vas  to  mo/fee  it « ^ay  ^  fi^ 
#c?ts,  and  he  iiftd  disposed  the  tmiines*  of  it » 
tba*  t»an»er,  Honrcvor,  befiwe  he  brote^  ifr 
before  the  ey«  of  the  ipwhic,  ^  deteCTiiwed  t# 
:tafce  advke^  ftnd  as  there  was  tiobody  *q  whom 
lie  ooittld  with  mof e  ft-iewdship  nmd  propriety  ed^ 
lircsss  himself  than  Mr.  MidrpJay,  who  was,  and  i% 
cottsVdered  as  fO&e  lof  t)iur  first ^laihatic  wfiteri^ 
Jie  \vffote  «t  better  inviting  him  to  tdbe  ivitb  hi» 
flOkfi  a  loea'tain  day,  in  ondcr  ta  sitia  JKidgm^nt^w 
his  Cwpedy. 

This  was  in  the«iunmer  of  .176GL  Mtti^hybad 
i^auniry  k)d:^ngs  <m  Kew  LaAe,  and  Maeklia  iumI 
bis  'd^i^gh^er  hv^  «ipan  lUchBtaud  HiU.  Thejr 
uwt  tw€>  hoar«  befope  dinoaer  for  this  piwpase, 
'  wjben  Macklin  begaa,  witli  grea4:  gwvi^y,  to  re«i 
hifi  piece,  ^rsrt  reqeesting  the  Critte  "  to  we  tlic 
pruBAttg  knik,  if  necessary,  with  aa  wtf^cing 
hand. **  Murphy  icooi?di»gly  jcafled  iixr  pen,  koi:, 
and  paper;  and  as  Macklin  read,  he  made  his  re- 
ToarkiSt  They*  had  jwt . prooj^deid  hxig  m  this 
nwittocr,  whmMptckhn  (ivho,  fwmib&bt^^xmBig,' 
was  on.  4iie  WteHaofak  of  ©s^eetattioo)  talted 
'  .    \  .  out, 


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Googk 


CHAttLBS  ICACXLIM*  1187 

daie/'  •'  No,  Sir,^  said  tb€  other;  *^  read 
tbcougbi  and  thea  I  viU  sbew  you  my  remsrks.^' 
UackHm'ls  ta^atience  could  not  'Vt^.elt  brook  tbis 
de^f^  askd  Jbe  talked  ^*  df  his  heifving  a  rod  over 
Hub,  and  that  he  ^hov^  like  to  have  some^- 
imtmcfit  a£  inis  £iite,  and  not,  perhaps,  be  d— «'d 
dto^cdier..^'  Murpby  femonstratM  upon  this,  and 
toJd  hbri^  *^  tbat  a$  bis  Comedy  could  not1>e  well 
^^idged  of  tiH  it  was  entirdy  read,  so  his  critieism 
▼ould  he  imperfect  tfU  the  whole  W2ls  equally  fi- 
nished." "Welly  Sir,  (said the growfingaxithof,) 
I  have  put  myself  in  your  power— go  on."  He 
accordiit^ljr  i^ead  tiircmgh  bis  piece,  when  Mur- 
phy garvie  the  foUmriBg  judgment 

^  llha*  iie  in  gC9ie^  approved  of  the  plot,  the 
diaracte£s^  and  their  appropriate  discriminations : 
Imt  that  h0th  plot  and  characters  suffered  consi* 
itsnhl^  fjMMn  being  -drawn  out  \ntoJhe  nets.  From 
tW'  extension,  the  business  lingered ;  and  that 
^t  which  would  b^  ptioduced  by  the  bustle  and 
iQcident  of  a  twonoei  piecCy  must  suffer  from  a  fur- 
ther eoniiniu^LticMu'' 

Macklin  remonstrated  strongly  against  this, 
and imade along  disiserlation  on  the  different  di- 
viaianft  ©f  Comedy;  its  beginning,  ntiddte,  and 
^iri;  itsi  intricacias,  demumeW,  kc.  kc.  but  in 
vainj  Muiphy  Jiekl  his  fti^ndsiiip  and  juilgment 
Q  2  too 


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m^  M£M0IR5  OF. 

^  highly  ;^d  yield  to  what  ho-*boughl£  >pirtial  of 
f^&e  r^asoBidg;  he  positively  told  Kim; '  **  thaiafe 
was  his  opinion,  it  must  be  cut  down  to  a  iarce^ 
^Ot  give  it  *  greater  bhance  of  success,  axid  tked 
\&  had  no  doubt  of  its  bringiiigi  him  both  profit 
and  reputation."  This  did  nfet convince,  and, the 
conference  broke  off.  Before  they  parted,  bOw* 
ever,  Macklin  requested  a  copy  of  his  'remarks  in* 
Tfriting;  said  /*he  would  give  them  a  further  conr 
^ideration;  and  if  he  still  found  himself  positive 
in  his  first  opinipn,  he  must  reject  them;  if  the 
contrary,  he  would  adopt  them.'*     '  •     '  i 

In  a  day  or  two  afterwards  meeting  Murphy, 
he  told  him,  he  was  by  no  means  convinced  o^ 
the  justness  of  his  criticisms ;  but  that  he  would 
make  one  more  trial,  by  laying  his  piece  before 
his  friend  Mr.  Chetwynd,  who  lived  at  Moulsey- 
hurst;  a  gentleman  of  fortune  and  talents,  and 
well  known  atthat  time  as  one  of  the  first  tfteatri-' 
caV  critics.  He  accordingly  did  so;  and  Chet- 
wynd agreeing  with  Murphy,  that  it  should  be 
reduced  to  an  afterpiece,  Macklin  at  leilgth  yidd- 
ed,  and  brought  it  out,  in  that  shape,  the  ensuing 
winter  at  Drury  Lane. 

,,  The  name  of  Chetwyndy  though  nowi^mem-* 

.  hered  by  few — very  few  of  the  dramatic  amateurs 

-^fornied  too  conspicuous  a  figurd  in  the  annals 

oC  polite  hterature  to  be  omittidin  this  place. ^He 

was 


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i^sl  a  getitteihan  of  Vfei^  considerable  •  family  tocP 
fortone,  wh6^6d  i^^ith  t^e  first  witsirid  scholctrg^ 
6f  hfe  time<;^  a  Irian  of  d*eplearning,'''qfaigk  cBiti^ 
prehciisiouy  and  most  agreeiblecbnVers^on.\  Hftf 
generally  made'oneof  Fbote-s  select  (ibhv^\^lal«paf^ 
ties;  which  otAwl^wise .  consisted  of  ^  tfce  Jate  Dii^ 
Schomberg,  Mr.  Murphy,  'and  thie  fetef  Sip  Frarid$i 
Delava?;-  These  the  humorist  used  ^td  call  tlW 
quintetto;  and- in  'the  company  of  ^ such  it  m^jr^^ 
well  be  supposed  there  were  few  "  heavy  hours." 
>Poote  aiwaya/gal^ 'tJie-pahn  of  schdla^ship  to 
Gb€!t*ryildj' whilst;  ai  t^^steie  tiilie,  he  allowed^ 
bim-liis^piroportkynate^  share  of  wit  and  prleasaiitry.- 

•t[)  -;  •  !  •     '-.  '    M  '\  /'v/  ,' ^     '   ■  >   •''  '  '  '     '''   */'    .    •  -'* 

-  Mr.  CbekWytiSd ^li  Country  residence  was  Moulsejf-* 
hutsty  Mrhich  W^s'the  retreat  of  his  Kt^raty  friend*^ 
in-  6ij^itier;  ^a^ld  in  the*  winter,  for  their  accom- 
modation, as  well  as  his  own,-  he  had  lodgings  in 
town.  His  judgment  and  taste  in  dramatic  mat- 
ters was^  decisive ;  arid  though  wedd  not  know  that 
1^  wrote  any  thin=g  himself  beyond  *sothe  fugitive? 
pieces, .  whatever  autho^  bad  h1§  approbatiorf,  was- 
pl^tty  WfeHi  sefcored  of  Ms  pass{)ort  to  fantey       ■   • 

.  But:  niriAiar  leaming,{idr  itdents,- or  the  easyt 
accommodations  of  :^rtone,  will  sometimes  afford' 
content.;. He  Tnartied,  aather  late  in  life,  3.  wo-' 
man  much  younger  than  himself;  and  though  he* 
lived  to  near  fourscore  years  of  age,  (a  time  of  life 
when  love,;  arid'ril  its  joys-and  anxieties,  are  ge- 
...  Q  3  nerally 


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Ber^lly  at  rest^)  he  was  ^qt  imaeaisiblf  lo  the  paa^ 
von  of  jealousj.  Wheti^e;f  tbisr  a^Ofse  fi^m  sttspi^ 
cion,)  or  convictioB,  it  is  diflScult  to  telH  M  Ito 
i^Tcr  brought  the  subject  uE^ef  jwroper  disc!as<» 
fiion;  butthe  ,conse<}ueQC$  was  fatal  to  h'lm;  it 
fif$t  pre3'^e€l  upon  hi$  temper,  asid  lendered  bnii 
peevish  aod  unsocial;  he  next  gr^\^  carelese  of  faiiT 
person ;  an4  was  at  times  so  abseRt^  ^  td  be  i**» 
seasible  to  every  tlwug  around  hidi. 


.  Hk  old  con>panioBS.saw  thi&cbangey  atKl  wifth^ 
ed  to  dmf^  tb^  seciret  frcAn  bim^  ii^ordefi  if  pcis^f 
sible,  to  cure  hiim:  Init  it  lay  to<>*ftearbi», hearty 
and,  by  constant  brooding  over  it,  instead  of  de- 
creasii>gy^  ^^  it  awwie  the  meat  it  ^  Ofl^^;  .H^at 
liBst  fT>tn>ed  bi&  6nai  resolution,  wbicblvi^tf^i  toge< 
rid  of  a^  life  tha;t,.  every  day;  gaVe  hm  iifrthiogp  birf 
additional  tdriflenls.  .     : 

For  this  purpose,  became  from  the  country  to 
bis  houac  ii>  <}errard  Stt'eet^  Sobo,  attended  oply 
by  pneseryant:  here  he  liv^  three. days  by  bim^r 
self,  by  can(Jle^ljgbt,  i>evt0^fl!ering  the  vvimlow-i 
shutters  to  be  opened,  or  ever  going  regularly  to 
bed.  On  the,  fourth  day^  early  in  Ae  tnomiilg, 
he  sat  down  Jb^fbue  bis  bed-^cfaambeiiife,!  and  rest^ 
ing  a  borse^pistol  in  his  aiibuthy  instattly  putai?, 
end  to bia  existence.       .       ''  , 

His  servant  heard  the  report  cif  the  pistol,  and 
imtnediately  ran  up  stairs— but  the  deed  was  not 

PPI7 


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CHAlftES.  ICACKULIK.  SSI 

oil^  4lMe;  ^ut  fbctned  at  sftcctacle  too  hoorid  to 
be  kwrbcd  at  Hsuving  hoNicled:  the  pistol  with  i 
in«rs  o^  baUs,,  and,  as  It  iasappoaed^  put  thtt 
anmle  isutoi  bis  moatfa^  tl^  casp^ioiL  wast  sa 
£»rcifbie  as  ta  carty  off  aboffie  tiis  h^ilf  of  his  skull^ 
ad. left  Uai  Kttle  more  tbaat  a  iHumn  tanuftk^ 
stocsKraBg' with  gore. 

In  addiRg  tlmnistatKce  to  tke  laaigKstfiif  thoai 
wha  kave  imfbrtui^ately  &Uc»Tictini9  ti^^/etiftiiuyi 
kt  tt  ke  remembeiedr  st  tke  same  thnr,  '^  that 
every.  oU  man  who  mamies  &  young  ^roman,  lajil 
Umsdf  tke  comer-firtone  of  his  wifcfs  iofdd'it^/'^ 

But  to  rttisni  to  Mackliik-^The  auecetf  «f 
'^  Loire  ft  b  Mode^''  in  theend^  fuUjr  answemdl 
fais  cxpectatixHis ;  £or  though  there  were  some  {mex> 
jodtces  against  the  Auttkor  ia  the  beghmiogv 
bdgliteiied,  peihaps^  by  Ike  partiality  be  has 
skmnni  bi»  coaiuty,  the  good  taste  oi  the  town  not 
enty  tcrmznated  m  his  favour^  but  koenght  con** 
«dcmklp  i*e{)ptatkxii  and.  emolumeiit  to  tlie:vmtcxv 

Q  4  Tb0 

*  Hm  Account  fans  beto^arHf  contratiieOnl  b^ra  I«dy  oacbur 
tiie  sigtiatuce  of  C,^  H^  stating,  that  JVJx  Chc^wynd  was  naver 
aarried;  and  that  it  wa»  the  extreme  pains  of  thegout^  to  which 
b^  was  subject  twice  a  year,  that  imiuceirhim  to  commit  that 
fatal  action:  but  the  Editor  of  these  Memoirs  had  the  above  fact 
m  stated  from  a  friend  of  Mr.  Ghetucynri,  wbo  H?ed  in  greet  in- 
tiinac}r  wi^^lMi  at  the  time  V  aoii  vkir  i«  tiKi^aii^ 
aky^  Dot  to  be  relied  oq« 


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£SS  MKMOIRB   OF 

. :  The  critical  objection  to  this  farce  seemed  to 
bCy  in  giving  to  his  hero,  who  is  an  Irishman,  a 
degree  of  ai&ction  for  his  mistress,  of  a  purer  and 
mom  disinterested  nature  than  the  Englishman, 
the  Scotchman,  and  the  Jew,  who  were  his  rivals; 
pontrary  to  the  received  opinion,  */  that  the  Irish 
are  generally  fortune-hunters*"  To  this  we  reply^ 
that  if  the  Author  meant  to  fall  in  with  this  vul- 
gar opiirioD,  he  might  have  succeeded  with  hss 
fiauger^  but  it  should  be  remarked,  that  Mack^ 
Jin  did  npt  draw  his  character  from  the  common 
herd  of  .needy  adventuring  Irish,  who  are  ready, 
to,  siiap.at  any  thing  in  the  way  of  fortune,  but 
from  a  purer  source.  His  hero  had  been  educated 
In  the.  simple  manners  of  the  interior  part  of  Ire- 
&nd,  where  an  unsuspicious  temper,  courage, 
generosity^  and  fidelity,  are  qualities  that  seem  pe-p 
jfuliarly^  congenial  to  that  soil.  From  thence  he 
is  transplanted  into  the  military  line,  which  is  no 
bad  aoil  for  the  further  culture  of  those  qualities: 
so  I  that,  ovL  the.  whole  of  such  an  education,  it  is 
no ;  wonder  Jie:  should  carry  away  the  prize  from  a 
polish  Jockey^  an  unfeeling  Jew^  and  an  avaricious 
Scotchman.  The  qualities  that  are  attached  to 
this  -  s|)ecie*  of  character  form  the  distinction ; 
and  this  disttnctibn,  in  our  opinionj^^  is  rationally 
§nd  dramatically  preserved  in  '*  Love  a  la  Mode." 

But,,  as  a  fjarther  prpqf  that  prejudice,  more  than 
sound  priticism,  operated  upon  this  piece,  when 

\  its 


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its  success  could  no  longer  beVitlistobd,  it  was 
said  to  be  none  of  his  own^^tl^  last  resource  of 
ill-nature,  and  which  has  t)een  occasionally  char- 
ged to  the  best  authors,  horn  the  days  of  Virgil 
to  the  pFcsent  times.  If  it  ^s  not  his-^^*^fi6se 
was  it?  An  author  is  ^eneraHy  as  unwilling  to: 
part  with  his  literary  as  his^  landed  property,  and: 
sometimes  more  so,  as  the  former  gi^s  a  celebri- 
ty which  mere  money  cannot  bestow;  beside,  it  is* 
now  above  forty  years  since  the  piece  has  received 
its  public  protection,  and  no  living  witness — nay; 
**  no  ghost  from  the  grave, '*^  has  stepped  forward 
to  claim  it. 

^  The  title  of  this  play,  however,  is  not  new  to^ 
the  Stage,  as  there  was  a  Comedy  called  "  Love 
a  la  Mode"  acted  at  Middlesex  House  in  1663,  ie 
is  said,  with  great  applause.  This  Comedy,  there 
is  every  reason  to  believe,  Macklin  never  saw;  and 
if  he  did,  could  not  avail  himself  of  the  materials, 
which  are  totally  of  a  different  specips  from  the. 
»K)dem  characters  which  he  has  introduced,  and 
which  are  evidently  the  growth  of  his  own  times; 

In  the  'winter  of  1762,-  Macklin  having  ail  en- 
.  gagement  at  Crow-Street  Theatre,  carried  this 
afterpiece  with  him  to  Ireland,,  and  there  had 
an  opportunity  of  performing  his  original  promise, 
by  consigning  the  part  of  Sir  Callaghan  O'Bral- 
laghan  to  his  friend   Barry;   Squire   Groom  to 

Woodward, 


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Woo^wai'd^  tm^  Eea^  Mordecaa  td  Measkih ;  i^tiikt 
Ibe  F€taiia^  the  chat^iatcx  of  Sir  ^leby  M'Sarcasn 

Never  mtbb  a  Kttle  piece  cast  with  grwtM 
ttrength;  particulM}^  ^)^  P^^^  ^^  Sis  CaHagkni 
by  BaTry.  It  iras  jJ^jriiy  the  charactet.of  the 
player  hhnsrfp  m  hti  coavmal  Huoauente;,  fior  m 
he  es;cfelled  in  telUi^g  bmnouraa^  stof  ies  relaJ^ice 
la  Irishmen  and  their  Wanders,  he  Jcoew  how  tcr 
fill  up  art  the  minuti©.  of  fcbe  picture  to  ad vaWagc- 
The  hferblsm  of  hk  fi^e,  aad  the  frankoeas  of 
his  mariners,  gave  that  finish  to  the  whblev  whicb 
rendered  it  as  perfect  a  piece  of  acting  as  perhaps 
ever  i«?a«r exhibited:*  The  tbx^n  follmv^d  it  with 
^ua})ati]%  cuiriosa^y  fot  a  whole  w^mter,  a^  one  ctl 
their  fijevci-feilhig  dished  of  entertainflieftt. 

The  very  great  succress  of  tlw  piece  itiduced 
Macklin  to  bring  out  another  farce  the  next 
year,  of  equal  cdebrity,  entitled,  *'  The  Tnw 
Bom  Imhman/'  Thfe  prfacipal  clKtracters  of 
i¥hich  were  ias  foilov:  - 


MorrougH  O^Dohetty,       - 

M»,  UMCMlJfff* 

Counsellor  HamiUoQ, 

Mr.  AicKiK. 

Count  Mash  room, 

Mli,  RVDEEr 

antl 

.  '     ■ ' 

Mrs-.  Doherty, 

Mas.  Dakcer, 

(tb^  late  Mrs. 

CiuwfDcd.) 

i 

the 

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The  AtsAgtK  of  tfcisr  piete,  was  to  ridicule  tfc« 
affectation  of  die  Irish  fine  hiUcB  of  J^skioo  oa 
thdr  nrfuria  ftcwi  Englaaorf,  (where  thqr  aare 
never  supposed  to  reside  above  a  month  or  two,) 
aping*  tbe  pretliinciafeicni  and'.maFBons  a£  tlie 
EngliA,  ia  contempt  of  tbck  orww  native  didect 
aaid  cnalfHUs;  To  this  Wscraidded  the  diaiactes 
oS^pr^udked  Englishman,  who  saw  every  thing 
In  Ljefanid  with^ior  jaandie»l,  an  eye—**  Tliat  tht 
foh  WM.  too' new  Sor  him-^tkc  cfartt  too  light^^ 
and  the  woolen.  Ao/idW 

'Thepai^ii^eadmiraUy  soiatidned.   MMrough 
oi>«heity,,  an  liosptotUB  Iikdi  country  Gentle^ 
wan^  ^^f  unaffected  manners/  was  happily  hit  off 
hy  MdckKn^  who.  knew  the  points  of  such:  a  cha-i 
racter^  and  gavet^iheoiLa  foil  eolotiring  both  in  thie 
writing  and  acting    Coim t  Mushroom  was  meant 
toridkuie    kLc.   Hamilton^    (technically    calted 
Single  Speech  Hamilton^)   who  jras  then  Seerc^ 
tary  to   the  Earl  of  Halifax,    Lord   Lieutenant 
0f  Ivefoad     It! was  reckoiied  a  strong  likeness; 
and  Rydei  >^a8i  ai.  that  time,  ia  tbe  light  fintafitic 
characters  of  Cknnedy;  in  high  reputation.     But 
the  part  whic&  attracted  the  greatest  applause  of 
alW  wais  Mrs;  Dancer  in.  Mrs.  Dohcrty :  she  wad 
then  in  tbe  hloom  of  youth  and. beau tjr,  and,  with 
(orthec  high  qnaJifications  of  precession,  posseted 
fk  vivacity  of  manner  and  countenance  that  wa!^ 
Kiesistible":  she  had  likewise^  from  her  residence 
in  Ireland,  acquired  that  pleasing  part  of  the  lan- 
guage 


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286  "      MEMOIRS  dr 

gsiage.  which  is  called  ^^  the  BtoguCy"  and  which, 
mixed  with  her  x>wii  native  aiundation,^  was  the 
ircxy  character  the  4«*hor  coidd  have  wished  for. 

-  The  success  of  these  pkces  lifted  Macklin  ra- 
ther high  in  the  public  e^iirtation;  and  not  only 
amongst  the  generality  of  playhouse  frecfuenters, 
tut.  people  of  the  first  fashioii  and  coiisideratiofiv 
In**'  The  True  Bom  Irishman,"  opposition  courted 
him  for  caricaturbg  a  person  who,  from  his  xrfficc^' 
generally  becomes  obnbxious  to. them;  whibt 
those  on  the  side  of  Government,  to  show  they 
fklt  nothing.  peisOndl  ^in  X^tint  Musbraam^  not 
only  constantly  :^e^u£bate)d;  tlie  iTheatre  wheri 
this,  piece  wafi  acted,  but  entdrtain£d  theiAuthoc 
ajtithdr  houses,  and;  attended  him'/onihii.benefit 
8%hfcs  ;i  and  in  this  list  waa^Hanilltoa  hiinself,  wio 
being  omeof  the  first  to  laojgh,  took  ofFy  in  a  gr»t 
jnea^ure,  the  ddgree  bfridiculewhidlwohld  other* 
^e  attach  to  htm.  ./   _       .  v...  »  u,  .' 

nBut  though  the  morits  of  ^  tbisdiftle  draiiiatnet 
^itfe^such  deserviadiuecjeslsinllraafndj  it  shared  a 
contrary  fate:  in.Loiwibn:  a  ftw/yjeara  afterwards, 
under  the  xbaracter:6f  f'.Theirislk  KneLady;'-' 
and  b<>th  audiences  werei  perhaps  right  in  their 
different  decisions.  In  Ireland,  it  mostly  touched 
upon  /oea/ circumstances,  which,  though  naturally 
and  accurately  drawn,*  were  only  known  to  the 
natives,  and  by, them  relished  in  a  degree  propor-, 

2        ,    .  tioned 


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CHARLES   MACKLIK.  SSt 

tibned  to  that  knowledge— it  had  likewise  the  de- 
grfee  of  personality  to  support  it ;  always  a.  sure  in* 
gredient,  though  temporary,  in  popular  estiiha* 
tion ;  whereas  in  England,  it  had  none  of  those 
powerftil  supports:  the  mixed  idiom  of  the  Brogue 
and  the  Cockney  had  no  charms  for  John  Bull/ 
and  the  personal  ridicule  of  an  Irish  Secretary  of 
State,  was  totally  out  of  his  contemplation:  iti 
short,  it  was  one  of  those  kind  of  plants  that  was 
so  truly  indigenous  as  not  to  beat  transplantatioii,* 
an<i  it  accordingly  soon  withered  in  a  foreign 

Macklin,  however,  could  well  bear  this  disap- 
jj^intment;  as  he  not  only  got  reputation  by  it  in 
hisE  native  country — ^but  pudding  with  his  praise; 
a  t68t  of  merit  which  authors  are  always  ready  to* 
allow  as  such,  when  they  receive  it,  though  not 
so^much  when  it  does  not  accomp^any  the  labour 
of  their  performances.  For  this,  and  his  "  Love 
a  la  Mode,'*  to  be  played  at  the  option  of  the 
Manager,  he  was  to  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  30l.  per 
week;  and  this  money,  if  required,  to  be  paid  every 
Saturday  morning  at  the  Treasin-y  Office,  Crow- 
Street  Theatre.  ^        ^ 

The  punctuality  of  this  agreement  went  on  for 
somfe  time  pretty  regular;  but  as  Batry  (whatever 
his  profits  might  be)  always  thought  paying  his 
ictors,  or  tradesmen,  "  as  only  making  them  trou- 
blesome," 


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g9$  usuqi^B  ov 

mesame/'  Maddioi  on  th^  S^Ulxda^ymofpkl^ 
was  frequently  told,  ^^  the  treswroer  wa«  out  ,ef 
the  iiray*^bat  he  wai|  fticki  &c/'  x^irapme  4HJber 
excuse,  bj  which  he  could  Bpfg^  hb  pionfgr,,' 
lidackjin*  bowevei^  who  was  alwajrg  '^^  ma^  0i 
the  ifirorid/'  asd  who  hadlpBg  he£pre  taJken  full 
soeaaure  of  liii  Mauager,  was  m>t  at  a  lo^s  fp^  jiit 
xemedy,  aud  wasaecordiQglj4eten»i^^Qptto^ 
^edupe  of  such. artifice.  HetW:efore  rouoi^jr 
demajoded^  why  he  w^  uqt  paid;  asfiiertii^  wfUl 
au  ojithy  "  that  if  he  was  mt,  aod  tijat  reg^larljr^ 
according  to  agreement,  he  would  take  hin^ifilf 
and  his  pieces  to  the  other  house.'* 

Barry  uow  fbuad  he  must  wake  4.  ijew  tack ;  and 
as  he  was  ^dless  m  his  arts.of  fencing  ^aiu$t 
an  inapoxtunate  creditor,  thought  of  a  sdpi^nftfi  of 
operating  on  his  fears — in  order  to  dday  the  pay^- 
meut.  Accprdiiigly,  he  frankly  acknowJedged  ^ 
the  services  which  his/  ferces  did  the  hou/5^  bf^ 
sides  the  benefits  of  his  other  pe^forniaww,  j  fo? 
bothtof  which  he  was  Teiy  re?uiy  tf>  fulfil  his  ev 
gagements  with  him.-^"  But,  a»y  dkaf  Muie^'^ 
added  he,  ^'  as  you  Jrre  ahoiive  two  miles  ^t  rf 
town,  (Macklin  had  at  this  time  c^ft^j  lodgr 
ings,)  and  as  it  is  well  known  that  you  do  so,  thc( 
takiAg  down  ;^uch  9.  sum  ^s  thirty  fioufuh  ^ytry 
Saturday  night,  suh^ts  you  very  a»uch;to  j^ 
robbed,  and  perhaps  otherwise jil^^eat^  'hy  tjiisf 
way ;  tJ)ewfftFC:jJ:yjCiU^^  hotter  let jpijr  n^ni^y  iKe 

m 


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CHAELE0  KACXtXIK.  $S® 

m  Ae  tnefttorf;,  ^wjbicfa  you  aenay  conunaoid  at  ^ 


Biackian  loesmi  diis  ndrth  oue  of  his  nsukl  sa.p- 

K^%tic  grins;  and  puling  a  large  dasp  knife  out 

aT  dm  ^Qckft,  ciied^    ^^  Look'ee  here,  Sir— lierc 

is  my  remedy  against  thieves — ^The  man  who  al> » 

tempts  to  rob  me,  shall  have  this  steel  in  his  belly 

firtt---^o~No^Nd  K)b>heracs'!''  "Well,  but,  my 

^ke^r  Mae^"  cried  Barry,  '^  consider,  detcamined 

M  yovL  are,  ^u  ane  but  one  man,  and  these  fd^ 

h^ws  ^  m  gangs,  so  iktat  your  knife  win  do  no* 

tioingBgaijistiwuiifoers."     **  Very  true,  Sir—But, 

zSomxig  aU  this  to  be  true,   I  have  ^tiU  but  a 

€:kMnee  of  beiBJg  cobbed  ton  the  lughii^y-^whereas 

in  thefOther  caise,  my  diear  Spctnger,  (bokiug  him 

fiiill  in  the  fasitj)  you  know  the/e  is  z. certainty  of* 

mj  bong  rokbed  in  taam:  therefore  FU  dmsb  the 

feast  risque.     Pay  mc  my  noKMatcy,  ea*,   by  G'^-oi, 

Vmi  MO  longer  yojur  actor. " 

Barry  finding  it  was  in  vain  to  parry  a  man  of 
km  »dcterniiajed  itrnftr  2aiy  longer,  was  obliged  to 
cowipdy :  and  both  parties  found  their  account  in 
tihc  accomuiodatioo. 

Established  as  tibfe  Afenagers  of  Crow-Stneet 
Aotttght  Macklin  was  in  their  Theatre,  with  such 
a  weekly  receipt,  and  so  gr^at  a  feivourite  of  die 
t9WB,  Jiis  ^d  and  xiever*-Jceasipg  itcii  of  change 
*  3  and 


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S40  MI^KOIRS   OF 

aad  variety  led  him  to.  turn  his  flioughts.  to 
Smock- Alley  Theatre,  then  under  the- manage- 
ment of  the  late  Henry  Mossop ;  an  actor  now 
little  knoxm  but  by  his  misfortunes  and  his  follies^ 
but  who,  ;n. particular  lines,  divided  the  laurels 
with  those  of  the  ablest  atid  jnpst  celebrated  in 
his  profession. 

Henry  Mossop  was  born  in  Dublin,  and  edu-^' 
cated  at  Trinity  College,  where  he  had  a  consid^.* 
i^le  reputation  for  talents  and  learning.  ITie 
dramatic  mania,  which  raged  from  Garrick's  first 
trip  to  Ireland,  and  which  was  much  iui^reased  by 
the  additional  abilities  of  Barry  and  Sheridan,  had 
caught  young  Mossop,  who,  though  originally  de* 
signed  for  the  church,  (where  he  had  some  pros^ 
pects  from  family  connexions,)  made  his  election 
for  the  stage ;  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  en- 
treaties of  his  friends  to  the  contrary,  piade  his 
first  appearance  in  Zanga  at  Smock-Alley  Theatre, 
in  the  winter  of  1749. 

*  Though  Mossop,  in  his  figure,  did  not  owe 
n^any  obligations  to  nature,  his  person  was  well 
enough  adapted  to  the  general  line  of  parts  which 
he  chose.  He  possessed,  beside,  a  strong,  full, 
harmonious  voice,  which,  tutored  by  a  sound 
judgment,  and  seconded  by  great  assiduities  in 
^is  profession,  soon  raised  him  to  the  first  class* 
From  a  long  and  previous  study  of  the  chajacter 

of 


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X 

ofZangdy  which  ficcmed  fttosi;  bap!J)ilJ'  suited  tor 
his  po#erd,  h^  almost  reactifed  perfection  on  the 
Tfery  first  night  of  hie  appearance;  as  thrpugh  thef 
whole  course  of  the  play,  he  met  \^ith  the  most 
Unbounded  and  merited  applause;  The  public 
saw  in  Jiim  a  genius  for  the  stage,  which,  maftured; 
By  science,  promised  every  thing  which  tlK^jfro- 
fe^ioti  C6uld  bestow*  He'  did  not  disappoint 
fli^ir  hopes.  His  subsequent  clmmctbrs,  though^ 
Bot  so^  highly  reUshed,  or  Congenial  to  his  natural 
abilities,  afe  Zanga,  yet  all  partook  of  excellence : 
fee  town  followed  him  with  a  kind  of  tage  the 
whole  of  the  l^eason ;  and  as  he  was  regularly  sup* 
ported  by  the  young  Gentlemen  of  the  College, 
Me^  Was  one  <if  the  most  profitable  $eas6ns  to  the 
Manager  h^cver  txpcjrieiicedj  being  two  thousand^ 
jlounds  mdrc  than  afny  of  the  preceding  yean. 

TbbiigH  Mossdp  had'  established  his  reputation 
^  afirst-rafe  actor,  had- his  choice  of  parts,  with 
a  salairy  proportioned  to  his  merit,  yet,  on  soma 
trifling  dispute  with  the  Manager,  he  left  him  on 
the  close  of  the  season,  and  coming  over  to  Eng- 
land, got  an  ebgagement  at  Drury-Lane  Theatre 
on  very  advantageous  terms* 

He  chose  Richard  in.  for  his  debut;  andthougK 
it  often  happens  that  the  fame  of  an  actor  on  the 
Other  side  the  water  does  not  bear  an  equal  value 
here,  yet  Mossop's  excellence  was  of  that  sterling 

R  merit, 


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siuerit,  at  to  fm»  <^nmeu  m  ^ray  Qounti^^    Ha 

wiiJbljiaiuiiBg  tiw(9:  dijEcuHw?,.  ht  w^  r^f^wed 

UQtc  to  the  highest  iMjr,  gj^ve  greajt  «9sr^  asiA 
.  dlgttilyjt(>  thedialogwe;.^!^.  though  fe©  ^^^Aoft 
a&ow.all  tb^  v«««ft3bitt^)  wHch  Garri<?k  e:3pJiibit«H 
in  thi$.ch4ra<3feer,  y^t  hjp  level  spsaking,  ^<J  4ficl»n 
majof y  aip^eclSK^  pwsiesiaed  ii  Q0lw3fifJerftJil^i^w^. «(f 

'    .  .   .  •  f  .... 

critics)  to  b«  MM^if^ti!  Ti^iif;  Y)as,9<.pi-uifW  «( 
turbulence,  and  jealousy,  in  the  natural  character 
Qf(  the  man,  thM  «««a»«4 1».  .CQn)espo»<l'w^thc 
fiBel»»g5toi[.  the  actqr;  a»4ftoigi  tbe  OM^nyiiP^  Ym 
(^1^4  thp  play  tQ  ita  la«t  »$<«ii«^.  henei^l  tesfc 
sigjifc  of  tJle  pa^Dk  **  It.  ^i^„  in,  feflt»j  i^,nia«iliern 
pieiee:^  and.bis  >»^*ld  l»w«t  ofps^dy,  ^fiMwyt-. 
l«4g^  .aqd  j)ii4ti/l«ci  in  t]jke|ii0^acjt«  ^Mmih  e)WQ(^ 
auditor  with  a  degree  qf  ^sAofljahin^nkt*"' 

rToZ«»<^  fo)loi»red  Piefre»  teiYQuifis  ^tmm^* 
vjh^ro,  bjf  bis  fuJl-^one^  vQifiCj.  awiflliQf»gi«eefB8ji 
sipfi><»f:seQt)iTO(en}i,  hft  gaM6  u^oi»9)WL,s|^r^.tO) 


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CHABLE8   MACKXIK.  S4? 

the  ^rmtlYatl^  pasaion  (^  die  charadief ;  ondthir 
the  iutervieMT  with  the  oonspiraOofs  in  the  third 
act,  «h#ew  a  galUmtty  into  his  action  as  strikm^ 
as  it  was  unexpected^  By-the*bye,  this  scen^ 
wtiich '  no^t  only  dttV6)o{>es  great  part  of  tbd  nlan 
busweas  of  the^lay^  but  is  other^lea  fine  picturti 
hf  the  different  chahteters  of  the  conspirator^ 
waa  formerly  jnaeh  disgrace^  by  Pieriis's  ad^res^ 
sing  one  of  the  conspirators  in  the  -  following 

W0t1&3 

/  ^  Of  then  t  .stitk  A$l  Itan>  UfAhered  f Adt  i^ 

On  this  ckfctleoge^  aji  aetor  (whi>  was  selected 
for  the  purpose)  of  a  most  unfortunate  figure 
with  a  pale  countenance,  stood  up  with  a  halfi* 
dra^Fn  sirord,.  mid  presenting  himself  to  the 
audience^  turned  diis  fiile  sceite  into  a  burst  <if 
iSdicule^  The  fiun|OUs  TonjrAston^  the  wdl 
knotfn  itinerant  C^ttnedian,  was  the  last  performer 
of  this  abMid  part 

Mossop's  reputation  being  fui\y  established  iil 
these  partS)  Gutidk^  with  his  usual  judgment^ 
selected  otheri  fbr  him^  which  would  ecfimlly  add 
ti»^the  AetoVs  ftamv  ^d  the  Manager's  treasury; 
sudi  as  Oiled  in  tliel^geof  Damascus^  the  Duke 
in  Measure  for  Men^ure,  Mcmwm  in  the  Amhi^ 
tious  Stepmotherj  See.  &c;  But>  iiol:withstanding 
bis  aUo^Td  excelleiice  in  all  these  parts,  he  was 
R2  not 


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244:  MEMOIRS  OF 

jiot  satisfied  in  the  mche  he  filled  at  this  Theatre.^ 
Wii^ther  it  was  that  he  envied  3arry  his  success 
in  the  brctr  and  the  hcro^  or  that  his  ambition  led 
bim  to  aspire  to  general  excellence,,  lie  would 
make  the  experyaaent,  and  that  experiment  failed  : 
bis  tones  were  totally  unfit. for  tenderness,  orjoy^^ 
gaiety,  or  vivacity;  nor  did  his  solemn  tread,  and 
forrijal  figure,,  corre^ond  with  such  characters^ 

But  although  the  town  and  the  Manager  knew 
his  unfitness  for  tliese  parts,  he  either  did  not,  or 
affected  not^  to  kriow  it  himself:  he  was  ever  too 
much  the  dupe  of  his  own  flattery ;  but  in  this 
instance  he  had  the  assistance  of  an  injudicious 
^quaintance*  • 

Mr.  Fitzpatrick,  a  Gentleman  of  independent 
fortune,  and  a  ei-itic  of  some  note  in  his  time^ 
having  had  soine  trifling  dispute  with  Garrick  aj 
a  club  they  belonged  to,  was  mean  enough  to 
carry  his  resentments  to  the  actor,  and,  like  all 
men  possessed  of  the  spirit  of  malice,  sought  his 
fevfange  at  the  expence  of  his  judgment;  hence 
he  exposed  bimi^lf,'  by  almost  daily  criticisms  oa 
the  action  and  elocution  of  Garrick.  The  town 
fetghed  at  these  impotent  attempts  ;  but,  fed  by 
diis  own  vanity  and. resentment,  he  went bn:*and 
Mossop  imagining  himself  injured  by  Gajrrick, 
Jitzpatrick  took  him  up  as  an  engine  to  fight  his 
quarrels,  and  a  new  vehicle  for  his  invective. 

With 


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CUAELE8   UACKLllff.  £45 

.  With  this  malicious  view,  he  ndt  only  faiagni-* 
fied  Mossop's  talents  for  the  more  imperial  partt 
of  tragedy,  but  in  the  softer  scenes  of  love  aud 
tenderness ;  and  that  it  was  to  reserve  the  cha- 
racter of  an  wmt?er^/ oc/or  cxclusrvely  to  himself^ 
ivhich  induced  Garrick  to  shut  hini  o\kt  from 
those  superior  claims.  ^ 

^ 

What  could  induce  Fitzpatrick  to  carry  hi* 
resentments  against  Garrick,  even  at  the  ex  pence 
of  duping  the  man  whom  he  called  his  friend  and 
protegee,  will  be  best  explained  by  the  following 
anecdote^ 

Ktzpatrick  was  a  considerable  supporter  of  what 
was  then  humorously  called  **  the  fourth  Estate 
of  the  Constitution ;"  that  is,  he  was  k  member  of 
"  Tlie  Shakespeare  Club,**  which  consisted  of  a 
number  of  critics,  who  occasionally  resorted  to  the 
Bedford  Arms,"  and  who,  being  awa/^wrij  of  our  im- 
mortal Bard,  under  this  title,  added  to  their  convi- 
vialities the  pleasures  of  the  drama,  and  dramatic 
criticism.  Garrick  was  likewise  a  leading  member ; 
when  one  evening  it, being  proposed  to  dedicate 
some  peculiarmarksof  honourfrom  theirSociety  to 
the  memory  of  Shakespeare,  a  Gentleman  moved, 
**  That  as  Mr.  Garrick,  who  was  allowed  to  be  a 
great  admirer,  and  the  best  speaking  commenta- 
tor, of  the  poet,  was  absent,   a  business  of  that 

R  3  kind 


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249  .     KEH0IH8  or 

kind  should  be  postponed  till  another  bppor- 
tunity*" 

ThisflredFltepatrick,  who,  feeling  too  warmly 
Xllit  comparative  merit  between  a  liberal  and^ 
what  he  might  think,  a  nkrcenary  critic,  rej^lied, 
**  that  he  wondered  any  gentleman  should  propose 
deferring  the  business  of  the  Club  on  account  of 
a  member's  absence,  who  was  ^rteiinly  the  most 
imignificcmt  person  that  belonged  to  theit  Soi? 
ciety.**  Garrick  was  told  this,  and  called  for  an 
explanation^  aijd  several  conference  Were  held,  but 
to  no  purpose.  Fitzpatrick  attacked  him  in  ne^i^- 
papers  and  pamphlets,  and  so  far  obtained  a  vic- 
tofjr  over  Garrick,  by  raising  a  party  for  prevent* 
ing  full  price  being  taken  on  the  night  of  a  reviT^ 
ed  play  after  the  third  act ;  and  Garrick  had  his 
revenge  in  turn;  first,  by  the  publication  of  a  po- 
em df  his,  called,  ^*  The  Fribbleriad,"  inwhicis> 
with  considerable  humour  and  vivacity,  he  play^ 
vith  the  character  oiFitzgig^  the  hero ;  and  next, 
by  the  poetical  interference  of  his  friend  Churchill,, 
who,  in  his  rough,  broad,  satiric  manner,  depict 
ed  Fitzpatrick  as  one  of  the  very  yomis  of  the 
creation.  ^ 

Under  such  a  seducer,  Mossop^s  plain,  unsuspir 
cious,  yet  proud  temper,  could  not  long  be  at 
rest :  he  constantly  demanded  such  characters  as 
were  ^tally  unfit  for  him,  whilst  Garrick  as  con- 
ftaTxtly    remonstrated    on    his   impropriety;  and 

brought 


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-hrbtghl  lAib  Koeij»€9  6f  tfhe  tpenaufry  <ia  thoiie 
wights  be  ))layed  etch  t>harattei:s  as  the  beat 
toachers  ibr  what  he  asserted.  Thi$,  h^wbver, 
brought  no  conviction  to  Mossop*s  mind — 'twas 
*'  all  for  L&de,  or  the  ^vwld  \tre\l  lofet"— He  quitted 
Dfrury^Lame  Theittte  with  diagust^  and  went  to 
Irfelandy  Whete,  for  tine  or  two  season^  he  f^layefi 
with  considerable  sutce^s. 

<^  his  ri^utn  to  Ldtaidohi  bbout  the  year  1769, 
<TaTritk^  fongettiiig  all  rivil  Jeatonsjes^  &g^i>i 
sougM  htm,  and  a)^in  reinstated  him  in  his 
ibrmer  parts ;  but  the  diannon  cff  dissatisfaction 
stHl  .pursued  hih^v^nd  in  1761)  he  twitted  Druiy 
Labe  and  tlib  English  Tbiaitl^  &n  tvtt,  in  search 
of  Irish  advintutes* 

BalTjand  Wo^odwArd  kt  thSs  time  lyere  joint 
MaoJigers  of  Ch>w-Sti«t  Thfeatre,  Dublin,  an(i 
knowing  Mosstip's  tibiiitiek,  ktd  that  they  would 
cki^  fess  with  Ban^*s  powers  than  *^ith  Garrick's, 
wer^  glad  to  ehgagr  him  at^  <ibnstderable  salary* 
.Tbe  arrstngeknent  of  their  plan  Was  weU  laid ;  and 
Mossop's  abilities  being  directed  to  a  right  point, 
their  list  of  Tragedies  were  strengthened  in  such 
aikmnnei^  as  to  aflbrd  the  highest  ebtertainment 
to  th^  nmateur9  df  the  dfamit  As  an  e:ftempK$« 
cationiy  tsdce  the  following  cast  of  parts  t  Ventidius 
-to  Barry's  Mate  Antony,  Pierre  to  his  JaflSer, 
Cltam^^nt  to  hi^i  C^talib,  I^aiiet  Xti  his  Tamei^ 

R4  lane. 


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3*8  .        '■    UZMCIM  Of 

lane,  Horatio  to  lib  Lothario,  Caled  to  hisl%oi-> 

eyas,  &c*  &c.     In  short,  Imperial  Tragedy,  for 

» such  partft,  perhaps,  was  never  better  sustained* 

^  The  Stage  thus  ably  supported,  Mossop's.lbf- 
iune  and  reputation  were  at  full  tide,  till  his  un- 
'happy  genius  again  crossed  him  in  the  idea  of  be- 
coming a  rival  Manager.  Barry  and  Woodward 
were  the  first  who  saw  this,  and  saw  in  it  conse- 
quences that  wcAild  be  fatal*  to  both  Thcati-es. 
To  prevent  this^  they  made  Mossqp  thA  tempfr 
'  ing  offer  of  a  thousand  pounds^  pkrwrnum^  with  the 
restriction  of  ohly  playing  twibe  a  week,  to  relin- 
quish his  scheme — ^but  in  vain—**  out  QesWy  aut 
*nullm''-^Ther€  should  be  but  one  Thesitre  in  li:idr 
land,  and  he  would  be  at  tlie  head  of  it  .TW, 
was  not  only  the  language  of  his  Own  vanity,  but 
of  a  number  of  fashionable  feniales  who  protected 
him,  and  who,  without  either  judgment  or.dtf cre- 
tion,  would  take  him  from  almost  a  sinecure  sir. 
tuation,  to  place  him  at  the  head  of  Smock  Aliey 
Theatre,  under  all  the  responsibilities  of  such  an  • 
undertaking,  and  wiih  a  rival  and  established 
Theatre  in  opposition* 

Tlie  scandalous  chronicle  of  the  day  gave  liker 
M'ise  other  reasons  for  Mossop  being  prevailed  on 
to  becoitie  Manager^  Several  of  tlicse  females 
were  deep  gamblers;  and  as  they  had  a  certain  de- 
gree of  influence  ffom  their  fashion^  axid  interest 
'  amongs^ 


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:am<«g^  4heir  ttade^n^n,  to  favour  the  receipt* 
eOf  his  hous^,  he  would  be  the  better  cnaWirf  to 
'  become  thdr  dupe  in  another  way.  A  welUcnown 
Countesd  (long  since  called  to  a  reckoning,  for 
this  and  othdr  loose  accounts)  was  at  the  head  of 
-this  party,  and  is  said  to- have  played  the  part  of 
-at  r^Ar  with  great  rapacity.  Thus,  though  Mos- 
sop's  first  season  (from  novelty,  variety,  and  th^ 
influence  of  his  friends)  nominally  filled  his  trea- 
Wry,:  he'mtght  have  parodied  the  wotds  of  Mac- 
Jieatii,  by  saying,  "  The  Stage  has  done  me  jusi 
t!cc-*'bitt  the  gaming-table  has  been  my  ruin.'* 

A\  paper  war' likewise  ensued  about  this  time 
betwcctt  Barry  and  Mossop,  relative  to  <the  abrupt 
Wixvaer  of  the  latter's  quitting  his  engagements 
at  Crow  Street  Theatre,  in  which  the  lowest  and 
mosl  scurrilous  abu^e  took  place  of  all  reason  and 
i[%um)^nt.  The  rival  newspapers  T)eeame  io  dis^ 
gusting  on  this  account,  that  the  public  at  large 
took  it  up,,imd either  laughed  at,  or  reprobated,  the 
conduct  of  t  th^e  soi*disant  potentates.  The  last 
^coi^let  of  ail  epigrath  writtep  on  this  odcasioa 
^e  remember,  a^d  which  had  a  considerable  share 
in  silencing  the  dispute,  was  as  follows: 

•**  Then'  w  lo  Jhe  puHk,  it  i»>ut  a  toss-iip, 
,    ^,  Wb^Aeii,*^sop  kick  Barry— or  Barry  kick  Mossop.'* 

t  .  •        ■  • 

In  §hpTt,;  TMip,  at  lastt,  was  the  end  of  tliis  thea* 
If ical  experiment;  for,  after  struggling  in  vain  for 

seven 


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S5©  'MBMOIBS  iCKP 

Bertn  ot  «Sght  ytfa%  -  and  ttk^rninAg  *0  ikjkii^p' 
elie  Mi^  bj  aH  mamer  of  exotic  eoiectftiiiilitlit, 
Moa$dp  fbulid .  himarif ,  neditCjed  to  im  abioWtfe 
«<^te  of  bailkniptcjr,  add  in  tlm  sttoitiott  aivived 
ia  Leudoffl^  upoa  which  place  he  had  'ia  ^ntooljr 
tttrned  his  back,  broken  ddwn  ia  ^dfkit^  tod  cbtr- 
MitutioD,  atid  at  tlib  mercy  of  an  affrolited  Man** 
ger  for  a  livelihood. 

In  this  state  of  his  fbrtune^  his  ftimls  tidviaeil 
lam  to  apply  to  Mr.  Garridk  for  ah  eaga^eifltent; 
urging;  that  his  talents  mmt  recoamt^nd  him  to 
any  Manager;  and  that,  with  economy,  and  the 
experience  of  past  misfortunes,  be  had  yel  time 
enough  to  extend  his  reputation^  ztA  secure  4 
competency  for  old  age:  but  his  spirit  vas  toe 
high  for  this  ^)plication ;  he  replied  to  his  Iri^dds^ 
^ith  some  cOnsci^is  dignity, ''  that  Garriok  knew 
▼evy  well  that  he  was  in  Lobdon ;"  jfisinttatiog  i^ 
this,  that  the  proposal  of  an  engagement  dbouM 
first  come  from  him.  Tbe  Mabagor,  howtfTet^ 
if  he  knew  Mossop  was  in  Londdn,  (which  he 
ffobably  did^)  would  not  know  ifc  without  an 
f^fitiia/iiotiiie;  and  tibe. season  |>^ssed  dff  withemt 
his  making  any  dngag^netxt 

In  the  summer  of  the  sam6  yeaf^  MossO[^  ac« 
ceptcd  an  invitation  from  a  friend  (Mr;  Sinith,  a 
gentleman  of  considerable  fortune,  and  much  at- 
tached to  him)  to  take  a  tour  thtqugh  Settral 
-    .  -     .   :  |iatti 


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pturts  of  Euroipe.  He  i^turm^  in  ibout*a  year 
afterkrAto^^  greatly  alleted  in  spirita  and  appeat^ 
€Uice.  Itistetd  of  the  tmftrtieagie-eyied  character 
^  hk  ytv^th,  be  appeaired  dnaciated,  thoughtful 
imd  deji^ted,  shutining  the  oompany  of  hb  ibi^ 
sner  iVieiipd  and  associates,  and  nursing  by  hinv- 
3eif  the.  gloomy  metoncholy  of  hb  mitML 

His  firiends  noir  made  lanother  effort  to  get  an 

^engagement  for  him    at  Drury    Lane-^-but  he 

liquid  make  no  Application  himself,  though  ready 

to  receive  one.     None,  hp\vever,  being  made,  his 

friMds  thought  to  force  him  on  the  Manager,  by 

the  p)|ibHcation  of  a  pamphlet,  trhcrein  the  Author 

^ot^only  took  infinite  pains  to  set  Mossop's  pa\*- 

ffs  m  the  most  striking  point  of  view,  but  took 

/equal  pains  to  degrade  the  excdlenciea  of  a  tnan 

i(Grarrick)  who  was  most  capable  of  ienring  him, 

>hy  an  invidious  delineation  6f  tht  decaying  facnt- 

4ie9  of  his  mind<     *'  The  lustre  of  hid  eye,"  'twas 

stated,  *^  was  greatly  diminished|  and  the  strong 

expression    of  his  countenance  was  every  day 

wearing  out;  his  voice  was  husky,  broken^  and 

inartidulatd;  and,  in  shott,  he  was  90  redact  in 

all  his  powers,  that  be.  could  not  now  tread  the 

st^ge  with  any  thing  like  that  vigour,  with  which 

it  li^as  owned  he  had  fcrmerty  been  tlie  greiiteit 

ornament.^ 

'    Thf  malevolence  of  such  a  pamphlet^  our  rea- 
iders  will  readily  see,  could  only  be  equalled  by 

its 


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S52  '    MEMOIRS  oP  ^  ^ 

its  foily*  Admitting  the  facts  stated  to  "be  true; 
is  it  txj  be  suppoised  that  Garricfc  (who  of  all  mfeu 
isras  imost  alive  to  fairie)  would  bring  his  own  Je-^ 
fects  more  glaringly  before  the  public,  .by  shew- 
ing them  the  comparison?  Or,  sensible  of  the 
•full  vigour  of  his  powers,  and  in  no  fear  of  a 
rival,  would  he  let  his  enemies  see  he  was  trapped, 
or  dragooned,  by  so  shallow  an  artifice  ?  The  at- 
tempt was  ridiculous  ia  the  extreme;  and  is  ano- 
ther proof,  out  of  many,  how  absurd  it  is  for  one 
many  or  a  particular  party,  to  lead  or  force  the 
general  voice  of  the  public. 

Tfhe  attempt  of  restoring  Mossop  to  Drury 
Lane  Theatre,  through  the  aid  of  a  party,  and^e 
-publication  of  an  ill-judged  pamphlet,  failing,  he 
had  recourse  to  the  Managers  of  Co  vent  Garden, 
who  seemed,  at  first,  very  willing  to  engage  a  man 
*<cif  his  merit,  and  one  who>  by  performing  with 
Barry',  could,  by  their  joint  weight,  give  new  vi- 
:gouT  and  variety  to  many  Tragedies. 

But  in  the  arrangement  of  this  business,  it  was 
^id,  that  a  celebrated  Actress  at  that  Theatre 
(Mrs.  Barry)  positively  refused  to  act  in  any 
play  with  this  unfortunate  man.  What  could 
be  her  reason  for  this  resolution  it  is  now  difficult 
to  tell !  Perhaps  she  might  have  received  some 
supposed  affront  from  him  in  Ireland — never  to 
be  forgiven— or  perhaps  she  might  have  dreaded 

a  rival 


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CHAfttE«  macIl£in.  25** 

a  rival  in  Mossop  to  her  husband,  who  was  rtien- 
visibly  in  the  decline  of  his  powers,  and  princi*^ 
pally  engaged  through  the  ascendency  of  her  abi-' 
lities-rtor  peiheipscaprke^  which  has  its  peculiar 
influence  gn  the  heroines  of  the  Stage,  tnore  than- 
any  other  influence  whatsoever.     Let  the  cause 
bt  what  it  will,  its  effects  greatly  depressed  a  i»ian 
under  Mossop^sx^ircuznstances.    His  friends,  how- 
ever, advised  him  to  wave  this  circumstance,  and! 
to  play  wkh  any  other  Actress  tlie  Managers^ 
might  think  proper  to>  assort  him  \^ith;  but  their' 
answer  was,   **  that  their  business  was  already^ 
settled,  and  jd  was  not  in  their  power  to  employ 

Wc^hsave  related  thei  above  circumstances  as  the- 
state  of  Mossop's  conduct  relative  to  his  theatri- 
cal engagements  after  his  return  from  Ireland. 
Butfroin'wh^teiveyprinciple  he  acted  upon,  in  regard 
to  his  apparent  teadiness  to  engage  as  a  performer, 
we  speak  from  positive  knowledge^  that  it  was  not 
pkjfsicaliyin  Ms  power  to  fill  any  part  of  Tragedy, 
or  Comedy,  to  any  advantage  at  that  time,  as  his 
,  power  of  voice  was  not  only  considerably  dimi- 
nished, but  his  whole  person  emaciated,  and  in  an, 
apparent  states  of  decay.  His  mind  suffered  with 
Ks  bodily  powers,'  and  he  moved  and  talked  very 
litcc  a  noian  approskhing  to  melancholy  madness. 
In  this  state,  it  was  impossible  fior  him  to  fulfil 
tlie. expectations  either  of  the  Managers,  or  the 

town; 


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254  litftlCOlRl  Qf     , 

tf^vTB;  tkougii  he  sitffetedhiA  nttne  to  ht  tsisAt: 
use  of  by  hh  friends  in  the  negpdiatkmr  A  fev 
\rfek^  after  proved  the  tmtll  of  this  aasert^D,  t  as 
]^  feU . a  victim  to  a brofcenhefirt ia  the BMntfai 
of  November,  1773* 

He  saw  bis  own  dtsac^tmn  qipioachtn^  fssft^^ 
but  concealed  it^  and  the  cxtwme  poverty  of  hit 
purse,  from  hia  iioDst  intiiuatefriieuds.  Wbeulm 
voice  was  so  hoUow  as  to  be  scurcft  atidiUe>  he 
used  to  say»  ^'  be  was  better;"  and  when  asked 
about  the  slate  of  hi6  pecuffibrty  matten^  hisrasK 
ftwer  was»  ^^  be  waited  notbiiig*"  In  this  ]ingExt^ 
ing  state  of  person  and  of  pul-se^  be  was  fbumii: 
dead  in  his  bed  one  morning,  at  his  lodgings  in 
the  Strand;^  with  <^\y  fflurp^CR^atfpmmf  in  his 
pocket. 

After  his  deitl^  bi3  remaim  met  wit^  the  fokei 
of  many  men  of  geoiua  and  talcnta^  vizw  tiudk  a£ 
finding  pos$kHmou$  patrM^  G^rriek^  it^fac^^by 
engaging  him  m  the  begjnnii^  mif^  iist^t^.BaMA. 
hxok  from  \m  is^tty  now  hmeoted  bb  fof1ora)£J>nA 
dition,  aini  offered  t^  bury  him  ati  hds  ownex^ 
pene^;  and  Mosaop's  uncle,  wha  wts.  tLiximot* 
some  fortune,  and  a  ®eiicber  of  the  Inner  Tenoplei,. 
(and  who,  it  is  said,.  refUsed  biin  the  meaiis  of 
subsisteuce  during  life,)  now  made  the  mme  ot* 
fer.    The  last  wa%  tkrougb  deceftcy,  accepted^ 

I  and 


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^^  ^(.^t^rvKW  <?Ari3ie4  t<?;h»s  g(*v«»  aH^«^  by 
a,  fe^  ql<d .  fiaci»di%  ili  jhftjferty-niBth  year  oS 
h}9  ^e. .  .Aj9(«tiejj  $b4  eJWWfJe  of  tb«  imsufiSci* 
«^?jr  «f  .VtkPtft  wUhflttt;  ^iif  ^  of  discretion. 

MQ9so|(  ik|^  93^  ht9  f>^ii30Q  of  the  middle  s»e, 
tf^l^jl  :Wi3H  f<?tfi(w4»  u^  a.  £^e  of  Bsmeh  ex* 
p^WfWftr  andi  W  eye  t^%  evidently  marked  .a 
proud  and  indepeadeiH:ii»M^d«  His  vokrewa^  deep 
and  loud,  when  at  the  extent ;  and  though  he 
could  not  aecommodate  his  tones  to  the  soft  and 
tender  passions,  his  level  speaking  had  great  force 

H^  vf^^  9pi  doufalij,  bor^  to  be  an  ^fttw^  butj 
Qpl,  jfx,  tjfi^  iaM,ver9^  «^»e  yih^^h  he  conqe^ved,,: 
aod;  w^ch)  ^^'  earl3^  ?;i4  cpntinued  flattery  o£ 
somj^  fi^^flid^  ^i^ported.  lib  outset  ^as  in  Zanga^ 
a$  we  have  before  noticed ;  and  his  applause  was 
^.  4^4!^^edly  gvf^t  in  l;bi^  charac|:eiv  that  he  for 
same  3fe^rs  ^fteprards  nevef  attempt;ed  to  nxpve 
fffiia[\\  ^  li^  q£  per^Q^matUce :  it  was  Barry's  fame 
fioffr  (9|(;i^  t^  fir,st  row^d  his  emulation,,  and  dK 
vqgte^,  l^s,  t^nts  &o^:tbeir  n^turaji  source;  and 
^¥l?tfS)ft  l)e .  fyi\^  <Hi  ,t^e  very  threshold  of  the  at^*. 
tpomty^  )]iif  v^^y  fqr^^  bii^  on,  even  at  tl^i  ex* 
fpnipei  o£  t};^es€}  poAi(ei^i,whipb  his  naturstl  and  ac*^ 
quired  talents  h^  3Q  liberia^ly  be^tQwed  upoa 
him. 

However 


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555  4»tlioiR*  d* 

^tywt^i  strong  -  this  l>i&ts  was  oti  liitn,  he  h^ 
not  a  full  opportuikity  of  Indtilgfeg  it*tifl  be-be*^ 
came  Manager  of  Smoefc  Altey  Theatre.  •  PrevP 
ousiy  to  this  time^  we  8ml  him  bothjier^,  aid.btt* 
the  Dublin  Theatre,  engaged  in/Such  business  as 
WBB  suitable  to  his  ftgufe  ind  real  tatefet^^  ^  Ba4ii» 
Zanga  he  has  never^been ^jri^i/^^;  'and  thd.haugiv^ 
ty  pride,  and  deep  revenge,  which  he'distoverecfi 
in  the  first  speech  of  this  tragedy^    '     -      •        ; 

*' I  like  this  rocking  of  the  battlemei^tf^  ; 
"It  suits  the  gloomj  horror  of  loy  soul/* 

he  supported  with  progressive  force  and  feeling,- 
till  he  bestrides  the  unfortunate  Alonzo  in  the 
last  Act;  and  here  the  anhnated  glow  df  revenge 
appeared  so  forcible  as  would  rendei'  all'desterip^' 
tion  langtiid :  like  a  powerful  shock  of  electriciiy, 
k  carried  the  impression  home  to  every  breast 

Cakd^  in  ^*  The  Siege  qf  T)amasciis,**  was  ntar-^ 
ly  of  equal  excellence  with  his  Zanga,  aihfe  gave 
to  this  wild,  savage,  and  enthusiastic  Atabian-^ 
all  thefury  and  fire  which  the  character  demanded;' 
and  yet  so  little  did  he  know  his  own  strength,' 
or,  rathier,  so  apt  vi^as  he?  to  flatter  his  ciWBt  vani^ 
ty,  that,  when  compriinented  on  liis  performance 
of  this  part,  he  frequently  exclaimed,' •*  I  wish 
yott  could  have  seen  my  Piiocyas."  ' 

i 

Pierre^  in  "  Venice  Preserved, '*  was  another 
of  his  capital  parts:  the  rough,  high-spirited,  dis- 
appointed 


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his  tflilent^;  atid.  im  tli&  sdsne -^th  dlle  cottspiniii 
«»f^  >aib«a^obtkhi^  stud  da3«r<^;<  uiiiMmitliedl 

ap»pte*iw)>sJ- '  ■'■:•  ■'  .         ■   '--  ■•  ■■..  ■-'.  ^ 

•'-.:..■     .    •     ;  ^ ',  1    ■    ,     .    : 

itt  1^«l;'fii>s«  Me  of  fef^xitaatkti.vfe^  it  nofifbl-^ 
6«^elb,'  ;tho' excelled  himih-th^  l6ve  sedhtf  vilh^ 
La«ly  ■  Ame,  as  .wtfH  di  iw  ^  the"  ^tti«k  atlknWfcdt 
pama^s  of  tie  pla^ :  bat  to  l»e  M£i»til  to  -swjh  i«> 
actor,  as  4iatttck,  was  «o  stxtfd  in  iw*  iw»ttsi<J^ 
dciublQ  line  of  praise;  anili  tikbt  Mofii^lK  dJtdi  s^ ' 
^»r  «vy^  front'  hisi|»»t4braittg>  the  part  «ifter' 
nately  \n^  tflUi  great  «(righittl-|ibr  9oi|i«-8ea80<w. 

Tfo  -rti^flue' wntiiofentsof  die  Bake;  m,  **  Mfssure 
fti»  ft^Murej**  lie  gavo'  fall'  foitse-  aiid  difniityi'- 
Aiidte^'^^Efee  AmfckibutfStepindther"  df-R^ee,  hifr: 
Afi^ww  was  veneraWe  awd  ^re|jid-;  partietilwiy  • 
hn  a««ite'  Av4ti»  the  I^st  of  tlw'Sim  W  tht  irs« 
aei^'  which  h»  spokd  wi«lf  k4cl<  aw  hoMse  glbw  of' 
s^«liOit>  as  totally  ot«rpowieii9d  th^  subttotie^' 
ancl  fi-a.uds  of  superstition  and  priestcraft. 

TSk^s(t'\^ttt  \&9  pnAcipol  part«  He  hsbd  mdi* 
fljr  itfbre,  bdtft  m  Tragedy  and  Ae  gravtr  spe^ 
(l»  of  Come(ly,  in  which  he  acquired  great 
reputiatlon.  He  has  been  accused  by  the  critic* 
^  tea  great  a  meohaoism  in  hb  action  lAd  d^^ 
v«ify;rM^he'wad^'  Mtofitie  deg^/  open  lo  tiits 

.  S^  ■  ■        ccttiii^ct'— ■ 


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$58  .V  unuoiM  or . 

tj*»filr©-frtiic,  rfrcqUerit;  resting  of  lib  lefttfaand  ^o« 
bt^.JWps  ^^i^  Insrtght  extended,  b{(s  been  ^ten 
Ibllkroujklyr  compared  to  the,  handle  and  ^(wt  4)fa 
tea-pot;  whilst  others  called  him,  **  The  Distiller  of 
Syllables.''    But  these  criticisms  were  evident* ex> 
siggcratiOiMk    Persons  wh<ise^  naitow  judgments^ 
teti^pers,  or  prejudkiea,  indace  t^im  to  look  Oft/jr 
fflr;  ^ultsy  will  find  them  Jn  the  most  perfitct  ar* 
t|s|:$ ;  jind  though  he  pometim^,  m  level  speaJdng, 
e&bibitt^d  ruther  too  much  stiffness  in  bis  attitudes, 
and  toei  much  length  in  his  pronunciatiofiy  his 
eui^rgy.aiid  correctness,  ina  great  measure,  atmi- 
ed  fw  ihese  trifling  def^^ ; .  whilst  \xk  themore 
impassioned  parts  he  was  exc^^^ce  itselfi^ 

«  Thk ,  degree  of  feme*  however,  did  not  satisfy 
Mo^sop. ,  He  wouM  be  the  Awer.both  in  Tragedy 
and  Come^*;  and^if  we  might  gue$s  at  his  prin- 
cipal mptivp  for  quitting  Barry  and  WbodwaQl^ 
a|*  A  pr<)ffered  siilary  of /we  tfyoumnttpoundapm* 
j^i^rand  bieepming  Manager  of  Sn^oclc  Alley 
"I^featre  M^ijhj  tittle,  or  no>  hapes  of  i^upceas,  we 

*  One  of  the  Italian  Poetf ,  whose  name  we  do  not  immediately 
•rHMniibeK^  t-i^ibliles  this  tpecUi  othfpercnticism  in  the  loHowing 
liUls  laliUr  3Vf  tb  peat  justice  and  propriety.  ^*  A  critic  brought 
liy  wpt-k  tf>  4b^Uo,  (wherein  be  did  nothing  hut Jnd  fault  with 
his  Author,)  claiming  a  reward*  **  Where  aw  the  beauties  ?*' 
sjiys  thfi  godl  '^"^Oh!  I  never  troiibled  my  head  about  them»'' 
«flt-d  the  critJif.'  «*  Very  well,''  says  Apollo  j  «*  bring  n^e  hers 
afsatlc'Qf  irtHvihni^ed  corn.  Nov,  ;My  fdend,  ait.down,  itlid' 
witto^w^  thitf  ^corn  as  carefully  ajv  you  detected  the  faults  of  ties 
poor  Author,  and  you  hhall  hare  the  chaff  iov  your  paias/* 


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in  those  parts  so  favourable  to  fais  inclinatio%  b^t 
at  the  same  time  so  inimical  to  his  real  talents. 

Maujr:  i»steii^,<iQMl4:  bp  given  ctf^bfte^Sectp 
of  .tljris  abwi'df  :prep9ft$eai)ic3^»id«Hng'J^^  cliye  mjSi^ 
mmA  l^»^^^ll(W*fi[.^maftagienl^wt4^^^.(^^ 
vifi i  be  ^uffidkrti t;  .fpr  thi3;  (tuf p9s6,    jT'He;ftimg  4)f 

Tk&lin  jundec;  lii^tinftq*g»mfept,  he. very  prof^ly 

.iliovght  af  ^ettiftgit  iip^  h^  XhwtfWi ;  w  Qne.^ 

-liie:  novTeltiefr  of  tibe^  swaftaj!-;   ile  h*i.Y0cal.|)teft- 

Ibrmefs  sufficient  in. hia  compaoy^ .  iaud  ^  ;baiMl 

.u&caiainonl3r..gQDd  .at.  that,  timt;  ;  the.  Opern, 

tHereftwre,  was  announced  in  theGireen  Room.fiv 

rchearisal,  aad.  all  tl>e.pArt^,  distributed,  .exofigt 

tfa^  .of  Losd  Aimwortli. . . .  This,  ^jicked  some  w* 

rionty axnoiigstthe  )>ei:fomerc^  takno^.whd  wo^ 

be .  the  peracm  cas;!}!^  the  paitt    The^eceet  waa, 

Ixmcver,  b^t  .back  tilL  within  a  few.  days,  of  the 

performance,  whew  theiMls^ponippaslyianuoutr* 

u»d  in ,  capitals, , '  ^  The  part  pf .  hc^  Aha^orth 

The  hero  of  .Mi.O|fera  without  singing^  ^^as  a  / 
l^peciesbf  novelty  one  would  think. too  much  bor* 
doings  on  the  brogue  for  any  performier  to  adopti 
or  any  audience  to  countenance;  but,  howevw 
strange  to  tell,  both  succadded:.  the  castrated 
Open  run  eight  nights  to  crowded  audiencea! 
twhilst  ]V£ossop  received  the  (latteries  of  hp  friendf. 


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4 


ami  «)MNf^/  6a  fais  success  ir^  a  fm^dtparimmi 

€^itfrf^'^--  ^   •  -     -•■•  •  ^  '  • 

This   business,    however,  was  effected  hy  an 

4nder^managemmtt  mor^M  less  ftaotised^  most 

^M^fit^%  vrhm  t\y^  rmw^  via 

ttad"  the  art  of  atta^i^iog  niat}«  frieiidti  to  him  ki 
She  A^a^oUs^  trials  of  life — ^his  inisfoptiMpet}^  sis 
they  i^pe  tdled,  thotighalttlie  aeisof  hi^oNm 
ifidiscre^Q^  i^vetteiil  thqse  frimds  tkedopet  to 
him.  WbUis4i  Hdt  OonQtesa  of  B~^>  who  then 
led  the  fashio)!'  i|i  Dublin,  was^hisavowctl.pro- 
tectress,  thisrLsxiy,  beside  the  high  coinpatr|r*ahe 
e^evy  night  drew  i»  the  boxes^  compaandcd  a 
^g;reat  part  ol  her  tradepmen.  Th^e,  /witk.  the 
^aottngmettof  the  CoUe^,  (Mossp^8.eo]iteni]K>- 
raries,)  formedthefriiicipaifiart  of  t^audicfice^ 
who,: hy  saving  4Sie reiftaiaiiig  part tkepmddcof 
thinking^  f^rtkemsclvesy  dictated  to  thS  towk;  anH 
'tiiUB^ms  a  ppoje<{t  which,  left  to. i^^  wbulii 
*have  soan  .^worked  oat  i^  -own  dattffia<(ion,  >  earned 
through,  by  artifice,  Airitb^pro^t  and  appUuids.  t 

.  Hov^erer  ab^iinrd  this  dfiamfttic  lioeture  ma^  be 
ooiftsidered  in  Mbssop,  Sherids^,  who  had  atiU 
higher  claims  to  critical :  drct^ven,  wai^  ^  jMrt 
^ec^ualiy  culpa|>]€,  by  transferring  Mcfcutip j  fine 
description  of:a,dreai%  in  the  finst  aot<o£&Qm«> 
and  Juliet,  to  the  part  of 'Rpmeo--^merdy  booiiase 

he*  would  monopolize  so  ikie  a  speech  tohnneeHl 

Sheridaq, 


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SfteridoDv^  fiMm^  ^a^od*  actor  liSL^grave  aiii}{Wn- 
toh^ataS:  jaaU,  had  aeitiaier  ^fae  voice  m  iea4 
der  d'abord  of  a.loVet:  butttdtoktii^  ift$  h^,  ho/^ 
he  could  so  violently  wrest  this  speech  from  i6 
proper  place,  to  give  it*or  a'<rti*tiater  which  it  fit* 
ted  in  no  one  instance,  can  scarce  he  accounted  for, 
b«t;'4^  tte>^«domii»ticy  ef  ^rf/fMw;^^;'  ^frWch  riot 
oAlf  Matnptod ^pbh bis  op^n  jkidghicAti  buton thd 
ct^tnboft  ifehse,  and  cdrntnon  ft^ngs^'tQfhit^aO'^ 

•p^aj;  tp^  R^bUcrwy  ^tter  judj5j5^f  this!  ipopro*. 
p^cty^  :we  »bi^U  tec^ll  to  their  recollpction  a  pai?$ 
of  thf ^piMti^l  a^  beautiful  desp^ptioiA  TV^e.a^^ 
to*.      ,         >         .•  '      ■   ■  '  'ia  '■  -;  ^ 

7^  Hal  ha!  adrea^i.  .  *  .   ^ 

•Oh !  Aen,  i  scfe  Qi^^tf  I^  lias  bie!)6<i  lii tft  Ttra  ^  ^  ^^    "  '  ^ 

■.  ;}4Biia(ienKrb)ggaf.'iiian:mti^e9toii^       '^  '  ^     '     *^'  *; 

Df:«twn  with  a  team  of  little  atomies 
'  Athwdrt  mefi  s  no^es  as  they  ^ie  asleep :  *       * 

^'U^t^k^dii  ipoKes  Aide  t)t  (otxg  8^i«neh  legs ;       '  *  ^ 

-^Th'^^OTVrf/WtheWh^^kt^Bt^tJ^HJ     '     ""  ■^■'    ^ 

The  traces  of  the  smallest  spid^'s  web ; 
3   ;^e  dollar  of^  jBBftWB9i^iu$[i  w%|*ry  iMtamsi        ^         I 
_  ;  per ,\^f  af^ficJ^ejt's  ^t^-r^ie  }s^\\  of,film  i ,  ...        ^      , 
.      Aer  mraggoner,  1^  small  g^rejr-cqated  gn^,  ^' 

^ot  tiff sb  iig  M  a  found  little  Wo^m  ^  ' '  *    '  ^^  " 

^''  »ttf*jdioiilt.W^pta^fh»i*fe>'nul^       ^  I       ^    r*     t 

And  in  Ihis  state.  &iie  gallops,  night  by  nigh (, 
^  ^^rpugh  lovers'  brains,  and  thus  they  drei^m  of  love,*' 

S3  Whilst 

■  ■       .  ) 


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-  WMilst  we  can'  tiow  laugfr  tt  flicse&llie^  wilib 
Jb€e6mmg  contempt,  may  we  not  astotiTsdlvteR,  in- 
the  languk^  of  the  Rontaii  Satirist, 


;<.'. 


Dtf  ndtwe  nightly  see,  wn&tt  om  vtty  nbHt^  ^ 
Congreve  jlf«etf  to  tSite  Ite/^  th^ptv^tc^frt.tlm^i^ 
(with  all  ♦the  neatness. :  and  address  of  -^  n^odmA > 
shoe^makex,)  and  as  such  recommended  l>y;^«if- 
disani  critics,  as  the  newest  towjh-made  goods  for 
the  use  of  'Country  Mariagers?    Do  nbt  Wsee 
Shakespeare  iw^dl?  ^more  naf«rfl/^by*difl)'^emetfda-- 
datf6«s;  additions, ' and  omis$icfnsr  Andhavfe  wfe' 
not  frequently  seen,  for  years  back,  the  -5cene  o^ 
Diana'^Trfipe^  totally  cut  out  of  ^he  Be^^r^s 
Opera,  (though  upon  that  scene  hinges  a  principal 
par4;  of  ^the  plo,t,)  merely  to  save  Captaiii-<Ma<3- 
heath  the  trouble  of  re-dres*ing  himself?'  O'j^  ! 
we  have  often  seen  thesp.things;  andare,'^ernap3, 
Roomed  to.  see  many  inpre,   whilst  audience* -wiil 
suffer  their  judgment^  JtQ  bft  PQ^Ptfjl  ^^y?^^^"*^- 

But,  to  return^rom  thb  dfg:fe$#n,  land  adi^i^ 
more  particularly  to  the*  character  of  Mb^so^.-^ 
We  mu^st  not  judge  of  him  from  thes^  grqfpssijcma| 
eccentricities :  he  was  Ipd  tq.  ^^  pi^ifjalfy 
from  his  necessities,  whtcJlv  though  it  must  bti 
confessed  he  iti  a  great  degfee  bmi^t^ofepllim* 
self,  they  were  leather  the  faults  of 'an  e^W^  fftic'tite 

,  ,  temper, 


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ten>per,t5an2»ny  original  bid  jirift^tplck'^  4ii:tte 
career  of^  success,  he  got  up  the-bwt  andmoit 
approved  Tragedies  and  CbmedWs^  arid  ;cMt  them 
mth  strength  and  judgment.  He  af ^nded.  bi»- 
self  regularly  at  rehfcarsals,  ^nd  paid  hfe  perfbi^ 
mers  punctually,  whilst  the  receipts  of  the4mr 
j»iry<aiiAwered  their  demands;  a&d  could  he  hsiv^ 
cottfined  himself  entirely  to  the  dutiess  of  his  ft4h 
fession^  he  might  have  weathei-ed.thestontt,  ^artt- 
cu^rly  as  he  was^  in  himself,  the  leas^  of  itexd- 
2:ious  or  aip^usive  man  belonging  to  the  stzgt. 
His  ruin  WM  the  love  of  gaming;  or  ratlierttie  va- 
nity of  being^nder  the  wing  of  femlale  personsiof 
high  £afihion,  who  gamed  deep :  they  at  iirat  fool- 
^  vhiiif?  into  t^is  pursuit^  under ,  the  pretence  of 
.Mp^^c^ing  his  Theatre  in  opposition  to  Barry  and 
Woodward-^  and  they  did  it  to  a  degree,  but  with 
the^jB^cret  putpMe  of  bringing  grist  to  their  own 
mi^:;  fbc  whst  they  gave  to  the  stage  through 
lhdr>inAuence  or  intet^st,  they'princips^Uy  brought 
iMK^k  ^  with  exorbitant  profiti  to  -their  private 
purser*  ^  ..  ) 

>'  3nck'Wa^  Moissop  in  hir^uolic  ch^acter.;  a 
man  3r^:  had  qualified  himself  for  tl^e:  stage  by 
a  previous  contuse  of  claisical  education,  and  mms 
indicted  to  it  by  the  hand  of  Genius^  withoiit 
Wfaiclv  atti learning,  all  astiduity^r ail  mechanism  of 
l^ofessicm,  we  but  aa^'  ^^bJalipg  cymbal. *'  The 
departments  which  he^i^an  tbe^'Tlketafece  were 
^  §  4 '  exclusively 


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^fecbfmoljr  Wn  ©im;  for,   eseApt  ^^^pi^qk^  fe^ 
4^u^  ^wJifte,  or  *tti*ttiie;  iand,  tof^eo^  iriw> 

-thtt  ♦?  mkHM^ihg  99w^  ir¥phi  tsWrpw   tl* 

*vc£e  as  fire  :«iii  wateiw^ulM^taoce  §gui  ghf^tiavk 
In  shorty  i\m  Tragedy,  though  e^fi^mt  m  >  mf? 
-twas^parts  of  the  pritmg,  o(w«$  it3  ie^lehi)i(j3^*aft 
the  stock  ^^ti  prakipa%  tot^e^fjoireivof  J^fk^f 
iifif) ;  nad  as  it  was  tei^ived  by  him,  ^so  k  haii,  i*  . 
fHigroatiipeaaiiffe,  died^Hhh^;  asi^j^  ilHie<mQAi^ 
^ber  hiigh-im)ttgl}t  x:)iarattejss  ^  «ur  1i(^  foettk' 
.ioii0t  ir^  IB  sDllcn  sifenep  Atil  isome  ma^r  apiri^ 
^  lihali  arise,  who  ''.  shall .  hortride  the  CopqvieMr 
'jof  Aftriea,  «sd  tly  hondrpdTliroiifis^^'  :.l(ri|heii|iuA 
dignity  and  triumph.^ 

.:  M^^  nutn  (ab£t)|iQt00  #0101  4h«  Mdndiiat  of  ^ 
gampi^  aad  itk  ittttmnfitaMe  ^i4  ctan$ei|iimi(fii^ 
di&iKras  Telirai^*it\igjfA^  .aad  ^bfttemiaiis ;  iind  i«  lifrr 
Ik  taiht^d  with  the  jc/in7lMl^  4ii4  ¥ic€b  pf  dm 
froSumon^  as  4UDy  aiah  <tf :  bis  ttm&  If«tii  iiloftr 
'wiae  s^idjto  hs^e  hiud  A^ieait  ca|»aide  is£  frkti^ 
«htp,  a^  ha4  that  Jisapp&n^fls  df  temper  .to  mabs, 

n  -  almost 

.  0 


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yGoogk 


/ 


tkxf^  »»  %m^f  fRieodasa^  aoqufMteHMir  l£« 
iiatuml  love  of  independence  was  sv<;b|  :^l|»t^^ 
would  reeeive  no  favours  from  his  nearest  friends, 
p9cn  ui^.lQpQaiti(^dcqsiQii4>f  Ipds  ibrtune :  imre^ 
incjiQedi ,  ibis  prjUie  vseemed  tp  be  ^t  theibig^t,  m 
hfi,  m  theHeAd>  .utcjHfiQccl.Us  life  ^  j,to  j^wiUi^QSi^ 

lio w  soiacalauUtttig  i^  tbe  nind  #f  man4  Alai»» 
ff^  Uad  tale«|siax9i  nakui^l  4a<4iii»tif^i>s  to  rbe,(])ti0 
(»ftJ;i^4TiQ&t;3i34c3Mflid^  injiispra&s* 

fdim«  he.a^dad  to  tthjs  powers  lof  oony^satia^i  # 
yipcexit^.pfx^ndfvic^  4«nd  aaniiplijQity  of  mfumen^ 
that  would  h^ve  gained  him  respect  andjhdaoaca* 
ble*friendships ;  but  the  wanity  of  being  the  idql 
f)f  a:^dt  of  Right  JSommncMp  Harpks^  who  6ed«c- 
jed  him  4^01X1  ^ase  and  interostefi  motive/  wm 
^  y^oipailjr  ^i$  r^ici.  In  vajn  he^si^glu  |o  ifscovfip 
vHii^fcf^  what  b(efp  prodigally  lost  ia  the  ig'fxw 
^^«<fi  win /lid  h^  look  to  the  little  i4^i?i^  of  person* 
^  disJbuF^memts,  a^d  th^  &ug?l  soanagnment  of 
1h»  Theati^  wheR  the  gaming-tabte  nightly  |>r0? 
SfWt^  a  ®ud{^  .of  4nealc^lahle  ea^tjrav^wc^ 

*  {p/pl>0ri;  tbefeM  of  this  nufortuaiitie  wan  eMi* 
dently  arose  from  two  causes :  the  fii^t,  hift  be* 
coming  Manager,  so  as  to  indulge  his  self-love  in 
hemg.f^mlypf^mV^r;  the  second,  ihac  of  his 
hecMNivg  ^  gammer i  »  pr^feagt^n  n^W^  in  it- 
i^i  «^i^S;M1tlb:it  ruin  ^^4  dis^«ac^  /aud  is  a« 
^  '  if^wi(»i 


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Googk 


S6i  IdrCMOIES  OF 

ifiiinicft!  (6  fbrtiitie;  as  it  is  to  aH  t4ie  manly  aitti 
social  Virtues.^  . 

«itriifg>carricd  on^it  life  of  Henry  MoitedpnA 
ife  cohckrsion^  with  u  view  not  to  interrupt  th^ 
story  ^ -that  nnfortiinate  man,  we  now  retnrti  to 
that  period  of  his  management  at  Smock  Alley 
Tbesrtre,  whete  Macklin  was  not  only  concerned 
with^him  as  a  principal  actor,  but  frequently  em<^ 
j^oyecl  as  a  kind  of  Asshting  Mufiagtr — ah  ofiiee 
lirhibh  he  ever  loved,  but  which  always  suited  his 
iotlination  more  than  either  his  temper  or  Itis 
judgment.  ^       ..  .  * 

•',    ■      .        .,         .         -x       - .       ■  -    ^-     :  • 

Be  it  remembered,  that  Macklin  had  just  quit** 
it^  Grow-Street  Theatre  from  piqWy  or  rather 
from  the  love  of  vanity,  S^hich  was  ever  a  greit 
drawback  upon  his  fortune,,  if  not- upon  his  ta- 
lents; ;  We  now  find  him  at  Smock- Alley  Therfti-e, 
equally  bustling  as  an  Actor  and  Author :  for  as 
the  two  late  pieces  which  he  brought  out  at  Crow^ 
Street  Theatre  turned  out  so  successful  to  bha,  he 
this  year  ( 1 764)  produced  a  new  petite  piece,  call- 
ed ^^'T3ie  True-Bom  Scotchman,"  wiiich-met  M4th 
equal  success. 

Tht9  Kttle  piece  has  been  since  extended  to.  five 
acts^  under  the  title  of  ".The  Man  of  the  World," 
which  is  wdl  known  to  have  mfet  wit-h  a  *w>ura- 
We  reception,   and  which  stands  as  one  of  the . 

phcmomena 


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Googk 


pkdmmmP olbfti^Armrmi^^tanM  the  Very' 

advaifced^ge  of  the  Author;  and  Actor.  It  ww 
tiien  in  its  embryo  but  even  i^  thk  state  wai| 
highly  applaoded*  It  was  gcaierally  performed 
tmck  a  week,  daring  ti^  season,  to  ftill  and  re* 
l|>eebible  audiences  {  ami  die  character  of  Sir  P^r-^ 
tmax  Mao-Bycophant  was  thought  so  atroa^  Sr 
j^i^me  of  dr  Scotchman,  that  Macklin  ts  said  tx> 
"  hwe  recetveda  note  from  a  young  Seotc^  Ndato^ 
mftn,  then  in  high  favour  at  the  Castle,  accompa^ 
Ai^^  with  a  suit  of  handsome  laced  dress  clodie% 
^yii^ffi  ^^  that  he  begged  his  acdqitanc^of  that 
pr^ent  a»  a  small  mark  of  the  pleasure  he  receive 
ed  from  the  exhibition  of  so  fine  a  picture  of.  his 
gramlikther/'         . 

During  the  career  of  i)m  little  piece,  Mossop,; 
who  was  always  pushing  business. too  japidly^to 
aiijrvTer* the  demands  which' his  own  follies  led  hhn 
iiito,  had  engaged  t^  number  of  French  Opera 
D«tieeri  at  very  Considerable  salaries,  and  which 
he  liM  calctflatdd  very  highly  lipon ;  but  as  his 
credit  was  very  Jbwatf  this  dme^  Macklin  became 
s^cnprtjr  fbr  the  pa3'!tiint  of  itheir  salaries  up  to  the 
eispiration  of  a  certain*tini6«  That  time  had  ex- 
pired f  and  as!  they  were  under  engagements  to: 
he  at  Parii  ilt^the  openiHgof  the  season,  tlwgr 
^t«{eie  Hither  importniiite  for  the  balance  of  their 

-•'      ■  Shuter 


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Googk 


lanHj' i^eittookiiti)  be.  .thd&r  ntgbmaftof .:  m ;  rf iiiM 

so^;  iwhivwdblim;li6i'ert&^h9d;ap^ 

-tf»^l^  (tK)  mmi^.    -H^.thcn^  fis:ca.tei^JttoiNmit 

wi)iiiflbdtay,aifei^>wisdkskn^     liijfitif^i  lofiliifAtn 

tadft  stovaiUgJfpf  Idle  iiKii^'6  Thfiitsoe^j  th^^imom 
HidispexuiUy^facHkilicl'tD^  be  ipi.iPiurifi:b}E  au  cflstw^ 

*^  Well,  Sir,"  says  Macklin,  **  Since  you  are  so 
pfueHQ^^ry^   l^i^jl [  ttetn  tber^^ti^^wKyraii^  ;,t6d 
they. dhriLhe  {k^<k'^  jJl^iAm^viy^p.imJt^  ^r 
aM^nded,  .i^ni Maekli A  jiftpieatv^  i riaiglK^t  linm. 

\k&im  httB,  ,a»d.  ig^iia  #tt  i(k9«  t^prHiPQflt^^.lllcwit' 
^*  .Wky  they  icodd  4ii*t  iiMtay^*.'fehpr; ;  mnls^Adt^x^'h 
f^  fie£ausc^;":M^£  ^bidiepy  iki>  hi3(^fm9tiye  :ilK>Ii> 
w^ntt^  i'^  ^pyWiijMt^d  Ahfi,^^^  of  Ecaoc^ 
^mmli  iaif/>q^J^i£i^i^^^'V^^!  iCirt^ff  iJieirbeaci^^ 
SKr,''-^  «tys  MfeidittittitaatoiiisiH^  fmrb^fiidGq 
yjmf  imeicvby.  ttet  ?*'>-^^f;  Why  H^yitell  ;«i6}"  tu^ 
Shuteir^i  V^  tbdt^heiKin^  GdBFirMoeasiiaitiirit^civ9'' 
Monarch,  and  can  cut  off  a  man's  head  SLS.wy  ^W; 
you*d  say  *^  Jack  Robii^pn/* 

7:.  <*(?«/, 


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Googk 


CfiUURE£luMA0KLlN.  tSQ 

lri»^eKpi*^(Hi9ly  i]istvuJeto$}  by  Siiutei^^  ampdr 
ifciWfe/WiffiOh  I  oh  P'  .say»'iihc  veteran,  -^  noir I 
iiliderataEiEd  vyou;!  C6me,^H!leIt'»i:wenty  pounds 
(ipiAtmg  40i«rn  a  bank-i^brtc^)  and  herd's:  fivis 
nk^TQyikixtiktmltailiyM&vt :  (dien  looking  at  Shuter^ 
^<;ut  of  their  heads,  Sir !  D— nm  tae,  N6d,:  t\m 
IB  a  new  trick.  Well,  Sir,  where  did  I  leave  ofF^— 
flh.!a54!f.t#o»ty^fiw,  ami  ten,  thitf»,tHirty-five 
fiN^m*y«i!t^4Uid  My,  tW»«igfaty  five;-^Tfais  I 
lidiBve^  iv  the :  balance.  Add  how,  Oentlerhek 
jttd  vLodiss^  i^tbe  Kiiq^  ofl  France  ivcm^t  cut:  off 
yonr  kesidk,  ^endhint  to  mb,  ami  he  shall  icat  '&ti 
tmne  lifihe^^kmses,  for  beMg  saoh  a  d^-^roB^^  ass 
is  to  b0O0itip'  bfldl  for  a^  lENmlampt  ManagerW'*^ 

,  A Idss nfOttinstaiice  dian  {his  would-be  ^tte 
-sdBicieiitto  disgutt  Mactolin,  wiK)s6  temper  wab 
«JP|ltW:  chamgdingi  nature,  as  neirep  t6  continue  in 
4Mie  May.^  Aiebordingly  we  ind  hkn  engaged  the 
next  season  again  at  Cro\^^-Street  Theatre,  where 
he  coiitinued,  with  some  interruptions,  occasion- 
jeiijBf  his  ttipt'toEogfaiidi  tilLtheyear  i7B7-' 

SN^ing'  thia  time,  he  was  very  serviceable  td 
ike:  Nionagetr,'  betb  by  bis  performance  in  the 
list  of$t<Kk  fiuys^  »id  in'  the  exhibition  of  bis  p^ 
1^ijf»ecq^  ;  He  was^  Mkewsse  a  good*  Drill  Sep- 
Jrant;/^  o&car  particiilai^y  wanted  in  the  Iris^ 
TteatTGSy)  aml'Was  in  ttiui  capacity  very  serviceable^ 

^         both 


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Googk 


tx)i£bii  regard  to  k^ptng  tte  4ifi^otiin  «df  thi 
Stagey  the  regularity  o£iehear6aIS)  i&ej  &e.   fiai^ii^ 
uras '  aheaj^  idle  in  itbese  matters  ;*  ^aiid  4!dt  beii% 
«o  intelltgent  as  Macklin^  he  readily  oonmrittcd 
them  to  his '  supervtsal,  always . .  taking  ^are  iit^ 
.ihc  spifit  of  rejhfinaHdn  should^  dWL  shofct  of  tlw 
sfirit kjf  revolution.  .    .  -.  .\  >^ 

•   .   ..  .       .         .   .   '         ,      .•       ■. //  .,:  .      ..     .  i:  .. 

Oft  Macklin?s  return  to  Ehgltii^  in  1767,  lit 
broHght  out)  toiir^rds  thei  latter  endiof  ^t  teafiMf 
At Cdrent.  Garden* Theatre, ;  hislastloew^ Faroi^irf* 
.V  The  Truc-Bi^fii  Irishman,^  under  tlieinew  tiide 
iOf  ^*  The  Irish  Tine  Lady  f  biit  the  Humour  of 
this.|Mcee  being. entirely  local,  (as  vehaTeibefore 
obseiVed,)  it. met  with  »i  cold. a; reception,  that  it-, 
was  withdrawn  after  the  first  'night.     Macklin 
Jivmself  was  sf>  satisfied  with -the  justice  of;  this, 
that  he  isaid,  in  his  strong  manner,  "  Sir,   I  be- 
lieve the  audience  are  right— Thew^s  a  gecgr^ph^ 
in  humour  as  well  a&  in  morakp  wMch  I  bad  not 
previously  coiisidiered;'''  j        :*      ^ 

At  this  juncture  i  ihire  was  3.  division  ammigat 
the  numerous  Managers  of  Covent  Garden  The* 
atre,  owing,  it  was  said,  to  the  assumed  authority 
of  Mr.  Colman;  and  as  itiwias  next  to  an  imposr 
aibility  for  a  man  of  Macklifi's  bustling  spirit  to 
i^miin  auv  unconcerned  speotator^  he  yMed  ihc 
party  in  opposition  to  Colman.  Theconsequcttce 
of  this  was,  a  paper  war  amongst  ihc  critics,  and 
V  a  chancery- 


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got  involved^  in  the^Utt^r,  :^i^h  JiC:  etttertd  iirto 
Wth  as  much  seemiag  spirit  apd  ;^^<r*ty,fM  If  he : 
had  hetn  the  00U$itor  iMtead^jf  the  elieivt*  * 

r  This  suit,  accordiog'toithe  tt^Valcu;^l<»h^f  the 
law,  coatmued  for  several  ye^s;  and  4s  MadkKn 
always  though  he  undi^rstpod  w^tiatevet  Im^iness 
ht  WAS  engaged  ia  better  thfuii  auyonejel^  he^ 
undertook  himself  to  ans\7er  all  his  bil.lb  h^  fihaSo^f 
eery ;  and  his  method  partook  of  his  usual  origi- 
JVdky*  ^  ■••• 

"Wliaicver  the  had  a  bill  to  ansM^jWi  pr  aftyotKor. 
Idw  question  to  state  to  his  3d|iQit6r/he  givt^no'^ 
tLcottp  his  fa,«9ily  to  havea  cOiisUnt  fire  kept  Up. 
in  his^tiidy,i  ^n4  n6t  to  be  ipterr^ted^  ion  any) 
account  whatsoever,  till  such  time  as  he  i^hould, 
choose  to  make  himself  visibie.<^  He  accordingly; 
oiv  the  days  of  commeticjng  business,  lock'edhhn- 
self  up  in  this  chamber^  wheije  ^s.'tictuals^  Uoen,; 
with  every  convenience  he  wanted,  were  alji  sfnti 
^  in  to  hij^  in  dumb  shew:  Heve  he  l^kewise^  slept ;^ 
^d  whenever  a  thought  struck  him  in  the  night, 
he  was  up  at  his  desk  with  all  the  ardour  and  9tlf^ 
ig^p^ifta^Ce  of  a  poet  writings  for  immortality,     v 

■•.V  ,  ,  .  X         . 

.,;3^e  have  seAi  ijeveral  of  tlies^  bills>  aqd,  to  do^ 

the  Solicitor- justice,  they  did  not  disgmce  the 

^ofipssion  by  an  improper  bre^tjf.    The  cause?  of 

,^  ;  complaint 


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oDitiplafiit  we  ttiMt  Mnfe^  ta  he  mmerms,  tctiS 
some  of  tto6tn-v6ry  ^Wvdtoiw;  buCthey  were  atf> 
sM  Bcwrn-witfe^  «!i«iracci!Btoined  letigtH  zv^  prd^ 
mty^  "  |««e«6iiriwg  to  t4le  tired-  eye^  iminy  i  shteef 
of  endless  repetition,"  So  that  Macklin's  rusticor 
tioa  i^'Ile  Mftself  ^Hbd  rt)v90nietimes  contiimed 
for  a^  month  op  six  week».  He  tJicit*  came  out  in* 
the  wortd,  dering  Ws^  acquaintanee^  ^th  the; 
pjioc^is  and  tffbcts  oi^his  fti«e*r»r«(m^.  taVtfhenext* 
biMramyedi 

After  a  wearisome  contest  of  many  years,  whidt 
must  have  interrupted  him  greatly  jn  uie  course 
dfttli^pttilef^on)  he  however  ohteined  his  cause? — 
a^  victopy?  if»fcich^  takiiig  in  Hi»  losfe  of  timej  unea?** 
siues^i  Acs  &e;  lefc  hte  little  better  tftan  an  empty* 
bcwt)  anda^ftrftsfememoml',  **  that  ift  being  too* 
busyy  tliere  is^  some  dianget.  •• 

4 

AttcHittfee  year  1770,.  he  >etumed^  again  to*  Ire- 

lundi;  aWd  as  MSs»  Yoimge  (the  latei^rs;  Jb^e^ 
Had  aft  engagement  at  the  same  TKeatrt,  he' 
tfftHJ^t^  this-  a  fhv<*ufable  opportunity  (iii  order 
to  a?mir  himself  of  her  tefents)  tobrmg-  f&rward^. 
bis^  **  True^Borfr  Scotchman.  '*  Miss  Yoj^ge  had* 
been*  tften  about  two  years  at  Erury  liane  Tliest- 
Ire,  and  had,  from  the  first  outset,  shewn  that 
groins  fbr  her  prWf&mon  which  aftetvi^ards  r6se 
m  sO'distlnguisHtd^  at  height;  ,  Mafekfin  szxr  hfet^ 
teleiiW  witfcJ^paittteVs*eyc>  and;  aiJwe  att,  ayhW 
;  ,  1  often 


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CHARLES  MAC&LIN.  S73 

bften  said,  '*  felt  the  harmony  and  variety  of  her 
tones:"  he  accordingly,  on  their  first  landing  in 
Ireland,  recommended  the  study  oi  Lady  Rodolpha 
ittmierco^r/ to.her  attention,  and  undertook  him- 
self to  be  her  tutor.  5 

An  offer  of.  this  kind,  coming  from  a  noan  of 
verj  harsh  and  iron  manners,  attended  with  such 
a  well-known  attachment  to  his  own  opinions, 
few  rising  actresses  would  have  accepted  of;  but 
Miss  Younge  had  the  good  sense  to  know  the  use 
ofsuch  a  preceptor;  and  though  sheliad  fully  cal- 
culated on  the  drudgery  she  must  undergo,  she 
was  determined  on  the  triaL  She  considered  the 
part  would  not  only  be  a  nactlty  in  tlie  line  of 
her  profession,  but  that,  in  the  many  interviews 
with  a  man  of  Macklin's  long  habits  and  observft- 
tions  on  the  Stage,  much  could  be  carried  to  the 
account  of  general  iftjprovement* 

With  these  views  she  accepted  the  part,  and 
Macklin  Assumed  the  robes  of  theatrical  authority. 
The  first  difficulty  she  bad  to.  encounter  witli^  was 
t|ie  pronunciation  of  Xh^  Scotch  dialect:  she  had 
neyer  |)een  }\\  Scotland  herself;,  and  though. her 
preceptor.  ba4  Veen  often  there,  and  had  picked 
upspmcjof  the  prominent  idioms  of  the  language, 
hj?.  was  'Vfw^f^  cpn5J4er^^!  by  t|ie  natives  as  a  gpod 
ScotchpiajH^;  .^tj>pugh,  yi^f^i^f{  Jjiajd  :Substi$^ted  for 


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k7i  ««6biiis  OP 

Sfebtch,  was  hbt  ftnly  ilway^a^cctpted,  but  always 
applauded  as  such  by  an  English  audience. 

To  acc^ount  for  this  is  not  difficult.  In  carica- 
ture, we  do  not  want  the  immediate  likeness,  but 
the  exaggeration  of  a  likeness.  This  he  had  ob- 
tain^ to  fl  certain  degree;  and  without  knowing 
that  this  was  all  that  he  had  obtained,  hefdtjiim^ 
w//p»erfectiy  mwter  of  the  language,  and  under- 
took to  teitch  it  with  all  the  authority  of  a  con- 
-  H^sifeur. 

But  it  is  the  peculiar  quality  of  genius,  like  the 
hand  of  Midas,  to  turh  every  thing  it  touches  into, 
gold.  Miss  Younge  saw  enough  in  Macklin's  man- 
ner for  her  talents  to  work  upon ;  and  she  so  im- 
proved it  by  hjfcr  natural  taste,  and  the  strength  of 
hier  observation,  that  in  a  little  time  she  threw  her 

master  into  the  batk  ground. 

•  "  Thus  6ld  Romano  bow'd  to  Raphael's  fame, 
**  And  pupil  to  the  youth  he  taught  became." 

In  short,  by  her  Very  skilfdl  tnattag«n«nt  bf 
this  charactef,  she  so  looked,  mored,  and  spoke 
ttrolarigt'iage  of  Lady  RodOlpha,  that  the  best 
jtidges  of  Seotch  mannfers  gave  her  the  rtiost  un- 
bounded a|)plause.  It  wte,  through  the  ^^hole 
ctitibe  of  hefr  thfe^tricil  l^fe,  one  of  her  finest  pet- 
%rinfettiees:  and  Whefn  Htie  dbftsider  tfce  ^!&trenie 
'clrifictflty  of  speaking  a  language  so  forfeign  to 
her  own,  through  the  leugth  of  five  acts,  accom* 

panied 


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CHAELE8   HACKLIK*  ^75 

panied  by  manners  and  dq)ortmeiit  equally  nov^ 
it  must  produce  an  additional  sigh  of  regret,  to 
think  that  tliis  celebrated  Actress  is  now  no  more. 

With  the  assistance  of  two  such  performers  as 
Macklin  and  Miss  Younge,  the  season  was  un- 
commonly profitable.  The  former  came  out  in 
all  his  principal  parts ;  such  as  Sir  Gilbert  Wi^ngle, 
Sir  Francis  Wronghead,  Sir  Pertinax  Mac  Syco- 
phant.  Shy  lock,  &c,  whilst  the  latter  distinguished 
herself  in  Lady  Townly,  Lady  Rodolpha,  Portia, 
&c.  beside  an  infinite  number  of  tragic  and  comic 
characters,  in  which  she  stood  totally  dependent 
on  her  own  abilities. 

We  are  to  number  amongst  the  curiosities  of 
this  period,  the  appearance  of  Mr,  O'Keefe  (the 
present  voluminous  dramatic  writer)  as  an  Actor: 
but  he  seems  to  have  come  forward  with  no  other 
distinctions  than  one  of  the  common  dramatis  per-- 
some;  and  even  in  this  list  we  see  him  stand  first  for 
Gmtiano,  in  the  Merchant  of  Venice ;  and  speed- 
ily after  in  Filch,  in  The  Beggar's  Opera;  Fribble, 
in  Miss  in  her  Teens;  Jessamy,.  in  Lionel  and 
Clarissa;  and  Squire  Richard,  in  Tlie  Provokecl 
Husband,  or  Journey  to  London. 

He  had  been  an  Actor,  we  believe,  for  some 
little  time  befqre  this,  but  of  so  little  consequence, 
that,  although  married  to  the  Manager*s  daugh- 

T  2  ter. 


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275  KIMOIRS   0^ 

^  tcr,  he  was  cast  for  those  characters  more  prd 
speciali  gratia^  than  from  any  particular  merit* 
O'Keefe  has  no  reason  to  blush  at  this  remark, 
"  non  omnia  possumus  omnes,**  Shakespeare  him- 
self was  not,  perhaps,  a  better  Actor — and  happy 
for  mankind  that  he  was  not;  for  had  he  possessed 
talents  to  stand  high  in  the  profession  he  had 
chosen,  Poetry  and  Morality  had  lost  one  of  its 
brightest  ornaments.  Thus,  to  compare  small 
things  with  great^  had  O'Keefe  risen  to  any  con- 
siderable rank  either  in  the  sock  or  buskijn,  "  the 
world  had  wanted  many  an  idle  song,''  and  **  pre- 
cious foolery"  a  most  able  and  successful  advo- 
cate, ' 

To  criticise  this  Author  bv  the  rigidity  of  dra- 
matic laws  would  be  unfair,  as  his  writings  have 
assumed  no  imitations  from  rules,  ancient  or  mo- 
dern ;  they  arfe  calculated  to  make  people  laughy 
and  they  have  fully  answered  that  effect.  In- 
deed, they  are  for  the  most  part  of  such  a  nature 
as  to  set  all  criticism  at  defiance-*-they  serve  as  a 
"barometer  to  the  spirits  without  the  aid  of  much 
judgment— and  some  parts  of  their  humour  are 
«o  dependent  on  the  congenial  humour  of  the  Ac- 
tor, that  we  suppose  they  could  not  be  written 
for  him,  but  only  rehearsed  between  the  Author 
and  Actor,  so  as  to  give  the  latter  a  hint  for  the 
exercise  of  his  fancy.  What  we  particularly  atl-^ 
lude  to,  are  the  words  and  chorusses  af  skome  of 
I  his 


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-    CHARLES   MAClLLIK.  S77 

Hfi  songs,  &c  for  these  being  of  no  language,  can* 
not  be  so  well  communicated  as  by  sounds. 

Yet,  with  this  species  of  talent,  has  O'Keefc^ 
gladdened  the  hearts  of  his  auditors  for  near  thir- 
ty years,'  and  K^  jseiit  them  laughing  to  theit 
beds"— 'and  all  this  he  has  done  in  the  hearing 
of  good  scholars,  good  writers,  and  good  critics. 
He  has  often  done  more— he  has  been  the  con- 
stant advocate  for  virtue;  and  in  many  of  his  lit- 
tle pieces,  he  has  given  sketches  of  character, 
whiqh,  though  unfinished,  can  boast  of  much  ori^ 
ginality^  some  passages  that  warm  and  meliorate 
the  heart,  and  others  which  mark  no  mean  atten^ 
tion  to  life  and  mannerst 

If  he  has  not,  thdifore,  equalled  many  of  our 
dramatic  writers  in  genius^  he  has  escaped  their 
vices ;  if  he  has  not  shewn  as  much  science  of  the 
art,  he,  is  freed  from  their  prosaic  drowsiness. 
He  is  constantly  looking  for /w«  and  broad  humor^ 
wluch  are  chiefly  to  be  found  in  the  middle  and 
lower  classes  of  life,  and  he  is  generally  success^ 
ful:  he  is,  therefore,  bounded  by  no  dramatic 
laws;  and  if  he  keeps  the  laugh  up  in  this  view, 
he  ij*  free  from  censure.  The  manners  of  tiie 
middling  and  lower  classes  of  life,  have  been  air 
ways  tdo  much  neglected  by  our  modern  drama- 
tic writers,  who  do  this,  as  Mr.  Bayes  says,  "  to 
$hew  their  breeding^"  but  such  should  consider 

T  3  that, 


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S78  MEMOIRS   OF 

that,  although  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  liave  their 
peculiai'  vices  and  virtues,  the  general  character 
of  man  is  best  distinguished  where  mature  is  less 
adulterated'-^wherc  the  heart  and  tongue  have^ 
full  play,  and  consequently  have  less  incitement 
to  flattery,  lying,  and  hypocrisy* 

Inthq  extensive  list  of  dramatic  writers,  per- 
haps no  one  can  be  better  ^ompared  to  Mr. 
O'Kedfe  than  the  celebrated  Tom  D'lJrfey,  who 
wrote  in  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  The  latter*^ 
pieces  certainly  do  not  boast  the  purity  of  the 
former,  as,  though  the  Author  has  not  been  dead 
above  seventy  years^  there  is  not  one  of  l^s  dr^ 
matic  works  entirely  fit  fbr  modem  representa- 
tion f  but  this  is  owing  to  the  corruption  of  the 
age  he  lived  in,  when  the  Access  of  a  ip^ay  de- 
pended on  this  mode  of  writing— ^otherwise  (and 
we  have  it  from  thae  pen  of  Addison)  "  there 
could  not  be  a  more  cheerful,  honest,  ^ood- 
natur^d  mttn."  But  the  coriiparisdn  m^  ht 
further  extended  by  recurring  to  the  following 
particulars. 

DIJrfey  wote   tkiriy-bne         0»Ki9«fd,    we  "htWhYty    faak 

plays,  molt  ofinfl)(ch^ei*e  well  written  t^iiit/^^'oc  fieees^  •a^oftt 

received  by  the  public,  atid  of    which  hftve  been  well  re- 

often  honoured  with  the  pre-  ceived  by  the  public,  and  eq'ual- 

sence  of  the  King  and  Court  ly  honoured  by  the  presence  pt 

the  King  and  JQ^I. ' 
D'Urfey  .  Q-Keefe 


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CHAR^-IJS   MACI^LIN. 


.8^9 


DIJrfey  first  brought  Dog- 
get  to  public  notice  by  his  ad- 
mirable acting  of  a  part  in- 
^<  The  Marriage  Hatpr  Match- 

"  ThQse  who  did  uoit  go  to 
a  Comedy  to  be  grave  (says 
the  Ouardian)  found  aijuple 
food  for  mirth  in  D'Urfey's 
pieces." 

D'Urfey,  beside  his  drama- 
tic works,  wrote  several  popu- 
Uur  songs. 

Tom  had  the  friendship  and 
patronise  of  Charles  II.  and 
**  I  Biyself  (says  the  Author 
of  ijtkt  Gnardiaa)  retoemh^r 
tbe^King  Je^ng  mkon  P'Ur- 
fe/s  sbo^jWer  in«e  Aan  pncc, 
humming  over  a  9ong  with 
him." 

D'Urfey  had  a  benefit  night 
lo  crawn  his  taboMrs  in  the 
dranM^ic  vinpyard,  which 
great^  added  to  the  comforts 
of  his  old  age. 


"  DUrfey,*^  says  his  old 
friend  the  Guardian,  *^  hod 
,the  aweot  iif  enriching  out  1ai>- 
jgotlge  wkh  ft  muUit^de  of 
rhiaaes,  mi  bringing  words 
together,  which,  withoyt  his 
good  oflSceSlpiwuld  never  have 
been 


0/K^e  Qjjwed  a  rich  vein 
of  hu;por  for  Edwin ;  who  pro- 
bably could  not  otherwise  ^p 
such  a  height  amoi^t  th/e  stpck 
Usit  oif  actii^  pilots  befo];e  his 
time. 

To  bff  graj:e  at  "  The  Soa- 
in-Law,"  "  Th^  Agreeably 
Surptbe,"  "  Dead  Alive,"  &c^ 
&c.  mi;^  exceeid  all  power  of. 
fece. 

Soha&O'^^e. 


0*Kee^  has  ha4  tjie  patro- 
nage of  his  SU>yal  Big^i^  the 
Prinze  of  Walc;^,  who  %ewi^e 
has  given  him  pernussipa  \o 
dedicate  his  works  to  him* 


The  public  has  recently  paid 
the  9Amo  liisitinction  tQ  Miv 
O'Keefe,  whi(;^  we  Jiope,  with 
wkf  t  he  has  ajreiidy  cheerfuUy 
earned,  will  be  fully  suflScient  for 
th^t  d^y  when  n^ental  as  well  as 
corporeal  faculties  want  repose. 

Admitting  the  fun  extent  of 
this  meiit,  we  believe  Mr. 
O'Keefe  cwk  M  le^st  madch 
him,  for  which  we  refer  to 
"  Jj^go,*'  ?^d  a  great  variety 
of  his  other  dr,amatic  charac* 
ters, 

Whatewr 


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280 


MEMOIRS   OF 


been  acquainted  with  one  ano- 
ther so  long  as  it  had  been  a^ 
tongue." 

In  the  moral  character  of 
D'Urfey's  pieces,  this  parallel 
wiH  run  no  further,  as  out  of 
the  thirty-one  plays  he  brought 
forward,  not  one  is  to  be  found 
on>  the  preseht  stock  list  of  any 
Theatre :  nor  is  this  to  be  at- 
tributed to  the  obsoleteness  of  _ 
langu^e  or  character,  (as  the 
Author  only  died  in  the  year 
1723,)  but  to  the  viciousness  of 
the  Court  he  first  took  root  in, 
and  which  banished  almost  all 
decency  and  decorum  from 
the  Stage. 


Whatever  are  the  defects  of 
0*Keefe's  pieces,  they  cannot^ 
be  charged  with  either  immov 
rality,  or  indecency — no  man 
has  succeeded  in  the  broad 
laugh  more  inoffensively — ^he 
might  at  times  be  trivial^  but 
he  is  sel^pm  or  never  coarse; 
and  though  many  of  his  plays 
have  not  the  seeds  of  longevity 
in  theni,  his  "  Wild  Oats,'' 
"  Son-in-Law,"  "  Poor  Sol- 
dier," &c.  possess  that  simpji* 
city  of  humor,  and  moral  im- 
pression, that  it  must  be  mor« 
the  neglect  of  the  times  than 
their  demerit,  if  they  are  not 
long  found  in  the  course  of  re* 
presentation. 


So  much  for  O'Keefe;  an  Author  who  has  con- 
tributed too  long  to  the  amusement  of  the  public, 
to  be  omitted  in  the  dramStic  history  of  his  times. 

After  Macklin  had  exhausted,  in  a  great  degree, 
the  novelty  of  his  True-Born  Scotchman  at  Smock 
Alley,  he  again  veered  alxH\t  to  Crow  Sitredb 
Theatre,  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Dawson; 
an  inferior  Actor,  in  p6int  of  theatrical  merit;  but 
a  man  who  h^d  accumulated  some  money,  had 
much  assiduity,  and  possessed  the  trust  and  con- 
fidence of  his  brother  performers. 

With 


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CHARLES   IfAC&LIN.  SSI 

With  him  he  continued,  not  more  than  a  season, 
with  some  kind  of  success — but  not  enough  to 
satisfy  his  own  fame,  which  was  ahvays  impelled 
by  a  love  of  vanity.  He  accordingly,  at  the  end 
of  his  engagement,  quitted,  seemingly,  the  Irish 
Theatres  for  ever,  and  came  over  to  England— 
not  only  to  obtain  a  permanent  situation,  but  to 
open  a  scene  of  professional  business,  perhaps  un* 
-equalled  in  the  annals  of  the  drama* 

Macklin  was  now,  by  his  own  account,  seventy* 
three  years  of  age,  (but  by  very  strong  circum- 
stance's, which  we  have  already  stated,  eighty^ 
ihreCy)  at  either  of  which  periods  men  seldom  ar- 
rive ;  and  when  they  do,  generally  dedicate  the 
few  remaining  years  allotted  them,  to  repose  and 
retirement.  But  our  veteran  was  not  of  this  com-* 
plexion.  By  nature  strong,  healthy,  and  vigo*- 
rous,  he  looked  to  no  common  calculations  of 
3ife ;  and  as  men  who  feel  no  approximations 
to  illness  or  decay,  look  more  forward,  Mgcklin 
not  only  felt  the  ardour  of  profession  as  sti-oifjg  as 
•ever,  but  adverted  to  new  expei  iments ;  e^J^qrlt 
ments  not  founded  merely  on  greater  acqni&Uip'iis 
of  science,  and  long  observation' i^  tlie  paitS  bft 
i\^as  in  possession  of-rbut  on  the  dignity,  )SubU-, 
mity,  and  pathos  of  tragic  charact^er.  In  short, 
having  long  convinced  the*  town  of  his  abilities  , 
in  a  certain /line  of  performafice,  he  >Y0uld.iJ0\y 
come  fonvai'd  in  aU  the  pomp  of  Imgeri^l  Tragedy  j 
'  ^         and 


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£4£  H£HOIR8   OF 

aikd  nothing  lew  thmx  Richard,  Macbeth,  and 
Othclb,  vere  to  be  the  heralds  oflm  new  honcmi^ 

When  he  first  announced  his  design,  the  public 
had  vaaions  opinimis  of  the  cause  pfit,  Sanw, 
for  a  time,  looked  upon  it  as  a  mere  repwt,  to 
exhibit  the  vanity  and  dotage  of  the  Ac*or^-^K>thers, 
tliat  the  Manager  only  made  use  of  him  9^  a  ^^re 
novelty  to  draw  a  few  houses— aad  others,  to  au 
interested  view  in  the  Performer  himself,  to  make 
a  last  efGort  on  the  credulity  of  the  public.  But 
to  those  who  knew  Macklin  well,  none  of  the$e 
causes  could  in  justice  be  ascribed  to  hina.  He 
was  ever,  it  is  true,  more  or  less  the  dupe  of  his 
own  vanity ;  but  as  he  was  never  the  slav«  of  mo- 
ney^ so  he  it^ould  not  knowingly  be  the  fiiaye  of 
any  Manager  for  this  purpose.  The  &ct  was,  it 
was  no  new  idea  thfn  arising  from  existing  cir- 
cumstances— it  was  an  early  and  settled  opioio« 
of  bis  owrxy  that  he  was  competent  to  ilioae  parts; 
and  as  a  proof  ^f  this,  he  broke  off  as  beiflig  ^>*^ 
of  tlie  joint  Managers  of  Grow  Stareet  Theatre,  so 
far  back  as  the  year  1757,  because  he  was  jaot  per- 
mitted to  play  those  characters  u^  tunn  with  Barry  : 
he  likewise  actually  performed  themia  aUthe  rtr^lr 
ling  companies  m  which  he  could  comniaBd  a 
cast  of  parts  ;  and  to  tliese  three  charaqters  (and 
we  have  it  from  his  own  authority)  he  added  that 
of  Hamlet,  which  he  repeatedly  performed  at  Brisr 
tol  near  forty  yec^rs  before  this  period,  and^cm  *hc 

same 


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CHARLES  AiACKLIM.  883 

same  nights  gcjierally  figured  a^vay  as  Harlequia 
in  the  Pantomime. 

So  tliat  this  was  no  new  idea,  but  a  revival  of 
jjast  performances:  and  as  he  thought  himself 
once  favourably  and  justly  received  in  those  cha- 
racters,  and  made  no  calculation  for  the  lapse  of 
years,  he  imagined,  once  a  theatrical  hero,  and 
eoer  a  theatrical  hero.  He  therefore,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  season  of  1772,  made  his  engagements 
with  the  Manager  of  Co  vent  Garden  Theatre,  and 
the  33d  of  October  in  the  same  year  was  announ* 
ced  for  his  performance  of  Macbeth. 

Of  the  petty  wrangles,  riots,  and  lawsuits, 
which  accompanied  this  attempt,  the  public  have 
been  long  since  in  possesion ;  we  shall  therefore 
only  observe,  that  whatever  his  merits  as  an  Ac- 
tor might  have  been,  he  was  very  ill  treated  by  a 
party  raised  against  him,  and  that  he  repaid  that 
itl  treatment  by  an  act  of  generosity,  when  he 
4iad  his  enemies  at  his  feet,  which  reflects  great 
credit  cm  his  memory.  The  manner,  however, 
an  whach  hl3  played  this  character  deserves  to  be 
noticed ;  not  only  as  some  curiosity  to  the  rising 
generation,  but  as  it  records  an  a)ra  of  improve* 
ihent  in  ihe  interior  arrangement  of  the  Stage. 

.  Previously  to  this  period,  Alacbeth  used  to  bp 
dressed  in  a  suit  of  scarlet  and  gold,  a  tail  wi^  &c. 

ia 


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iE34  MEMOIRS   OF 

in  every  respect  like  a  modern  military  ofiScer.  Gar-» 
rick  always  played  it  in  this  manner;  and  the  fine 
picture  of  him  and  Mrs.  Pritchard,  in  Macbeth 
and  Lady  Macbeth,  after  the  murder,  painted 
by  ZoiFani,  exhibits  him  in  this  dress.  Barry 
and  Smith  dressed  it  in  a  similar  manner;  and  it 
long  stood  as  the  general  costume  of  the  stage* 
Macklin,  however,  whose  eye  and  mind  were 
ever  intent  on  his  profession,  saw  the  absurdity 
of  exhibiting  a  Scotch  character,  existing  many 
years  before  the  Norman  Conquest,  in  this  man- 
ner, and  therefore  very  properly  abandoned  it  for 
the  old  Caledoniaa  habit.  He  shewed  the  same 
attention  to  the  subordinate  characters,  as  well 
^s  to  the  scenes,  decorations,  music,  and  other 
ineidental  parts  of  the  performance. 

So.  far  was  useful  reformation  acknowledged  as 
fiuch,..and  has  ever  since  become  general,  notour 
ly  on  the  London  boards,  but  in  all  the  provin^^ 
cial  and  country  Theatres.  .  Of  his  performance, 
we  cannot  give  the .  same  eulogium.  His  figure 
(even  from  his  boyish,  days)  was. never  calculated 
to  impress  the  character  of  a  dignified  warrior ; 
and  in  his  first  scene,  when  the  audicn<:;e  saw,  z 
clumsy  old  man,  who  looked  more  like  a  Scotch 
Piper  than  a  Geneiral  and  Prince  of, the. Blood, 
i  stumping  down  the.  Stage,  at  the  head  of  a  sup- 
posed conquering  army,  **  commanding  a  halt 
upon  the  heath,"  they  felt  it  underan  impression 

*     .        of 


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CHARLES   MACKLllf*  i^S 

6f  absurdity  and  ridicule.  His  address  t6  the 
witches,  and  his  reflections  on  tlieir  prophecies, 
howeter,  were  given  with  such  a  knowledge  of  the 
character  as  to  redeem  the  first  impression ;  and  his 
subsequent  interview  with  Lady  Macbeth  was  very 
much  in  the  spirit  of  the  author;  but  when  h« 
.  came  to  the  dagger  scene,  which  requires  both  at 
marking  eye,  as  well  as  grace  of-action,  he  failed, 
at  least  in  representation. 

In  his  clamour  against  the  Kiifg's  death,  and 
his  hypocrisy  in  concealing  it,  he  very  much  ar- 
rested the  attention  of  the  audience,  as  he  like- 
wise did  in  his  interview  with  the  three  murderers. 
In  the  banquet  scene  he  failed — he  wanted  both 
the  dignity  of  hospitality,  and  those  quick  and 
reiterated  impressions  of  fear  which  Macbeth 
should  have  on  seeing  Banquo's  ghost.  In  many 
passages  of  the  fourth  and  fifth  acts,  he  had  alter- 
nate merits  and  defects.  Of  the  former  may  be 
classed  his  reply  to  the  messenger  who  tells  him 
that  he  thought  he  saw  Birnam  Wood  move  to^ 
wards  him: 

——"  If  thou  speak'st  fake, 
.  Upon  the  nexjt  tree  shalt  thou  hang  alive 
.    'Till  famine  cling  thee:  if  thy  speech  be  true, 
I  care  not  if  thoii  dost  for  me  as  much.*' 

The  first  part  of  this  speech  was  delivered  In  a  tan<i 
and  look  of  such  terrible  menace  as  almost  petri-^ 
fied  the  audience;  wliilein  the  last  line  he  felHn- 


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S88  MEMOIRS  \)P 

to  su(ih  an  air  of  despondency,  ajs  shewed  the  ef- 
fect ^of  contrast  in  a  most  masterly  manner.  In 
short,  this  little  speech  might  be  classed  amongst 
the  elief  d'omvres  of  general  acting,  and  as  such 
was  applauded  by  the  whole  of  the  audience.    * 

His  performance,  on  the  whole,  though  there 
were  passages  that  shewed  the  force  of  observa- 
tion, and  a  sound  judgment,  may  be  classed 
more  under  the  head  of  a  lecture  on  the  part,  than  a 
theatrical  representation.  The  scene  demanded 
the  embodying  of  the  character;  and  he  was  con- 
stantly giving  the  Author,*  which,  though  he  often 
did  very  judiciously,  it  still  was  not  sufficiently 
dramatic. 

To  speak  candidly  of  this  performance,  it  was 
lucky  (at  least  for  the  fame  6f  Macklin)  that  it 
was  frustrated  in  his  firat  attempt.  Had  he  been 
permitlted  to  go  quietly  on,  his  vanity  would  have 
imputed  the  indulgence  of  the  audience  (or  the 
love  of  novelty  which  might  have  aided  that  in- 
dulgence) to  superior  abilities,  and  he  would  have 
gone  through  the  whole  of  his  design,  by  which 
he  would  have  lost  in  a  great  degree  (at  least 
with  the  rising  generation)  those  laurels  which, 
in  other  walks  of  his  profession,  he  had  so  long 
and  honourably  earned. 

* ,  'j 

During  this  period,  much  theatrical  wliisper, 

fwid  green-room  report,  were  afloat  relative  to  the 

2  ^    spleen 


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CHAHLES   MACKLIN.  2S7 

^pleai  and  industry  of  Macklin's  enemies*     It  was 
said  Garrick  was  in  this  list,  and  that  he  was  jea- 
lous of  being  obtruded  upon  in  those  parts  iu 
which  he  had  so  long  stood  without  a  competitor; 
and  that  Reddish  (a  performer  of  some  eminence 
then  at  Drury-Lahe  Theatre)   actually  refused 
paying  a  fine  imposed  on  him  for  non-attendance 
of  his  duty  by  the  Deputy  Manager,   "  because 
he  was  with  Mr.  Garrick  upon  this   business." 
That  such  an  Actor  as  Garrick  should  be  jealous 
of  such  an  Actor  as  Macklin  in  Macbeth,  &c* 
exceeds  all  power  of  belief;  but  that  he  might  not 
like  such  a  man  as  Macklin,  or  any  other  man  of 
«uch  high  character  on  the  Stage,  and  of  so  rest- 
less atid  enterprising  a  temper,  offering  improve* 
menfs  ill  the  dresses,  scenery,  music,  and  readings, 
in  such  parts  as  he  (Garrick)  was  celebrated  for, 
may  not  be  so  incredible.    In  many  things  of 
less  nt)torret3r,  he  was  observed  by  the  critics  of 
his  day,  to  be  tremblingly  alive  to  fame,  and  in 
circumstances  where  he  could  not  possibly  dread 
any  degree  of  rivalship ;  such  as  generally  select- 
mg  persons  of  the  moat  modiocre  talents  to  play 
in  thfe  sartie  scene,  with  him,  in  order  to  hold  out 
to  the  audience,  in  a  more  obvious  degree,  the 
immente  difference  of  talents.  This  the  performers 
'  themsfelves  frequently  felt,  apd,  in  the  language 
ofCato,  exclaimed,  "  Painful  pre-eminence  !'* 

'     Foote  believed  the  report  of  Garrick's  jealousy, 
and  used  to  tell  many  stories,  and  particularly  the 

following, 


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288  MEM0IS8   OF 

following,  in  confirmation  of  this  being  Hs  gene' 
lal  temper. 

At  the  time  Foote  was  preparing  his  puppet-shev^ 
at  the  Haymarket  Theatre,  he  enjoined  all  those 
^  concerned  to  keep  it  a  profound  secret;  other  than 
to  circulate  a  whi3per,  that  something  very  novel 
was  about  to  be  produced.  Garrick,  who,  ac- 
cording, to  Murphy,  seemed  to  live  in  a  whis- 
pering  gallery^  soon  heard  this  report,  and  was 
on  tip- toe  to  get  at  the  secret;  his  emissaries 
were  constantly  about  the  Green  Room  at  the 
Haymarket,  but  to  no  purpose.  At  last,  Foote, 
taking  compassion  of  his  uneasiness,  told  him, 
y  if  he  would  dine  with  him  on  such  a  day, 
he  should  know  all."  Garrick  attended  on 
the  day  appointed  with  great  impatience,  when, 
soon  after  dinner,  Foote  told  him,  **  it  was  a  per- 
former of  most  singular  talents  which  he  was 
going  to  introduce  on  the  Stage,  who  was  to  do 
every  thing  in  a  new  way.'*  *^  AYhat's  his  name?'* 
says  Garrick,  with  some  surprise.  ^*  That  I'm 
not  at  liberty  to  mention  yet;  but  he*s  a  near  re- 
lation of  your  old  friend  Dr.  Birch.  Will  you  be 
introduced  to  him  ?  ,  He  is  now,  I  understand,  in 
my  study.  But  ask .  him  no  questions^  for  he'll 
make  you  na  answers.**  Garrick  bowed  compli- 
ance; and  John,  who  previously  had  his  cue, 
was  ordered  to  introduce  the  young  Roscius,  who 
soon  returned  with  a  large  well-dressed  Punch  in 
his  arms."  Ah!"  (said  Garrick,  a  good  deal  re- 
lieved 


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Ikyed  ffonk^  his  fears^j^]^  *'  ,npw  I  uiider^tand  you— 
Wh.at,  4  Dugpet-sjjew,  I. suppose. **;^''' Nothing 
more  or  less.' —*'  Well,  but,' —rejoined  Garrick, 
**  let  me  see — (still  uneasy.) — Wliat  are  these  pup- 
pets.rto/.^o?'' — **  Why,;  d— mn  jt,  Dayid,"  says 
Eqot^'  Qciokijig  him  fujl  in  the  fac^,)  "  you  are 
not J^.pus  of  PwwA  already  r  Come,  .part. the  n- 
"p^fs^  Jphij^  a^  ]t  ajii  deteripined  to  have  no  noble 
b^qd^ ^Hi^  ?^y  house. *' ,  Here  'Pencil  \  was  re- 
m^n^^jcji^j.and  Ga;;rick  felt  the.  laugh  of  tlie  coih^ 

,  Bi^l;,  tp  ret^f^Ur  tc}  lylacklin^    Tnough  foiled  in 

l^^al^^ra^t^  at  a  j)ew,lirie.of  acting,,  neither  ad- 

v^iKjIp^,,  age,    or  ^atiepiporary/ disappointment, 

i;o*^ld  -fih^Jc  the  ardour'  of,  profession.      Iflie 

could  not  play  j^qhard  or  Magbeth  to  any  advau- 

tage,  Shylock  was  exclusively  his  own,   beside  a 

.|iuipbj?f[/);^^Q^her  c^araqters,  where  he  bad  few 

.condjpe^tit^^^a^d  no  superior.    He  had  to  console. 

himself,  tp^  under  his.  late  cjlsappointment,    that 

the  Manager  Ipst  no  money  by  nim,  (the  house 

be;ng  crowded  every  night  he  appeared,)  as  well 

.  as  his  leaving  to  the  Stage  several  improvements  ia 

.  th^  njiiiior  arrangements,  \vhich  have  been  since 

Jlflt.^o  apprpprigite,  that  they  Iiave  been  continued 

to  ibis  ,day — p.nd  ^re ,  likely  to  continue  whilst  a- 

good  taste  for  tlie^trical   representation  remains. 

In  short,  the  whole  niay  be  considered  as  an  effort 

U  of 


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of  mmd  rabbunng  for  tbe  progress  bf  kcfltchce  hi 
Jxh  profession,  but  failing  iu  |:he  xnechknicai  pkrt 
of  the 'execution. 

Cleared  of  all  the  embarrassments  t^Mdh  diis 
last  attempt  drew  liifn  into,  he  fell  into  his  oM 
line  of  acting,  and  occasionally  peVfoiltied' €{tch 
season,  visitiug,  at  intervals,  Scotland,  attd  the 
provincial  Theatres.  ,  In  the  ciourscf  6f  this'pfi^re- 
grmatron,  lie  'made  Vn  engagement,  abotrt  the 
year  1775,  to  perform  in  Dublin  and  Corkdfiring 
the  spring  and  summer  of  that  year,  which  he 
accomplfshed  ;  but  '^^  ,he  seldom  A^:ts  without 
some  project'  in  his  head,  a  heW  plan  of  life  licrV 
.suggested  Jtself  t6  him^  \i4iic^,  iafter  digestllig^  for 
"some  days,  Tie  1at  last  proposed  to  'Ki^  tilth 
Manager,  ^ "Jtfi-.  Tott'enliam  [  Heiphy. 

"Mad^nifs  ',jhter\'lew'wifh  Medphy'on  tHife  ocfc!^ 
^  ^sion  was   curious  ;  and  as  wie  Itave  oftdti 'heard  vii 
^accoiiiil  of  It  from 'the  hitter,  Ve  ^hafl^ttiddavbttr 
lo  recollect  Tt  as  heariy  as'possible. 

lie 'fir^{  Svfqte  a  note  toflb^jihy,  Infcfrmhig 
Tilm,  lie  Kad  some  business  of  ImporratiCe' to 'coin- 
'muplcate,  and  begged  he  would  fix  sbWe  tttOrAiog 
for  that'  purpose.  'The  hext  day  was  appointed; 
^'and  Macklin' waited  on  ^him  w!th  ill  die  gravify 
'ofVprojVcton     Hie^first  qilestion;  he  asked  hiin 

was, 


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CHARLES  MACHtiN.  S^^l: 

was,  *' Pray,  Sir^  hpw  doe^  lan4  twa  out  .at 
Blarney?**  (a  little  village  a,bout  tJwfift  i^^es  fcpm 
Cork*)  "Why,  Sir,  pretty  wisU :  J  Jiave  got  a 
hou^  z^d  farm  there/'  '*  Yqs,^  ^ir^  I  knp^v  if, 
and  that  made  mip  ask  you  tbp  i<j^^9tw?ii ;  wbicji" 
beoig  ^nsMT^red,  I  now  proce^.  Jli^Jertp  my 
thfsatrlcal  Ufo  ^as  not  been  altogetI|er  as  Ig^oukl 
wish.  I  4o  oot  njean  to  say  but  that  il 
itav^e  had  the  favour  and  couiit^9,iice  of  tl^€f 
jxublip  SAifficieutly,  but  \l  has  iv>t^heen  so  systema- 
tic a$  I  could  wiah  ;  sometimosiivii^  ii|  Irdancf, 
3ometwu.es  in  England, '  sometipi^$  jin  Scotland  ; 
aad  awactimes^  Sir^  doing  nothing  at  aU  ;  so  that 
I  ha^^e  hitherto  apt  been  able  to  calculate  on  my 
time,  my  profits,  <^r  expenditure.  Now^  Sir,  I 
want  to  cure  all  this,  and  I  think  I  have  found  a 
remedy."---"  Pra.y,  Sir,  what  is  that?"  ''You 
shall  hear,  Sir.  In  the  'first  place,.  I  want  to  take  . 
41  farm  of  between  three  and  four  hundred  acres  ^u 
or  near  Blarney,  and  stock  it  so  as  tQ  give  nie 
a^d  my  family  employment,  jsmd  i|iake  it  produce^ 
in  the  agricultural  line^  something  between  a  gefi-' 
tlenaan  farmer  ^nd  a  real  farmer,  but  more  inclip'' 
ing  to  the  latter.  Here,  Sir,  I  mean  to,  fix  niy 
bead  quarters,  with  a  good,  clever,  intelUgejpit 
bailiff  at  the  head  of  my  affair^,  who,  lUKier  n^y 
direction^  shall  be  able  to  turn  the  ground  and  the 
jXnaikets  to  the  best  adyantfgf.  (Here  Heaphy 
rCould  not  forbear  smiling.)  O  j^s.  Six,  you  may 
wwiie;  i>tfi  jt>y  G^--d>  what  I  ^ay*is  very  true.     I 

U4I  hav^ 


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2p2  ,         jiEMOiRS  or    / 

have  *ritS<J' bdbTcs  6n  agriculture,   and  know  the 
tJteory  of*  ferhiing  better  than  half  the  bailHFs  in 
Engiaiid/i:liough,  perhaps,   not  so  well  the  prac- 
tice of  liodern  improvements.    But  to  proceed. 
'Havibg  sufl[f*!le!ntly  stocked  this  farm,   and  given 
"my  hi\\iff'instt*Hi!tions  about  ploughing^   seeding^ 
&c.  feic.     I  shilVset  but  for  England  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  aild^niAkemy  engagements  At  one  of 
■the  Loiid^n^^TheatVes'  fbr  a  certain  number'  of 
nights,  and  a  cldarbenefit     This  being  c6hclud- 
ed,  r  shall  return  to  my  fafm,  •  see  how  things  go 
on  there,  and  meet  you  In  Cork,  as  usual,  to- 
wards the  close  of  thfe  summer,   which  will  save 
*me  the  expence  of  lodgitigs  in  town,   and  enable 
mt  at  the  same  timeto  carry  bn  my  business. 

'  ^*  Now,  .Sii",  'you  see  here  is  the  spring  and  the 
^stfmmer  fully  aiid  profitably  employed.  Tlien  ats 
"to  the  winter,  there  being  little  done  in  the  farming 
"line,'  these  months  I  shall  be  able  to  play  in  Dul>- 
liit  with  you— ^o  that  the  whole  of  the  year  AviH 
iye  occupTccl  sjjsiematicatty.  I  shall  huve  flie  be- 
*5ief?<;of  a  good  air,  the  benefit  of  campaigning, 
'^and^  above  all,'  the  profits  of  a  good farni^  beside  a 
•  a^it^^ '  for  my  family,  Whenever  it  shaU  please 
^G*od  to  take  me  out  bflthis  world. 

V 

\  *^  No\v,  Sir,  this  Js  my 'plan:  what'db  you 
'.think  of  it ?'^/**.  Why,  Sir,"  said  Heaphy^  '^m 
-respect  to  filKug'  up  your  time  in  your  theatrical 
i''-^^  -  -*      .         engagements. 


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CHAELE&  MACKUN.  293 

f ng^ements,  I  think  very  well  of  it— rl^ut  as  to 
farmings  Fm  much  iu  doubt,  particularly  at  your 
timtjqf  lif^.''  At  this  last  word  Macfclin  took 
fivi^  replying,  with  some  beat,  "And.whyatmy 
time  of  life  ?  Can  you  tell  me,  Sir,  w^aen  I  shall 
die?  aujd  if  j^uu  could,  I  would  ?iot  bp  obliged  to 
you  for  it — ^as  I  love  to  be  amused,  no  matter, 
wrong  or  right.  But  come,  you  don't  want  me 
so  near  a  neighbour — two  of  a  trade  might  not  so 
well  agr?e,  WpU,  there  may  be  pru4^c4  in  yicJur 
opinion  as  it  respects  youreelf;,buti.'m  detiirmin* 
fd  to  he  a  farmer  for  all  that't-^ud  ?ogpod  morn-t 
iiJSto»yo\i,  Sir?"  ^       *    . 

Here  tl?c  cpnyer8a,tioa )  ended  y  and  MftCHliii 
designed  to  be  as  gopd  as  his  wpr4>  .as.he/ap- 
plied  to  several  Gentlemen  in  the  neiglil^otirhoad 
of  Blarney  for  such  a  fjirm  ;  but  they  either  not 
|iaviag  ^ny  .such  to  dispose  of,  or  perh^p(s  thlBk- 
;ug,.iwith  Heap^ty,  that  Macklin's  ;^ww:/o/'  s^m^ 
i^  w?is  past,  he  could  get  nothing  to-  s^iiit  hiur; 
and  80  this  projeqt,      ..  •  ,      '  ,. 

,1    .  If  ..■■--  ■  •  -  

;)        y|{B^^t  tdo  Uiousand  ojtheis,  ditdm  tbitfUng:*'.      ^     . 

Th}^  /^sapp^ntmept  jof  a  m^n  not  i  getting  a 
fara^  at  t^e  ^  of  eighty-five,  (cjr  at  i  the  lowest 
^Qjfnputaf  iftp  scyenty-fi v^, )  in,  or4^r  to.  lay  a  faun, 
d^tiotii  ^r  l^G,  fijittt^ei  |b,ep.e^t  of  hinij^lf  a^d  family, 
\sivpiffhaps^wiy,i»  4  Nobk  Lordi^ 

'  y  3  Quee^ 


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Queen  Anna's  time,  who  went  ddwii  to  Scotlan^i 
at  the  age  o#  eighty^two  for  three  years,  in  order 
to  ctear  a  mortgage  on  his  estates.  Both  made 
il^alculations  in  favour  of  themselves  above  the 
iomnwft  estimation  of  life,  and  stich  must,  of 
course,  be  subject  to  great  disappointments,  what- 
ever enjoyments  they  might  anticipate  in  the 
confident  strength  of  their  cpnstituttons. 

Whether  tljjs  disappointment  might  have  de- 
cided Macklih  to  quit  Ireland  sooner  tban  hein- 
tended,'  we  do  not  know ;  but  this  is  certain,  he 
did  not  return  to  Dublin  Nvlth  Heaphy  th^t  \vin-' 
ter ;  but  came  oyer  to  England  with  another  pro- 
ject  in  hU  head,  as  fextf alordinary  in  scWrie  i*espfect 
a&  faniiing,  but  founded  Bn'  a  greater  certainty  of 
Jnrofit  and  reputation.       '  ^      ' 

This  project  was  ftothittg  fess  than  producing  a 
new  Comedy,  at  his  very  advknced  time  of  Bfe,  to 
the  llngU$h  Stage,  whete  he  hrtnself  was  to  per- 
form the  principal  character-  ^i^  Comedy  wai 
the  now  well-known  *^  Man  of  the  Wojld,'' 
brought  out>  as  we  have  before  stated,  itfTreland, 
about  thp  year  1764,  under  the  title  of  '*  The 
Trtie-Bom  Scoftehman,'*  in  three  acts,  which  ftiet 
with  so^  mUoh  applause  as  to  render  it  <jn^  b.f  th6 
pincipai  skotik  |^lays  0/  the  Thektre  lie  Wlonged| 
to,  and  occ^^it(ned  a  J)rinciparclatise  ill  ilTtfis  '(^iij 
gagenaents  with  the  Iiisk  Mirtagers,i'**'ihit  he 

should 


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dko\M  f\^'  yfk  thi«,   or  }ii3  ptl(?r-  j^WJP?  Qf  **  Th?^ 
Tr^KhBpJ'a  IwUni4^"  >t  le^  once  or  t^wicp  i^ 

Th?  remarkable  success  of  the  first;  Qf  tUca^ 
p^ecest,  Oft  ey-ery  revival,  .in  Ii^^fapd, .  induc<;4 
MackKii; to  bring  it  iv^ward  on ^}^e. English  Stage; 
but,  8rU^^g^  to  tell^  be  could  npt  a^  grst  qb,tain  ^ 
licence  for  it ;  tbough  there  was  iiothing  seem; 
ingly  objectionable  in  it,  either  as  to  morals  or 
politic?,  except  the  degrpe  of  puuniipg  and  dupli- 
city attrjt]|uted  to  the  pfiucipal  ch?ir^pter,  >yhp  is 
a  SeOtclifnan.  To .  naeet,  the  vislips  pf  the  Li-r 
p^i;^r,  howeypr,  l^ackiin^spftep^d  ^  little  the 
^p?r^jt;ie;s  pf  his  ^efo,  and  extcpded  the  piece  to 
fiv^  ^ctH :  whe^  in  that  sta^e,  it  ^^t  length  c^mie 
9i^t  at  Covent  Garden  Thea^e,  pn  the  10th  of 
May,  17»l- 

,  Tl^e^  .announcing  a  new  ( 
H^an  9QRsid^^bly  af^pve  fp 
bim^S^lflio  pe;rfprm  a  princip 
zph^^^ofn^nov. hit^i^to  ui? 
>yj^^  Qii>bcf,  ^t  ^  yexy  tf 
|Go»9ftiy  of  ^'  Lovp>  t^i 
play^dj.f^e  p^rt  of  Sir  No 
Ipwing^cpmplim^ept  ^Je  r^^c 
J)ffT^^  thpu .  J^prd  Chambc 
j^efioftj,  vi«.,  "  TJ^at.  jf  y^s 
^ijy,  ^ft^pjrijn^  ^i^  jpiewp) 
....  tJ'4 


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at  tor,  atid  feuch  at  wiitevi  in  one'  day,  •  was  ^dme- 
thing  extraordinary."  What  then  must tbatno^ 
We  personage  say  (if  living  in  the  year  1781)  to 
such'  an  undertaking  as  M^eklin's  ?— wliien'  the 
great  play  of  lift,*  as  it  respeciis  mind'aM  body,  h 
generally  over :  but  where,  if ' it  remaiiis, » it'  fingers 
battb  tell  th$  melattcholy  inibixnHtieS  of  human 

nature."'       *-'    '  '        ■:*'::*:>.      ^^         :«•   ; 

'  The/plot <bf  this  piece  ife  briefly  this/?-  A-ici^afty; 
subtle  Scotchmati,  thrown  iipbn  the-wbrld  without 
friends,   dnd  little  or  no  education,   directs   the 
whole  of  his'  observatroti  ahd  assiduity  (in  both 
of  wnich  he  is  indefatigable)  to  the  pursuit  of 
fortune  arid  ambition.     By  hife'  tiiiwearied  ieflR>rts, 
and  mdannes^^ss,  he  succeeds  ;^  but,  •  wirhfed  by 
the  defects  of  his  own  education,  heldeierntines 
to  give  his  eldest  son  the  best  that  could  be  ob- 
tained, and' for  this  purpose  puts  hiin  infb  ^he 
hands  of  ^clergyman  of  lekthing,  integrity',   and 
honour,'  whb;  by  teaching 'him  good  *  ^redfepts, 
iand  shewing'  him  the  force  t>f '  good  eS^ariiple; 
"iiVakesr  him  the  yei*y  revetse  6f*  what  the  fathei' 
iii tended,  vi^.  ft[6t  a  nSaii  Mickted  the  Better  t4 
make  hisi  court  to  the  great,  ^aritf  extend* iftidTieWi 
'of  false  ambitibfi— but  to^m^kehimsblf  i^A^fctedJ 
jiicTependent^  'W'happy:^^'^^^^ 
Views  of  his'  fitheV,'^"wHo  wdiits  tb^inarT3^aiHtftb  a 
|ady  of  rank  anit-fbrtutlt^  *ut  to^'^hbm-*^  c^tf. 

»ot 


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CHARLES   IMCfiLlN.  1^ 

QOtidif^ct  faiff  nfikittons,  and  marries  the  daugh* 
ter  of  a  poor  ofllcer,  little  better  than  a  d^n<* 
dant  on  his  mother,  but  w^ho  has  virtue  and  ao 
coiDplishmenta  to  adorn  any  aituatioD.  In  ahort^ 
tire  latter  feels  the  just  consequences  of  an  pyer- 
vaulting  ambition;  whilst  the  son,  seeking  his 
own  happiness  independent  of  fortui^e  or  honours, 
in  the  concluding  Tines,  thus  avows  and  rcjoiQCS 
in  the  principles  he  is  governed  by : 

"  My  scheme,  tho*  raock'd  by  knave,  coquet,  and  fgol, 

To  tliinking  minds  will  prove  this  golden  rule: 

In  all  pursuits— but  chiefly  in^  wife, 

Not  wealth,  but  morals,  make;the  happy  life." 

The  performance  of  this  play  in  all  its  principal 
parts  was  admirable.  Macklin's  Sir  Pertinax 
Mac  Sycophant  Avas  only  equalled  by  his  Jew ; 
neither  his  age  or  appearance  obstructed  the 
responsibility  of  the  part.  As  the  lather  of  a 
grown-up^  family,  he  did  not  look  too  old  for  it  ^ 
and  the  natural  impression  of  his  features  corres- 
Donded  with  the  cunning,  hypocrisy  and  violent 
|;eijiiper  of  the'  character.  Neither  did  the  part, 
thpug;h  long,  suffer  from  want  of  his  memory ;  he 
3i^a?  iji  full  possession,  of  it  tli rough  every  scenes 
aji4  indeed, ^^n. the  w:hole,  exhibited  a  specimen 
of ^  the  human  p6wer  unequalled  in  the  aunals  of 
t|\9  Theatre.      '  ' 

The  late  Mrs.  Pope's  La^ly  Rodolpha  Lumber- 
court  we  have  tiefore  spoken  of '  wlifen  this  Come- 
jiy  was  in  i,ts  ^  jnfant  state  of  Mr^^w/^;  now  e^» 

'-v-:-'  > '! Ju'M.v>'^  '    -.■::'-!,     .  _,,tende4 


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\ 


tended,  sho  seinied  iS9r  extend  b«r  p^yer^f  <^:  pr^ 
portiob.  In  «dioirt;  sliejmde  i%  m*  comfk^ly  liQf 
own,  that  the  Con^edy^  in  thia .  rmpe^U  ^^^  bO^ 
3(etti(Mmd  any  thing  hk^  «  te^ti^i^te  succe^sor*"^. 

,."""*■      '  ■     •  .  •  ■  ,  ' .   \   ^  ■        ^  .  '^ '    ,  f 

All  the  other  characters  were  likewise  well  per- 
formed, particularly,  tgerton  by  Mr.  Lewis,  and 
Sydney  by  Mr.  Atcldn ;  but,  notwithstanding 
this,  the  voice  of  party  began  tp  bestir  itself  ou 
the  first  night's  performance.  Some  young  Scotch- 
men thought  it  a  libel  on  their  countrymen,  and 
resisted  it;  but  the  pixajority  of  the  audience  car- 
ried it  through  with  applause,  and  the  next  night 
it  had  no  opponents :  the  p^ore  temperate  of  that 
patifiu  arg\ied  very  justly,  */  fhat  the  character  of 
Sir  Perfcinax  should, a^ot  hurt  the  feehngs,of  any 
g(H)d  S<)otchman  j  on  the  contrary,  that  if  it  wa? 
§  tr*4e  picture,  they  should  laqghatit,  .and  thq* 
eapourage  a  reprepemtation,  which  only  .e;spo5ed 
thp  artful  and  designing  of  their  countrymen.'^ 

'^  Some  critics,  however,  start  one  objection  against 
flxi^  Comedy,  (and  it  is  the  only  one  we  have  ever 
heard  objected  against  it,)  which  is,*  that  of  the 
Author  making  Jiis  hero  k  Scotchman^  or  of^  any 
particular  country,  so  as  to  impute' national  re- 
flecttons;  but  this,  in  bur  opinion,  is  being  t6o 

fastidious; 


cr   '. 


*  We  had'l^he  same  oBinion,  after  Macklias  death,  of  Sir  Per- 
iinax  Mac  Sycophant ,  till  Cpoke,  of  Coven^ Garden  Theatre,  con- 
vfheed-us  to  the  contrary.  *  Difficult  Hrrdpai-Wtiiia'raS'this  cliarkc'- 
€^  is,  Wis  allowed,  by  the  best  judges,  to  be  ec][ual  to  the  ori^al^ 


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CHAfet«S   HACEtlK.  "SS^ 

fatstidious ;  the  ptindpal  ch^^c^tefr  miAt  )^ong46 
some  coufttry ;  and  irhatevcr  country  ttmt  M^ias,  ft 
Aiay  be  equally  said  to  receive  a  national  ifasulv 
But  the  universal  rule  allonred  to  all  satirisfe  and 
dramatic  writers,  only  restrains  them  from  iiot 
drawing  their  characters  from  too  limited  a  souh^e, 
So  as  to  avoid  personality  and  obscurity;  and  to 
say,  that  any  one  nation  does  not  produce?  ridicu- 
lous or  viciorfs  characters  in  abundance,  is  a  de- 
gree of  patriotism  founded  more  in  folly  than  in 
fact     Beside  all  this,  a  character  is  generally 
heightened  by  a  peculiarity  of  dialect.     An  Irish- 
taan  would  lose  half  his  humour  in  cdrtimitfins: 
his  blunders  ;>vithout  his  brogue^  as  a  Scotchman 
would  his  cunning  without  his  buf*.     The  drama- 
tist,   then,    is  at  liberty  to  seek  his  characters 
(subject  to  the  limitations  we  have  laid  dowh^ 
wherever  he  can  find  them  ;  and  if  he  can  procure 
stronger  colours  in  the  provinces,  heh^saright 
tp  tran^fi^  them  to  his  canvas  for  general  j-eprejien- 

JOf^ifl^..      :       .:       .  •    .    .  .  [[    :-  - 

.  Beside  tili,e  merijt  of  this  piece  in  plot,,  ji^jh^i^fifer, 
sentiment,  t^pd  dictjon,  i'tiscriticaljiy  pofMptri^te^ 
•in  re6pec?)t  tp^  tli^  thi?fe  \ijikti(fs^tme^  BfPf^^i^^ 
rfiftioi^  :  %M  f^pect  to  tifM^  thj^  whol^  coab\^^;l^ 
of  the  pjay i  i^JcHftgiiwJi  t^He  ijp  aboy^  eigi>t-ftn^-^foi;ty 
h0ttrs,;  m  j^^ejct  t9.#fece,,.the.scefifi  is^ppj?^r,rfr 
Iwoved  frpm  the  dwelling  hpMs*  c(?  Sir  ^JJ^rti^K*; 
.^pd  as  ^0  the  unity  of  action^  the  whole  of  the  Co- 
.^  - 1--::/!  I. . ■, ^  u  •'./.    /i    • ' -'.^ '-  —  medy 


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§00  i$£iE#d:iES  pw 


i.'j 


«ie4y  )wh|b#te:  a  :<?lwin  of  t^onmci^d  f?^ct^  of 
yrhii^,  each  soe^  ma^^s  aM^K  ^4  ^^^  linl^  acr 
9Prdipgly  prodiipes  somieinci4^t^  relative  4;o  t^ 
^^ata^opt^.  Jf  pmny  of  <mr  ujpdj^n^^wiwfufic 
writers  (as  they  are  so  phased  ^  to  caH  theroselvesj 
wQttlji.  consult .  this  Comedy  as  ;a  model, ;  they 
:^vould  be  ashamed  of  dragging  ^Oj  many  heteroge^ 
neou$  characters  tjogetber  so  irreteyant  to  the  gei^ 
neraj  l^usjnpss  of  thp.  scene,  and  ,wbich  give  the 
S|:ajge  fn$>;re  the  appearance  of  ;i  caricature  shopy 
than  a  faithful  re^reseajitation  pf  life  and  manners* 

The  Prologue,  which  is  a  tolerable  good  one, 
^as  written  by  a  dramatic  writer>*  (since  dead,) 
who,  though  he  volunteered  it,  soon  after  bor- 
rowed seven  guipieas  of  Macklin,  who  gave  hinj 
the  xjioney,  ^rid  afterwards  observed,  '\  that  it 
Dryden  \s^s  alive,  he  could  hjive  bought  a  I*yo^ 
logiie  for  one  guinea  less," 

^  Mitch  about  this  time  his  daiiglit^rdied,  whiich 
gave  him  a  very  sensible  affliction.  Thfe-'writer 
of  this  account  met  him  by  accident,  as  he  was 
cbmkig^  froih  taking  his  last  feave  of  her;  and 
^eiitt*g  Mni  \rhuch  mox^ed,  retulii^d^  Kom^;  slid 
'Spent;  thii  dytning*  with  him.  He?  sefem^d  to  feel 
%Ms  littfe  civhlty  With  kindfaesi,  'alifl  filked  ^dth 
^^^t^^e<*!h^bs^rei  and^muoH  sdlind  jtidgwfcnl!,'  oti 
ihe  V*4Ssftudfes  of  life.'  >  Am^gsl  ot*fer^lng«'hfe 
obs^feH,  *^  that  thd  shortness' of  human'life,'  mA 

yii^ix:  *  Frederick  PiUon,  author  of  several  Farces,  &c. 


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CHAillfiS   MACKLIN.  -301 

all  its  e^tfjoyments,  can  Tiever^T>e  sa  inculkiat^  by 
theory'  as  by  practice;  that  in  our  youth,  exart^ 
■pfe  of  ttiii  sfort  d%  tittt  so  frequently  occuf*  an* 
when  tWy  dbi^^We  scarcely  notice  them;  pai^t^ 
from  bur  Kvitig  ammigst  yotnfigei*  classes  of  Jjfeo^ 
pie,  partTy  ffoiri  the  ardour  of  ouf  passions,  and 
partly  froUi  the  intd^icatirig  folly  of  su^pbsteg 
ourselves  to  be  exempted  from  those  vicissitudes; 
But  as  age 'advances,  *the  exlafnples  multiply  be^ 
Hke  us;  year  after  year  snatch&s  some  relation, 
s<>me  friend,  srfme  acquairitahce,'  from  us.  We 
are  then  fordfed*  upoA  a  fair  estitiifatioh  of  life,  *ahd 
exclaim^  iriWthe  Royal  Preachtr,'  "All  is  Vanity 
and  vexation  of  spirit.^  Ah!  Sir,  cold  a^  is  but 
a  melancholy  thing  at  best,  which  Milton  very 

truly  and  poetically*  dekcribesV  " 

■r,\.     ^  '  -.    ■  ->   hr  '   /^.    '^  '  .  .: 

••  put  even  in  this  dd  ag^*^ih(mvi!^%i  'oxiiHws      /  j ..    . 
Thy  jou^b>  thy  strength,  thy  beauty,  which  will  change 
To  withered,' W9ak»  and  grey:  .t^y, senses  then 
Ohtuse — all  taste  of  pleasure  .must  forego 
To  what  thoii  hast,  and  for  the  air  of  youth  ' 

t        (Hopeful  and  clieerful)  in  sthy  Wood  will  reign    -  ' 

A  melanclioly  .damp  6i  cold  and  diry 
To  weigh  thy  spirits  down;  wid  1^9t  C9QSume 

\    :  The  balm  of  life-; " 

From  this  he  adverted  to  the  particular  case  of 
his  daughter,  spoke  of  the  ambition  he  had  to  ad* 
vance  her  in  life,  and  of  her  very  great  docility 
in  receiving  his  instructions  in  the  art  of  acting,^ 
as  well  as  thoae  of  her  other  masters;  talked 
.  of 


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(302  ^  .     uimoins  o^  \  : 

4^  tb^  g^eat  pleasure  ha  bad  in  piftyjng  i<>r  lier  W 
jttfifite,-  md  added,  "  Wherev^  I  was,  d^her  i|i 
^r^laml  or  Scotland^  |  ^w^y$  f3$fi^  it  m^yzgr^e^ 
^^attt|  t^at  I  $^i}ld  be  ia  Lon^oa  9l>0)it  th^^t  f^ 
M^^:i  I  wiH^  dp  hfir  ihc  justice  tp  s^y,  sjie  w» 
Igr^tef^l  fpr  these  ki^nesses/  ^ai^  vne  lived  tog^e^ 
4^r  U9i  tiie  .iififl3t  reQiprocal  ^cts  of  fyi^dshipJ' 
prTl]TO,  after  sqswfsi  pajwe-^**  But  it  i3*s(Mne  oddt 
jsota^ioaa  ta  me^  that  3he  has  left  up  yauQg  iamijj 
Wh'^nd  her,  who  4|t)^ght  want  a^gpafdj^sii  or  {i^otiscf- 
4of ;  far,  s^l*^!  where^  would  they  fiud  pne?  As  ^Epr 
|ne— ^i^  I  live  ^  littlB  louger,  I  shall  w^nt  oucmy^ 
*^lf>/  to;  sMtGv^ioy  ^avergrawp  age  firoi^  the  es^Or 
fWep;  of  ^dotageaud  fatuity/' 

•    r 

The  above  observation  he  djoKvered  with  a^nu- 
ness  of  tone,  and  gravity  of  deportment,  which 
still  leave  their  impression. 

After  Supper  he  got  into  a  little  better  spirits— 
but  still  pqsse^aed  of  the  same  rsubjject,  be  e»- 
clahned,  *' O  Lojpd,  Sir,  I  neujiember  so  ipany 
changes  in  human,  a^EEurs,  Ihat in  some  :&m]Iies^ 
and  those  too  pretty  numerous,  Lhave  almost  lost 
the  power  of  traciilg  them  by  descent.  An  odd 
^ircum&tauce  happened  a.few  y^rs  ^o  upon  this 
subject.  A  party  of  Irish  Gentlemen,  who  faa4 
come  [Over  here  in  the  parliamentary  YiacatK^Q^ 
asked  me  to  sup  with  them.  I  did  so,  Sir,  and 
•wx  all  got  very  jolly  togetlier^  ii;iaomuch,  .tha^t. 

one 


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3§tieNt)f  them  mrfio  dnirik,  that  I  made  a  point  of 
taking  hin^ott  my* 4paek^  ^nd  carryibg  hiizr  doim 
stairs,  in  order  to  be  put  into  his  chair.  The 
fieM^<ky  ^t^e^GBttlldmain  waited  on  me;  and  ex- 
^ebsitig  hb  oii^^iem^  saldj  he  Tras  sorry  I^hould 
tafkfi  «o  ttmoh  utitiec^es^ary  trouble.  Here,  Sir,  I 
stopped  ^hhta  sl^t,  by  telltng  him,  one  reasoen  I 
^ad  foiT  cWi^i^  him4>n  my  back  was,  that  I 
'GaTi46d  either 'hrsikther,  > or  his  grandfather,  the 
is9Mt  way,3^fi|y  jH?<i>v  ago,  irhen  he  was  a  student 
^  «he  UiAdh  Templfe/'  ^**  Very  true,  Shr,*'  said 
Ulc  o«her>  f  remember  my  father  often  tdling  it 
*8  a  ftfiftiily  Btory-^but  yoa-are  misrtafcen  a  Kttfe 
in  peitut  <if  g^heJa(logy-**^t  was  my  great  grend^ 
futher  that  you  did  that  kindness  for/* 

To  return  from  this  digression,  Macklin,  after 
a  successful  run  of  bis  Comedy  of  **  The  Man  of 
-^e  World/*  accepted  an  engagement,  about  the 
■y«srtr  1784,  to  perform   that  winter  in  Dublin. 
4fe  was  then,  at  tlie  lowest  computation,  eighty- 
•ftire,   (by  steong  probability  ninety-five;)  yet  at 
^tlris  efxtraordinary  age,  taking  iit  at  either  impu- 
tation, did  he  engage  to  ^sit  another  kingdom, 
*and  perfbrm  at  feast  twice  a  week,   two  of  the 
longest  and  most  difiicult  parts  in  his  profession, 
yjz.  the  Jew  and  Sir  Pertinax  Mac  Sycophant.     ^ 
appeared,  however,  that  he  was  equal  to  this  un- 
dertaking; as  he  not  only  went  thrbugh  it  with 
heakh:an4;i^it»,'>but  took  Liverpool  and  Man- 
1  Chester 


I 


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S04  ntm^tfks  trif 

Chester  on  his  rfeturn,  at  both  of  j5*^hieh  piaeeebe 
iperfommA  a  few  of  his  pribcipal  charati^ets. 

The  winter  that  MadtKa  happened  to  ho  in 
X)uhllii^  politics. Tan  high;^  ^mi  as  his:  Comedy;  :Qf 
'".The /Man  of  *the  World*'  ha^isomei general. ?€h 
flecticais  .on  Court*  and:nid-ad^wi$tff(ti0n,;  Qp- 
po^ion  took  him  tifr  aa  fajirourabk  M. their  cajt^Q. 
The  Courtiers,  on  the  >  ot\^ct  side>  i  >vihpse  bu^wesp 
it  is  not  tx)  think.themselves  impliciated  in  the  ge* 
ncpal  censure,  not  ottly  attehded,  aMeppUtuded 
hisOdmaedy,  but  had  htm  frequwtlj^  %t  thi^ir-.tft- 
hlesi;  so  that  hetwe^i  the .  tV^  paitie3,  M^okUji 
M^as  in  fathionable  requisition:  )ie  lived  almqsjL 
every  day  in  public,  a^nd  exhibited  a .  degree , of 
health  and  spirits  equal  to  the  occasion. 

'^  He  had.  likewise  other  qualificatioiiiS  to  ingra- 
tiate himsdf  with  the  people  of  Irefedd ;  he  y^ 
their  couritryinan,  and  had  aioquired  a  lojig  f^i^ 
brity  from  his  professional  itajmt?^  and.^ven/f^ftti 
his  longevity ;  he  was,  beside  this,  whajt  he  ,1115^ 
jocularly  to  adl  Mrmtlf'-'-si  College:  0m%^  Cbeing 
originally  a  badge-roan  (to  the  Cq11^€|  J  ^ndvf^P 
this  situation  could  vrdmcmbec  the  ancestois  qf 
most  of  the  people  ofr  distincticm-i*rj3Jid  aboilt 
Dublin.  '  »  .       .'  '."      'A, '     '    V  / 

In  these  agreeable- parties  dkla  iwin  of  ,e9gh ty- 
five  pass  his  leisure  hourt;  wbi^h}  though  pfii»ncS&  . 

'to 


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usual  infirtnities,  to  hitU)  wb^  irM^jodj^b?  oftM^ 
fleeting  ph  the  past,  and  enjoying  the  present  with 
ple^Mtae^tbe^jiad.alltlki^daddtiftt^  (SfBjmikhd^d 
f«itivi»f.'  H^hiul^ri*6irly^:iiff(^adattii^f«uiA 
m$ecibft€2indibiMlinag^yt  ;atid  it^  <ibiMmfiidc>#ith<ltitit 
a}modt^«>^  Che  h9V;^k€tiC0  l^Mrlkino^kinA^  fobd^ 
df  <:^ttibtftito]^1x>tMs^ttUrtthib^  btit^dr^id^ 
i»oatfi?«itoi<*hfers  (OWevripJr-^^  2n-  '^- 

Setiygfhitri  at^thoie  ipd^tiesi  itt^^d^^^yigOfdMir 
hie^tii>tibid^|tiH  w>ni€«ifl)^s  ki^tgiRf  g^d;  isom^ 
tite^e^ftifigiii^ati  l(|^  :$<lQg,:%o^Milli^|itilKng  tib«r 
storkes  bf^hiayou^  aitii^strall  timcsfbqiisrf  ti6Ahi» 
boMe  of  darbt^  his  Jdmors  inia^-ifeiie  €(^itatttiyi 
questiiotting^i^hiiii^hoiiriiid  iwapaged  to  presetve  his 
be^lth^  m  that  manner.  But  as  MackltniM^s  ;ne-^ 
Y«i'4'^guiElr^  acoording  t6  thegeneral  acotpf^tionv 
^  thai  w«rd,  though^  perhaps^^icoGnfoikidblOilo 
the  particulars  of  his  own. co institution;  when  he' 
tokl  them  of  the  excesses  of  his  youth,  his  love  of 
fum^  trathen^  Ittehoiirs,  long  \^^alks,  and^i^Ietic. 
6keratie,.t&i^*  wondered  how  it  was  ddtte^  .without 
(faurin^  tti  fiollow  the  preacriptioh.  .  ■*  Itt  short* 
Sisntleiiien^"  he  used  to  cotielude,  ^*  laay  general 
iMe  of  Jife  was  this^  and  n^hichl  practise  to  this 
present  inometit ;  toieat  whfeix  I  am.  hungry— drink 
>f^hen;£  am  diy^  ^and  sometimes. (hfiiiling  up  hir 
glfUs)  a^Httie  imirer^^^'te  bed  when  I  am^eary 
— and — "  concluding^ with  in  attention  to 

r\;);/^  X  his 


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\|liKiqife||yfr^pi^et.,te'J^  too 

strong  aBdywmi.t<)<|^<^adQWri^M9^  ^y^^ 
for  some  time,  as  if  they  were  real^  fted  talked  of 
y$irHni$i4>rcrQ€^€jf)i  f(9fi]t]|^I^prrlf9ewatt^liV^1@ril!^  l^^ 

witf)a^  IMhjwftie.ifo^,^omyi»g4  ^er 

ti^clret^  lii?hkh.w»,i  fbafelteibojigbt  ^Uemt  ia;IBkJh 
boriii.A.&'v^^ajBs  ^j^ore  hcrM^^^  In  oR^^dr 

V  toi« w»  1^,  tnjtui^  upwi  ^  Irirfii  wArt'N  a* yoeai^ 
hhi  attd'tbett. taking  the  witwier  set  ourt^Hf  bi^ 
moiitibv;  J^id  tbem  on  tJte  *ald<v  atid  t^ldibfer::  i^doj- 
fi4»p/  ^^«M3»igh]b|«ait:h^fr'jttfttawcbiM^tte^ 

.  /5^;  Ajfid.ao^'Siry  (^ddfed  th«.  ^eter^  iifc  teHio#. 
diis ^ii«c(kil£V)  Tve  bad  iibeaHijr  }au^;/^Qd^il: 
passed  ofl^  and,  I  thpii|^t  noi  more  c^  i(b$  jbuk.i^ 
ifaw  day^lnefore  i  lefti^Ddl^lin^  I  -nice^wAialnote 
frolivtdie  immeiXa^ly^  ^iifcdosinginsssa  full  biUa£ 
direetieflSy)  seqiiestiAgliwauMcbi^  lwn(Sitchiaii0^; 
tdiier  sotrof  tbetby^acd'^mid  tfaem  packed  ipftn  a 
boac  directed  to  in  dbaciiDe  hpti$e  ^nrU^biifSfiQ^uayi. 
vriiQre:lhantouUrf0ceiv?ftbeiD/io^  :--  ,  :.- 
iid  X  Macklin 


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I 

Macklin  retitrned  ti»  Ld^domifi  tbe  fprjuig  of 
1785,  andfinstantly  Inixed.  mjtl>e  coi^^viviaiities  <tf 
bfs  frjdnds  with  hh  uiSuai  liealtb  £it>4.«pirit$.  His 
Irirti  expeditidn  foraiishcd  him  with  f<  mijmber  of 
iKW  aneedoteS)  which  he  embdlished  with  tovMjh 
sstrondi  humour,  and  told  wi4h  dilthe  «^rit  of  H 
youtvg  msHoi  emulous  to' pleasic. 

li  the  winter  of  this  year  he  m^Ae  aa  agi^e^ 
ment  with  the  Manager  of  Cofei^t  Gapdei),  to 
periWm  occ&s'SonaHy  at  his  Theatr^^  and  h^  wan^ 
through  has  vtsaal  characters  with  hb  aK;!ci(i6tclim^^ 
ease  and  spirit.  '  ' 

Much^  about  thid  time^  bis  soli^  Johti  MadcHnl, 
diedy  dt  not  abore  the  age  of  thiPty-^four  oic.flve, 
of  a  breikeii  constit«itioit>,  brought  on  by  ^riy 
dissipations.  He  was  d.  young  man  of  good  t^ 
lents,  and  received  from  his  father  a  most  excel- 
lent cducatkra,  which  would  have  fitted*  him  for 
any  situathm  of  Kfe,  had  he  been  governed  by 
the  TAlea  of  commtm  prudence,  or  discretidn ; 
but  he  was  nnfortoiiately  ope  of  those  who  cott- 
jridcred  bis.  cAowtioii  a«id  parts  as  exde^tiofis 
agateost  the  cetisore  of  the  world ;  and  the  ifldul- 
tgeilce  of  his  parents^  instead  of  inducing  <»^be- 
dicnce,  and  beiisg  a  spur  to  his  industry,  only 
,made  him  the  more  Garckss^  in  «he  economy  of 
his  heaith  and  fortuhe. 

Xs  Macklin 


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30S  UzuoiM  OP 

'■  MwUKn  ^t  first  rfesighed  him  foi*  the  law,  and 
for  diid  purpose*  eiidredi  him  ih  the  Temple, 
where  he  furnished  bim  iriuh  ichanibers,  a. library, , 
&c:  Sie.  r«thef<Jiiboven^hatlie:c6ukl  afRvrdi  consi- 
•deriiig  the  (ksoaliyof  hisi  i^cmne.  "  And  what 
i)6ok,  Sitj^'^ialid  the  vdifefraiii^nn  telling  this  cir- 
cumstance,) do  you  thinkJ  ftiade  him  begin  with? 
Why,  Sir,  V\l  tell  you— the  Bible— the  Holy 
Bible;  "^'' The  Bibie,  Mr.  Mackliu,  for  a  Law- 
yer!*'--^**  Yds;  Sir-^the  prop«rest  and  most  scien- 
tific for  zniionest  lawyeiv-as  thcr^  yoii  will  find 
the  fouoidatioiii  of  all  law,  as  .well  as  ail  mlorality. 
And  for  this  purpose,  Sir,  I  bought  him  a  Polyglot 
Bible,  which  cost  me  twenty  pounds ;  and  the  dog 
J^riew  how  fofaiake  useof  it,  if  he  had  had  a  ndnd 
—but  lie  was*idle  ami  unmanageable— -he:  had  the 
early  dissipations  of  hi^  father  about  bim-r-^but  his 
fducation  ought  tp  have  Vtaugbtbim  better/' 

1.   Left  to  his  own  govemmekt  in  chambers,  he 
50on  gave  upiwhat  is  called  the  dry  study  of  the 
law,  for  the  im>Ye  fiatteringamusements  of  Covent 
-Garden— and,  after   a   certain,  time,    the    only 
use  it  api>earfid  he  made  of  bii  books  was,  "to  give 
-them  a  better- chance  of  being  better  used  by 
^omebo<ly  ejs$.     In  sliort,  be  not  only  run  ou)t  the 
little  money  bis  finher  gave  him,  but  sold  his  li- 
brary, and  every  thing  else  he  could  lay  hold  on ; 
apologising  to  his  father,  *'  that  the  study  of  the 
law  was  not  suited  to  the  versatility  of  his  tem- 


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CHARLES   MACKMN.  309 

per ;  but  that  if  he  would  get  him  any  situation 
in  the  ariny,  he  would  use  his  utmost  endeavours 
fully  to  atone  for  all  past  miscarriages." 

The  fondness  of  a  father  accepted  this  apology ; 
and  Macklin,  using  Ws  interfest  with  the  Marquis 
Townshend,  got  him  upon  the  establishment  at 
Woolwich,  where  he  soon  distinguished  himself  in 
the  several  branches  t>f  malihematical  knowledge 
preparatory  t^a  military  ilifie,  and  for  w^hich  this 
academy  is'so  justly  distinguished. 

When  heihad  finfehed  his  studies  at  Woolwich, 
he  was  appointed  a  cad€t^  and  M'as  sent  out ,  to ' 
India  in.  this  capacity,  where,  soon  after  his  land-, 
ing,  he  obtained  a'cbmtiiission  in  the  army.  He 
was  now  on  the  high  road  to  preferment,  at  a 
time  of  life  best  calculated  to  lay  the  foundations 
of  a  fortune,  and  with  an  appropriate  educatio;i  to 
further  it  to  any  extent,  which  reasonable  hopes 
might  expect;  hut  all  these  availed  him  nothing 
(to  speak  figiiratively}  whiUBt.Mordecai^tOfid at tht 
g'a/e-H4-liis>passioiis  atobdjft  the  gate  of  his  reason 
before  hTm  a^nd  his  fortuup, '^nd  tUrned>aside  every 
thing .  whicb  Milenis/  \e*du'pation^  and  high  re- 
cominjendafionii,  imi^litj  .riaturaHy,  lead,  him  to 
expect  •'  "-'-  -'"^  .■    '..-.  '"..    •  ■      ■'  ■     ^ 

Manjn  ^re  the  rmad  ami  unaccountabJe  frolics 

told  of  thisf  unhpppjTT  yoaang  man  whilst  in  India: 

X3  the 


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310  .     SiEMOIRS   OF 

the  following,  however^   will  serve  to  shew  the 
Strang^  ecceiltridty  of  liia  temper.        . 

In  the  course  of  some  convivialities  with  his 
brother  officers,  he  happened  to  have  a  quarrel 
with  due  of! them,  which  was  taken  up  so  high  on 
both  sides,  that  nothing  ^ess  than  a  duel  was  to 
determine:  it.  Accordingly,  it  was  agi'ecd  the 
partids'  sbobld  meet  die  next  morning,  at  an  ap-* 
pointed  place,  vnth  seconds  and  pis^pls. 

When  Macklin  came  upon  the  ground,  he  ap- 
peared wrap|>ed  up  from  Itead  to  foot  in  a  loose 
greatcoat,  so  that  no  part  of  his  figure  could 
be  distinguished  but  his  head.  This  was  thought 
an  odd  dress  for  a  man  to  fight. a  duel.  How- 
ever, it  passfed  without  notice  till  the  ground  was 
measured,  ,  and  the  antagonists  \vsere.  desired  to 
take  their  different  stands;  when,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  all,  Macklin,  throwing  off  his' gi-eat  coat, 
appeared  in  a  perfect  «tatie  6f  nature,  without ;any 
article  of  dress  about  ft irti  than  a  pair  of  moi^ecLcd 
slippers,  liis  a'ntagonist,  ^alaitmed,  'ask^d  him  the 
cause  of  so  odd  an  appearance.!  m^  Why,'  Sir, 
(says  Macklin  very  coolly,)  I. win  tell  y?ou;w2th 
great  candour,  that,  in  ordeiv  lif  you:  please; :you 
may  take  the  same  advantages  yourself.  '  It  is 
this — I  am  told,  that  most  of  the  wounds  which 
prove  mortal  in  India,  arise  firom  some  partrof  the 
woollen, .  Or!  lineiiy  w^ich  a  man  gieneiaHy  carrier 

I  'r  about ' 


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CEAftLii  «rA*KLiN.  *1'4 

€he«esli«ikiiig#itt*thfe^bttB,  atld^hich  octaitt4i4, 

figfet  qtiiw  ttttked,  jast  fts^yott'^e*,  tbktiif  I'dfe^aW 
haw  <lbe  tt^UfiMtun^  tif  beUig  lvdtod*d;f  l^iA],  ^ 
Itast,  hive  a  better  H^hatic^dfi*6tdvtetj|n'^    '^?  ''^   ^ 

TTitt  *ftrmttess  ef  tft^s  deblftMicm, :  attd  tbe  %k^ 
vage  figure  which  presented  itself  before  hirti,  de^ 
terred  his  antagonist  from  proceeding  any  fur-^ 
tlier-^his  second  deda?ri»g  they  were  nkt^t  on  a 
p^  fw  s«i<fety ;  find  tht  akerMti^  of  6ghlteg  & 
duel  tt^ed,  was  meilihet  )agteeablt  to  the  Mws  of 
honoat  t>r  of  deeency. 

Thus  lEfAded  this  ^tattge  aifw,  A\4*ith,  *vitfe 
matiy  other  fjValiks  of  a  toort  ierious  nature,  ^ 
i9bfiged  MaekUft  to  fcave  the  itrmy;  and  sooia 
after,  finding  himself  desefttd  by  his  friei^ds,  !i* 
set  «ail  for  Eiiglaiid,  aticl  Once  mor^  thitw  him* 
sePf'AJ^a  Ms  father  for  support. 

Ai!fiJ^  hitre  it  is  iieotsafal-y,  |n  justice  to  his^ft- 
flier's  tafemory,  to  say,  that  no  man  tock  taore 
pains  to  stterigtfeeii  iiis  son's  mind,  both  by  edu* 
cation  an^  good  advice,  than  he  <lid.  In  the^ 
early  part3  of  his  life,  he  took  uncommon  pains' 
to  give  liim  an  excellent  education,  \viMch,  to  do- 
the  son  justice,  ^  he  had  parts  sufficiently  to  culti^ 

X4  vate, 


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Hit  'AiiM^imi^x^tu . 

|yfoai<blf 'tto^iiiP>c^n^ia^  ifit^i^^  %  ^jsppsition 
d^  ,ifer*ftg  it[)4fifAlftvprQp?l1  ^^  He  h^  ji^ewisc 
read  the  Ei^ii^hj?l?'^§>cs,.»^ithicoBsiderable;atten* 
tipn;  and,  on  the  whole,  could  support,  when  he 
^ttgtitipflppfft,;fk ^iiare in  {ffinvgrsatipft  with  ytry 

^  Hisfife(the,r,  tl^r?fore,  knowing;  what  ^le. could 
^0^  and  likg^vis^  wl^at  his  propensities  led  him  qq- 
^^siogaljy^  tftcpmmit,  constai^tly  interested  hi^; 
self  in  securing  him  the  bes^  interest  he  could  in 
India,  as  well  as  giving  hin)  the  best  advice  for 
J^fsgegerral-  condoct:.  hepQinJ;^  out  to  him  the 
supaj-ijQr^dvajitages.  he  ha4  QYfir  himself  in  point 
of  edqcation,  pro tection^  and  oH^set.m  life,  and' 
jponjured.  him,  by  qverj)  si?ntifl?(?nt  .;>yj^ich  he 
thought  could  grouse;  his.feplings,i.to.ayai\l  him- 
self of  those  flatterif^  asjist^pc^s.! .  ^  jMapy  f>^  ^hese 
letters  (as  well  to  his  daughter  as  his  son)  do 
gppq.t  credit  to  the  ^xp^rjenpe:  find  -pa^ffiiaij^ec- 
tipn  of  p}d  Pap^klii^:  ^jli^y^aippre;  ;tl>f yx^be^w a 
man  n<^t  piily  JRf^r^ested  \x\^jfiQ  ^,f^m^^oS.  j^s^^l?;!' 
dngn^  but  jjjijthe; moral  dut^je^^gf  jijfe;,pojnting,put 
gliosis  (JM^^Sr.jij^tb. great;  fi>rce5of  ^fpre^sion,^aSt  the 
pnly  #urte,foj^ndfltjj>ft9Jtf^tur&^^^  .     . 

.      ;  i*  :;  '  Judge, 


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chau.b&!BCjU^kliv.  «    sis 

his  tender  and  unceasing  solicitations  for  hisodn^i^ 
honourable  advancement  in  Kfe,  repaid  by  so  dis- 
gnceiiilraaetnmi  ^rttoini  M^hioh  b<i*  dnIy;iiAis- 
trated  the  presitht!ol^fct,  bufecut  up  fthe Jait  bop9 
of  serving  Jiim  iiia«y.tuturie  aitiiaUatot-  ».  .1  \ 
'    .'. . .       MP  •^.-     .  : <■'  •    "  *. ;- ;  .    M 

:  His  fathert  kiftdi^ss,  bowfcVcr^  still  pre Vaiiled,^ 
atid  he  again  took  hitt  undef  his  roof  and  pkreh- 
tal"£t(Factions*  Here  he  contiiiu^d  for  some  timd 
a  mere  walking  gentleman.  At  last  the-fatbef,' 
by  k'^y  <^f  giving  him  ^tne  employment,  a^  well 
as,  soccfie  weanBT-o-ift^e  by,  proposed  hife  tramlatiiifg; 
si>the  b6(ik,  and  pointetl  out  to  him  Le  Monde 
Primlif.  \\t  acbept^d  the  pt(5posal,  &n<l  the  fa- 
ther soon  after  got  him  ari  engageWilent  for  thi$ 
purposev  '  He  pro<5ee<ted  o^this  woVk  for  some 
time;  but  his  early  dissipations  again  broke  oUf/ 
s^as  to  impair  his  constitution,  and  of  course  un- 
fi]t  him  f<>r  business.  .;  :  k '^ 

It  was  4*  vaift  ^hfeit  hirftither  threatened  attcf^ 
rmioi(^ti*atfed^-4Mj»fi^ime8  actually  turning  him 
CMktibf  ttehbofe^,"m»d  tli^ti  taking  him  in  again; 
tiying*  ev^ry  ^possible/  riffethod  to  reclaim  him. 
Tbc  consequence  of  repieated  irregularities  at  last 
produced  a  locked  jaw,  and  it  was  with  some  diffi- 
culty he  was  enabled  to  swallow  his  victuals.  In 
this  wretched  state  he  lahguisltctl' for  ^ome  time, 
''-'--  ^     jji.n  *•      .  ..    ^'  '    '  and. 


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ib4  Kafpiiilyi  for  hmp^iedl  is&w  ycarsr  hpfore  Jthc 

-  Macklin  w»ixbtiir.^nr?fiidT«t  tkatlera  \iiheii  tke 
getterality:>fof  inettvsl[>'«idtai«^d:  in  age  iw^gin  *g 
feel  its  misetves^^irik  4ti^^<iii|g4:l»d  great  majority 
.of  their  contemporaries,  relations,  frienils,  and 
afquaijatiapfi^^i  droppiag  off^<)iini4  fhem,  leafing 
U?c«i  eyiery.day  more  qbeerle^s,  ap4  more- jucut 
pafhfc  t^,  i»iiiisitcf>  ekber  t%  tbftmsielve^  Qtmh^m 
t}ipif>|?a89iest  .pr  tJOmfprta  Qf  li/^.  U^  however* 
ll4d  ^is  fxi^lweholy  sceae  mQre  in  pros^ct  thaii 
idirSe^Tsajtipp ;  as,  tboug^  wto^^t' tip  age  of  ^eighty- 
si^,  be  walked: firm  m^dereqti  cob^erserii||faHlt«» 
ly.ap^  pkasatitly  with  feis:ffieftd%  aCd  had  i«  Wl 
profession,  as  well  a$  looking  forward  t<^  tl^e  <la* 
ties^of'it^  at  least,  tfe^  l^ope  ^nd  cbeerful-ufiss  of 
iB^dteage. 

He  continued  in  this  manner,  wJtl>.8!CftrxJeIy  any 
visible .  declension  in  his  powers,  till  the  28th  of 
N^yember,  1788,  I^Jff  n,»|of;jthe  Ar§^  tm%^  HuSir 
Pertinax  Mftc  Syqqpb^nt,  Mk^^m^^h^mlm  re-i 
collection-.  The  an^ifpjefe  .wcffe^kipdileoJtJugb  to 
impi^tedus  want,  of .  H>empry»ja$r^)^cb  ,tQ  Jthe. ;  0xr 
trerne  length  of  the  part,  a3  to  the  very  advanced' 
age  of  the  pprformer;;  but  be  felfc  sjMoetbing  more 
serious  witbiia  hilnj^if,  tbana^ca^ualkpae  of  in£- 
iiiory,  aix^  addre3§4ng  tbe  audience  in  ^.3bort 
speepb,  told  them,  **  that,  unless  he  found  him- 
self 


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Googk 


CHARLXS  JSACKLIM.  9\5 

self  more  capable^  be  should  nerer  again  venturt 
to  solicit  their  attention." 

He,  however^  rallied  after  this,  so  as  to  ^  gain 
not  only  his  usual  applause,  but  encourage  a  hope» 
that  his  theatrical  labours  ^wre  not  as  yet  at  theif 
final  close. 

In  the  begiTiniiig  of  the  next  year  (10th  Janu'* 
ary,  1789)  he  attempted  Shylock  in  the  Merchant 
of  Venice*^  part;  though  full  of  bustle,  distinc-^ 
tio©,  and. attention,  yet  not;,hy  any  means  so  Ibng 
as- that  of  Sir  Pertinsix-H-but  hece  bis  reeollection 
again  failed  hifti.  He  made  a  very  forcible  apo- 
logy to  the  audience  on  account  of  his  great'age, 
and  assured  them,  **  it  should  be  the  last  time  of 
bis  appearing  befiwe  them,  if  he  did  not  find  his 
health  fully  re-established  enough  for  that  pur* 
pose."  The  applause  of  the  audience  to  this 
speech  seemed  to  rouse  him,  and  he  finished  the 
part  with  tolerable  success, 

'  '  •  -'  ^ 
His  fast  attempt  on  the  Stage  was  on  the  7th 
^f  May  foltewiftg^  in  the  character  of  Shylock, 
for  his  own  benefit.  Here,  bis  imbecilities  were 
previously  foreseen,  or  at  least  dreaded,  by  the 
Manager;  bu1|:wbo,  knowing  tbe  state  of  Mack- 
lin's  finances^  g^e,  with  bis  usual  liberality^  this: 
indulgence  td  bis  age  dnd  necessities;  and,  t^ 
prevent  the  disappointment  of  tlie  audience)  (who 

be 


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ht  fcuewv  &oiii  long  ekperiente,  wete  always  ready 
to  assist  in  those  Kberal:  iiidulgendaijto  an  old 
and  meritorious  servant,)  he  had  the  late  Mr. 
Jlyder  tinder^studaed  in  the  pirt,  ready  dresjetl  to 
^upply.  Macklin's  deficiencies,  ifnwcessaryi  The 
presoaution  afterwards  proTcdsa  ' 

When  Macklin  had  dressed  himself  for  the  part, 
^rMch  f  he  did  with  his  usual  acctiracy,  he  went 
iRto^tiw IG  reen  Room,  but  with  such:  a.  *'  lack-lustre 
lookwg  ,eye/' J  as  plain  I  j^  indicated  his  inatbihty  to 
|>erft)rm^  ;attd  comm'gi  up  to  thtj^late  Mrs,  Pjope/ 
ftaid^  ■*  JViy  diajj,:  are  you  to  play  to  mght?*'-^ 
*^  Gp#i  God!  tojbieaurel  atn,  Sir.  Mh%  don't yoa 
Sfe  I  atn  dressed  for  Portia?"  **  Ah  I  very  true; 
1  bad  forgot~-But  who  is  to  pky  ^fiyloek  ?"— 
3rhe  imbecile  tone  of  voice,  and  the  inanity  of 
look,  with  which  this  last  question  was  asked, 
caiised  a  melancholy  sensation  in  all  who  heard 
it;,  .At  Jast  Mrs,  Pop^,  rousing  herself,,  said, 
"  Why  you,  to  be  sure;  are  not  you  dressed*foc 
the  part?" — He  then  seemed  to  recollect  himself, 
and,  putting  his  hand  to  bis.forebad^  patheti- 
(jaHy, exclaimed,  '*  G©d  help  me— tmyimKemory,':! 
ani  afraid,  has  left  me.".  '  ,  .^ 

H^,'  however,,  after  this,  went  upod  the  Stage, 
and^ddivered  two  4)r.  three .  speeches  ©f.  Shylpcfc 
is*  a.  manner  that  evidently  proved  he  did  not  un- 
derstand what  he  was  repeating.     After  a. whiles 

he 


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he  rcooverediiiniidf  a  ritUe,aii4  seemed  ttf  make 
an  effort  to  rot^  tiirotpif ;  bair  in'  vain-^N<itufe 
cdaid  assist. him  bo  Mtherj^i^fid/' after  psi;ii6hi^ 
isometirne,  va&if  botisiderit^  what^todo,  be  iSk^ 
came  forward,  and  informed  the  audience,  ^,^Thidk 
he  now  found  he  was  unable  to  proceed  in  the 
part,  and  hoped  they  i^oaU  accept  Mh  RydeF  as 
his  substitute,  wbo>'u«rs>  labtaxiy  |]itepeTOd  to  tfiiuiliL 
4t.  *'  The  audience .  accepted  iiis  ia^logy  ^  wifib  ^ 
mixed  applause  of  i  i]^di%encd  and  oommiBeratiUi 
-rsand  ht  reared  from  the  Sta^efor ever/-  r  *      It 

Though  Maekfin,had  thus  fcettred  fromliis^ptfa^ 
fessiona)  business  throvgh  a^  mcipacity  df  ine^ 
mory,  he. was  &rfrom  feeling  theh>firmHie&  of  86 
advanced  an  age  in  the  private  habits  of  'Kfe :  h^ 
lived  much  abroad,^  as  usual  took  bis  Ions:  M'^tds; 
jtoW  his  anecdotes  with  tolerable  recoHectioii,  atld 
almost/ every  nighti frequented  a^  public-house  in 
Duke!s  Contt,  Covent  Garden,  where  numbers 
used  to  resort  to  hear  a  man  of  the  seventeenth 
century  relate  the  wonders,  and  CiiHosities  of  past 
timev  '  . 

It  was  at  this  aera  that  many.  i^tQri^  and  dnec- 
iic^tes  of  the  tbcatrical  characters  in  days  of  yore^ 
lia^e  gone  abroad  in  the  worlds  very  little  found- 
^  cm  facts.  Not  that  we  believe  Mackliu-tver 
sneant  to  deceive;  but,  as  he  depended  ioqjvk 
^rhronology  more  ftom  some  correspohdiflg  facts 
i^-  than 


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^imlfOf^tUiPUf.  ift^hlcb  ^aoy  peepte  faU  ioctd  from 
hfAim^  iBd  in^tmit}9v^)  he  was  oftj^ti  tnaccDmte; 
49iA  acimelMBOsihii very.«3eiitial  jpaa^  of:  hiaowa 
Wi«>ry./-  -  .^  .^  •   P  :  .      -  .::  Ui:i:  J  .•   ..  ^.   -:  /. 
:>nf  /ri   L-. '.^.:.:     >^'  !    ■   :  -  -,  j   'Ji(   d  •  •  -L    r'      .  -   . 
vr  E*r/ifast4fi(»TMrii*iicver  te's^t^ebf  his jfirst 

^c»ivl79$$'ad^  dtt)bgii.tbt8  putjtf^'sp  reiharkai- 
Uc}#it4ootiu>odo£;  tibc  ride  of-  hb  thsatrtcaiE  hidaa, 
that  one.ntaiild  Bti^Dse  hts.i^iftaii  &mr  miut  be  tbe 
highest  authority,  yet  the  fact  was  otherwise,  as 
:thiff^;f|t?€r»writtow^o«iinife»tfe,iib0th  by  the  plisiy- 
ImAIs  af  the  dajr^  aodLOthey  "vtciachoS)  which  ascsei^ 
,taini)i«;iirfttiii|)()eafance  m  this.tkatsicter  to  foe<m 
the :  t4«h  of  Fetetiary,  1 740^1 .  .Sook  is  the  Mgtect 
i^Ca*  Vijttteaiutbinietical  knowledge,,  'which  the  vii^ar 
Jinoimaarty  dqwrived  of  from  early  ignofaaiee;  feat 
.:\^lH«h  the  Jeanied  too^often  ridicolcmsly  despisf,' 
^  ttftworthy  to  iMnglie  hi  their  lligter  rdsraTClaei. 

;  Mt  \\ras,  jtotidthstanding,.  at  this  period^  oflto 
a  very  curious,  entertaining,  j\nd  informiii^  pe*L 
son  to  spend  an  evening  with— to  those  who 
jk,naw  Iwa  t€«nper,  a^  would  not  draw  him  into 
Wo^  OtgiMiaientis  ''atid.  coDtradtctioi3B,  sntl'  ecudd 
sometimes, [bring  him  back  to  his  rccolteotoofi 
^Inmt  puj^Bc  eveutei  If  he  *^vas  not  always  e»-  ' 
^tly  right  abo\$^  nanies,  dates;  or  plaxres^  hecovM 
jteilpi^ny,  dctaiJi,...aijd  Httlc.cihciMiastaiiecay  wMeh 
.    i.r  none 


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nme  hn^  iiti^g^wit«wses-  .ftaurfecS '  weHrr^ltfe :  hfe 
could  likewise  tell  tim)%tQtnp(^rj^:  tkit  ti];nea;wfa^ 
such  things  happened,  and  prove  it  by  corroborat- 
ing events.  ^Hrese  h^^bftfen  accompanied  with 
sijch  shre^^  i^^i^i^  >as  shewed  he  was  never  an 
inattentive  observer  of  M'hat  was  passing  before 

Me«t}|^§  yi^b,  )tl^^^f^J9(ipi^C9jF4hese  anecdotes  iu 
one  of  his  morning  rambles,  he  asked  him  where 
be.  HSH^lly.^^t4ji9^f^?i4^|;s^  ^?,]ie  sjiould  he  ^ad 
to.m^^wit\i  §9fr|*^9f^^his;  9ldj,^(;^pa^^^^  Tlpe 

easuipg  Sat^J^jf^eye?U|)g^,  >Ka?  rapjp^iBJjed^  at,  the 
Fouqjtain  in,.th^.§tj;a^^^^  ijoj;  j^j^ly,  several 

of  his  oW  .frjl^(?pd8,,n^ej;;^  Jbut  two  .^r  tjUjee  others^ 
(one.Qf  them  a  learned. anci  respec|:ab^  pig^ita^jf: 
of  the.  Church)  who  wpr?  ci^riQuS'to  hearthe  cour 
versation  of  a  man  that  had  lived  so  long;  and, 
bustled  so  much  in  the  world.  On  the  morning 
ofthatday^  horv^^pyer^  the  Gentleman  who  made 
^he  a^poii^tn^e^t  :witti  him  received  the  foilowing, 
no.te^:  ' .     •      I     •      ' 


/i>E£^l«  Si-ri/    ■;-  -    '   •'  '^  '    ■••  -^    •'■>    ^■ 


f.r: 


.,  '^  I  a|p  SO;  ilj^^with  the .  rheumatiso)  that  I ,  .caA-  * 
nat  :iea>;e  my:  bpd.  •  ,(>ur  ,mutuial  friend^    Pn, 
Br/jcklesby,  has  oonfinef^  me  there  fpr  thJ3  mof a-; 
i|ig;;..50  tliat  I  am  afrabdithe  morning  and  tha 
c^yec^og;  Ayill  ucjit  only  be  thej^zw^  ^dy — butjthat  X 


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njjv/   i'^iu^^"^0'):.i;'^.IW•"«l.!S^^Sef?^y',.lu  ...  \i^^. 

'*  P.  S.     My  respects  to  your  associates— tliey 
know  the  business  of  life  must  be  attended  to.  or 

we  ^mm^m^^miimmsH^^ 

bl^^'liea^A  !iis  vcfJi-e^bfi'th^  ^dfrsj^Vety' far  from 
the  torife  of  a'siilt;  maiir  glVi'n^:^iteidiir  about 
hi^iu^^r".'"'  ■'•'''-  ""■'  ^^^!  '-'"IK  ioiic.'..;  .. 
;-.::. ..-..-  ',:;.  ,.J     .b.;.-.v  3:.";  iii  ajL-t.:  o.  .■>.»;;  .. 

.  W'heii  •  lie*  '4jk  ann6iifi^e<|7^  ati'tf^ad '-  t^k^ii  IjiV 
^at,"  he  tofd  lis,  as  th6"i)aiii ''hid  i^ft  hi'm,  h& 
thought  he  was  authorised,  like  the  man  in  scr5i>^ 
ture,  "to  take  up  his  bed  and  walk." — Exercise 
always  did  him  more  good  th^fi  phywt,  and  so* 
ciety  had  always  a  double  charm  on  him.*'  Then 
tdVn'n%  abouif  tb  the  Wrtl!V,'"^"yell;-  Sii',  We 
yt)\i  rteolletti?d  'wfet'"fybrdered  fo'r'suj)}iei*?**^' 
"Oyes/S^V;  perftctlj^^  \Mi^Lafrt6^s'}'^^''^'^i 
thouglii'so,  byG^^!^N'o;Sir,  (w'kli ^  io\ce4M 
^tJ^nt6r,)'L'aM'i-  •^ot/--thai:  is-td'  sky,  -thos^'f^V^s 
■''-''  ■  -    of 


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CHAftlEfr  ICACRllK.  SSI 

of  the  lamb  which  you  tisiiaUy  fry,  I  must  hava 
boiled,  with  a  little  parsley  and  butler ;  for  I  have 
no  teeth  for  your  damned  hard  frys."  His  sup- 
per soon  after  was  served  up  according  to  his  di- 
recticbis^  which  he  seemed  to  like,  and  eat  with  a 
y^ry  good  appetite. 

*  It  was  previouBly  settled  by  the  company,  not 
to  draw  bjmf  into  long  stories,  nor '  to  cotttnadict 
him;  as  it  was  foutid,by  the  sad  eKpericbc^  of 
many  then  present,  fh«rt  tliis  precaution  was  nc^ 
cessary..  The  plan  suoceedfed ;  when  feeKrig  him- 
self kt  liberty  to  be  "  the  hero  of  his  little  tale,'* 
be  went  into  a  number  of  anecdotes  ^  past  times, 
which,  in  many  insfclnces;  coitipaped  witli  the  pre* 
sent,  foniied  a  contrast  scarcely  credible  ;  parti- 
cularly in  the  general  article  of  living;  where 
board  and  lodging  did  not  e^rceed  thirty*  pounds 
jfer  year,  and  where  the  best  apartments  on  the 
first  ik>or  about  Co  vent  Garden,  run  from  eight  to 
ten  shillings  per  week;  Very  creditable  trades- 
men, St  that  time,  used  to  purchase  tl4eir  steaks 
or  chops  at  the  nearest  market  themsefves,  and 
have  them  dressed  for  pothing  at  the  public-house 
they  resorted  to ;  and  this,  with  a  pint  of  porter^ 
or  ar  glass  of  punch,  nMrmed  the  expences  of  the 
eveiihig,  which  generally  did  not  exceed  above 
sixpence  or  eightpence.  They  had  the  use  of  the 
newspaper,  too,  at  the  9ame  time,  which  was  ge- 
nerally read  by  some  one  man  ^^//-appQinted  for 

Y  that 


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892  .    ;H»li&(MB«:Of  • 

tiuttipiiirprcrsl,  x^lit)  r&^A,:f>n  tbougbt  feei could  rea#^ 

Fleet  street,  was  any  relation  of  1^?  Tpwhicb  be 
answered,  rather  shortly,  **  No,  Sir — I  am  the 
liN^  qimff^  wme'^th&fyrw  iio:oj|hef  ^foektia  be- 
fetB  Hierr-a«  I  kftveuted  it  merely  la.  gfet  lid  oi 
Ihafe  ihr^i  IkJ^i  iiamt,  JVC'LongfeU*."  .  *^  But 
migbit  iioil(.$ucl^>a;;9dibQ  e^ti^t  witho«i6  your:  hmtm^ 
">ft  it  V\  (^(iicl  a  Digtiktey  ;of  the  Church  pr«»OTkt) 
"^  Ko,  Sir,:'  (grwlmg^'^.  ''  Why,  myf.l  thiak 
of  H,  (tepljfti  lhcotbe«,).tb^ewas  aprii^ler  tor 
waKl^.  the  close  of  tb^  eixtewth.ceakiwy^near 
"tem^l^  filiV  of  that  n^^e  :!\at^.  ap|»otli(ig:ti^>a 
CJerttitenwtt  prfcseot^  very  con^y^nt  ift  Wack;letter 
k^rnmg^  ^'  I  believe  you  hiight  have  s»eii  book* 
^^hiaprwwtrog,"  ^  O,  y^l  (^ya  the  other,) 'sevtf- 
eal  Mtk  *he  name ,  of  MackJiu  at  tjhe  bottfloi  of 
thfi  tMtle^ge,"  Upon  this:  w)st  of  tlm.otMikp^^ 
Mf^miwJ^  ^^Wellr  Mt.4  MiackJi»^  wb4*.^o  you 
»ay:  now  ?  Hei^e  is^  piiod'  p^itivev"i^«^;Sa3f  .Jiow^ 
Sar^  (says  Maofcloi;)  why  aW  I  have  tid  iwyjS'tbw, 
(looking  the  tw^.  Anti%Uiari«iis  fuH  m\  %]m  faioei) 
that .  black-letter  men  wiW  //^.  like  otb«rni«n*.V 
This,  gmmev  et^  howcvjqr,  dy^d  not  iiltrrrMjpil  tbt 


*  Tills  comparison  was  made  1(5  yeari  agu-^What*  a  still 
greater  contr^t  ftiivst  appear  now;  when  atmoit  i^very  arth^lfe  6f 
4i£e  lias  rben  double ! 


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QOi|ti;u#f^  I*  ^b^  4^4:  of  til^^  fsyflPipg  i  «xlHbUtflg  i^ 

Notwithstanding  Ma^^i^'f  ye^i^  t^^v^^Q^^  ?g& 
it  made  very  little  impression  on  his  understand- 
ing in  t^  prop^r^iof  i  hp  stiU  icofltMHfled  hi*  m(»n- 
iUflr  pMnhlff,  W*  ^Q/?^i(m^  visits  tPf^S  Tl^fiatf^i 
aa^  l^^^lernof^^  fllnh  j^t  (?ovflnt  Gar4^ft;;  wh^f^ 
^iWBifM^ff^h  H«le,  »fl4  hy  ^^^«,yfitM  ^oyrt 
ed  ^:pTPffl9t^  Qowvflfsatiw  a94Wl*i|i^y..: 

v..  ■:"■„,:     .  ■•        ■■•'.•      •.••'.       ■;     :    '• 

Vm9  who  Iwiew  ]W«.  mflftt  iptimfttefy  J*  tbJ« 

pcrif»4,  JievftT  W<39  h%4 Jft  ^0%  |)«t  ti»t  *  WJ^B  9f 
W^JteiaglSvity,  l^slwglK  ^(m9,tk>»  iff  rhft  Th?i»tjre, 
and,  above  all,  his  intimate  k]90^j«^g§  >of  thif 
world,  had  sufficiently  provided  for  bis  indepen- 

a^I,  tb^/9^^t»gpf  ^fl  p?flwp^  pf  »iilwg  ft  p»»* 
yifii^/^r  <?W  i^,;ii(figitbff,alft>g;e,|feer, neglected 
jt,  op;,d9p^f4ft9P  .fweb.w^be  900rtn«*an.ce  «f 
Sfrftfig,b«a|tb  0  WO»ftmif<l>(Bcftk«e;  i^erfcapf,  Hko 
%  FffiiK^b  wit,  "li9b»d.Hy.ed§^.h>jig,  tbatjw 
tfen^^gi*  Pw#  »a^ghit;kay*>  forgot ,bi«,  .*im1  was 
lo^  0  ,t»f|e  pi»?%*^ojtt,  :fi^  ff^rsl  ^«tti»g  bis 
»dp^iis»|y,  jn.apfiiiv^.of  hm"  Tbefapt  Vf.a$,  though 
;^%9}^i^  wsftaJwaysifjiH.pwrf  for  fej?  ^nkots,  both 

■      Ya  long 


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981  HEifoira  br 

long  lit  any  tmt  engagement.  He  wa»^reckonc# 
to  have  befwiged  to  more  TBeatres  tlttti  any  bhc 
taan  of  hw lime;  and  though^ h*  ttiigfelt  <rf*eh'g«f 
an  advance  of  salaiy  by  this  transition,  'tlrt'hitcr- 
vals  of  being  unempioyed,  lAe^kpenees  ^tittveP 
ling,  shifting  of  lodgings,  &c.  &c.  made  heavy 
drawbacks  on  his  fortune.  :       /  * 

.  He  was,  beside  this,  fbnd  of  hw-mtts:  'Not 
that  he  vfto  ^litigious  man  upon  tricking,  oir^jt* 
terested  principles,  but  he  ever  hid  a  jealbusy  of  he^ 
mg  imposed  upon  by  Managers.  Hfeofterfdid  not 
see  things  in  the  clearest  light :  he  thought? %ooj" 
that  he  understood  law  better  than  he  really  did : 
so  that,  from  a  combinatidn  of  all  theefe '^^i^Mm- 
stances,  Macklin  wis  seldom  out  of  the  Cod^rfcs— ^ 
a  situation  that  generally  teaves  a  m^  edaiiJderiH 
Wy  out  of  pocket  -  ;     ^^^'  -^ 

I ji  the  managementof  his  private  affairt,  'hi 
Tms  alwayi  a  ifeserVedman :  his  engagert»ent«>'  *hts 
disbursements,  Bco.  v^ere  all  ^f  bis  oWn-'atAfege^ 
toent,  without  any  |j*rririt*ed  'intei*^retfi*>cyT)fi' 
femily ;  and  a;s  he  paid  alt  his  expences  puncftiiil- 
ly,  and  never  seemed  to  wAnt  money  propi^tibnSrte 
to  the  scale  be  lived  on^  liis  niost  ihtilAc^^  ¥614- 
tives  and  fViends  took  it  #»  granted,  thdt  he  4fj0i* 
fkr  from  a  state  of  indig^iice :  imt  thd  fcalb  df ifee 
cannot  long  go  on  (particnhrly  as-ttey  **!kWte 
M^ioiiestman)  widiout  m^on^y.  -  tbkiksi^tftitfa* 
.-^':  /  i'    ■  ed 


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CHABI,E8^  MAJCMIN.  325: 

qd  ^i^mi.  to  })is  wift,  who,  upoai^spccticin  in-^ 
to  bisj^flRaiirSi  (which  bc  perhaps^  for  i\\^Jirst  tknt 
permitted,)  found  hi*. whole  remaming.  f9rtui30 
did  j|^Qt  qoQfiist  of  above  sixty  poinds  in.  montyy 
and .  a  trifling  annuity  of  about  ten  pounds  per 
year. 

Friends  were  immediately  consulted  on  what 
was  best  ^o  be  dpue.  ^  It  >yas  at  6pt  prop<^sed  to 
procure  a  benefit^^play ;  and  the  Manager  of  Covent 
Garden  Theatre^  with  that  liber^ty  which  l>as 
ever  distinguished  him,  at  once  oifered  him  his 
house  free  of  all  expences.  It  was,  however,  ve- 
ry prudently  re-considered,  that  a  benefit  could 
notpossibly  embrace  the  gratuities  of  all  his  friends 
scattered  in  different  parts  of  the  three  kingdoms. 
The  plan  wa3  therefore  changed  to  that  of  pub- 
lishing his  two  celebrated  pieces,  *^  The  Man  of 
the  World,"  and  "  Love  k  la  Mode,**  by  subscrip- 
tion ;  and  Mr.  Murphy,  who  suggested  the  plan, 
followed  it  up  by  the  offer  of  becoming  the  Edi- 
tor, from  motives  which  he  thus  feelingly  des- 
cribes in  hk  advertisenieBt  to  the  publication.  ^ 

^M  look  back  with  inward  satisfaction  to  the 
share  I  have  had  in  serving  Mr.  Macklin's  inte^ 
rest  Afi^  soon  as  I  was  informed  that  he  was  so 
§u  imiNured  by  years,  as  to  have  no  prospect  of 
appearing .  again  in  ^the  exeri::ise  of  his  profession^ 
I  made  it  my  business  to  visit  an  old  friend,  whom 

Y  3  I  had 


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I  hid  \btfg  hkma  brfd  t^toW:    At<!h4i  rfedhrle# 

1  prdj^^ed  i6  hi  A  theplail  of  jMibliihftig  1^  SiHtn 
fceriptionreoiiVirKJed,  a&  I  tra*,  thAt  A  gbAeWW 
public  >tOuM  «4kte  jtoto  eotiisidetali^tt  the  Cttse^^ 
i  tettWttAftttfr,  Who  had  exwted  hh  tttlfeiitsi  dar- 
ing a  series  of  near  seventy  years,  to  promote  use* 
ful  mirth,  and  the  moral  instruction  of '  the  Stage.** 

Hikt  M*. ']V|utphytlittnot*terratfe{het!^iaim« 
%rhifch  MA<ik»h  httd  oti  WW  protection  of  the  piib*- 
fie,  Wfe  subjoin  the  fb!k>Wing  letter  fit>ta  ttee  ktc 
gii*  J^tph  Mb^rbey,'  as  a  spccitteu. 

i  .'..../'  •  *    "    .  '    '•*• 

/*  ^0  Doctor  JJaockx-esby^  , 

"t)fek/Sit, 


.  *^  Hbviftg  heard^  last  Bigfat,  that  a  plati  had  been 
adapted  for  t!^  Tcltef  of  Mtk  M^dklb,  I  feuMrfr  sent 
five  gvin^fts^  which  I  desire  jroil  ViU4pt>fy  as.m^ 
MJ>^GdptKm^ 

*^  ladeipisftdeBt  of  .the.fdeasuK  I  have  received 

from  the  writings  and  action  of  that  celebrated  co- 
nfediaiiv  Mr.  MftcUtfi  has  a  peculiar  chum  dntne 
&om  tht  foUbVis^^  c»rc«ras1nunce»  i 

i  <'  Oa  ifoe  death  e£  ile^tod  €aok(k,*  aiKmi:  tbe 
pod  of^fae  yelr  1  T\$l^:  at  Sfrtstb  LunfartK  myself 

.  *         .    ^    ;.^      J     -i  *v.  *  .'  '       .  ^'  and 

*  Usually  called  so  from  hit  being  the  translator  of  Hetiod, 

*  .       Digitized  by  VjOOQ IC 


CHAEXB8  itACItX.IN.  SS7 

imd  AAottier  gentleman,  set  on  foot  a  private  sub^ 
scription  for  burymg  him^  and  for  the  relief  of  liis 
wife  and  only  daughter.  Whilst  be  ye^  lay  dead 
m  the  house,  I  related  to  a  friend  at  the  licdford 
Coffee-house  an  a^dcountof  his  death,  and  the  dis- 
tress of  hki  family,  in  the  hearing  of  Mr.  Macklin, 
then  standing  near,  the  bar;  immediatdy  after 
which,  though  I  had  never  spoken  to  liim  before, 
nor  have  at  any  time  since,  Mr.  Macklin  addres* 
sed  mc  in  words  to  die  following  purport:-*-**  I 
am  much  concerned.  Sir,  at  hearing  tiie  mdant 
choly  account  you  hare  given  of  poor  Cooke  and 
his  family:  I  had  a  respect  for  him  whilst  living; 
and  you  will  theteSdrc  oblige  me  very  much,  if 
yoa  M^nip^nmt  me  to  add  my  mite  to  the  subt 
8erfj>tioii  yo^  bare  soiapdably  set  on  foot ;'-  and 
he  gave  me  ^urogutneas. 

^^  Skieh  an  iinexpeeted  act  of  genuine,  benero- 
leade  kM^  ^m  tibce  impressed  my  mtnd  with  It 
most  favourable  opinion  of  the  goodness  of  Mr* 
Macklin*s  heart ;  and  I  have  scarce  ever  heard  his 
name  ntentit>ned  in  private  qpmpaaiies,  without 
telKttg  it  to  his  honour. 

*^  If  you  should  think  the  publication  of  thia 
anecdote^  at  this  time, « would  be  Usffui  to  Mr. 

Y  4  .       Mackli*^ 


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93S  MiEtlOf  RS  OF        . 

Macklin,  ymi  haVe  my  leave  to  make  it  known 
in  any  manner  you  shall  choose* 

*M^m,  dear  Sir,  ,     , 

^^  with  much  Bespect^ 

^*  Your  faithful  humble  Servant, 

"  Joseph  Mawbey,   * 
^^  Great  George  Street^  Westnunater, 

In  short,  this  plan  succeeded  to  &e  whrhes  ofbi% 
friends.  A  subscription  was  set  on  foot,  under  the 
patronage  bfuhe  late  Dr.  Bfocklesby,  JohnPaltner, 
Esq.  of  Bath,  and  the  late  Mr.  Longmttn^  the  book^ 
teller,  who  kindly  acted  as  trustees  oiv  ttiia  occa-^ 
^ion,  which  produced  tlie  sum  of  1&9&,  lltk' 
with  part  of  which  they  purchased  an  anoiiiity  of 
2001.  for  Macklin's  own  life,  and  751.  for  that  of 
Mrs.  Macklin,  if  she  survived  him ;  which  came  to 
105«1.  19m.  fid.  The  rematnlfier,  was^  a{>plled'  to 
liis  immediate  relief,  uTider.  Ibe  divectiicm  €^  t^e 

trustees.  •  ;   ; 

■       '  '  *  '       .        -  •  .  *' 

■  The  bpoks  wci»  ddivered  to  the  subscrtbers 
early  in  1793,  in  a  quarto  edition>  very  elegftQtly 
printed,  with  an  engraved  head  of  the  Author, 
dedicated*  to  the  late  Earl  Camden,  whiohv  as  we 
are  informed  it  ^  was  written  (or  at  least  rough 
drawn)  by  Macklin  himself,  we  shall  insert  as  a 
specimen  how  strong  his  intellect  mu«t  have  been 
at  so  very  advanced  a  period  of  life. 


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**  To  Eael  Campen*  j 

"My Lord,  .     :    <  ^  .-.    :  -n   .:...   i 

*'  The  permission  with  which  your  Lordship 
has  been  p^ea^^ed  to  honour  ^le^- calls  ^c^  the 
wannest  ackm^wlcdgments  ^of  respect  and  jgniti- 
tade.  The  polite  condesp^i^siop.  with  whicjb^  be- 
fore that  time,  ]l  had  been^^diflitted  to  your  Lord- 
sl)ip>  preseiK;e»  was  always^ pQjjsid^ije4  by.  p^e  as 
the  happiest  ixif^Atnt  qf^  n^y^  life^  ;I  fcnejjr  fron^ 
what  a^  height  your  Lorcjsbip^.jbeh^d  .me  VjK^Y 
httnjble  stati^onr-yqu  loo^ed^^  X  may  ^ay^.  ifron^ 
Shakespear?!s,  cl;flF,.  a,nd  sa^w^^  wQpe  tha^  ktdjwqy^ 
iffumi  4t  rmm  gqtfi^ring  ^^Jtbi^  jRepjeatedoblir 
gaticms  taught  me  to  flatter  myself,  that  in  th^ 
evening  of  my  days^  I  had  obtained  a  Patron;  and 
what  at  first  was  vanity,  soon  turned  to  grati- 
tude '      ..  .        - 

.  "I  will  not  attempt,  my  Lord,  to  disguise, 
that,  in  my  ambition  to  prefix, an  illustrious  tiame 
to  this  edition,  there  was  a  secret  tincture  of  selff 
interest  Under  your  Lordship's  patrpuagc,  I 
had  no  doubt  of  success..  The  facili^^,  wjjth  which 
my  request  was  granted,  sliewe4  with  w^t,jl^ne- 
vokttce  you  w^re,  ready  to  >diey^  the  wa^t^  and 
£p6th  tlM^  langnor,  of  declif  in^g^^ge**  But  I  ff)rl?ie;^ 
^.e^lffge  upon  the^^ubjeij;^, , Jl;fm  allowed  to 
in^ribe  such  w<f1^  as^.|2)^<^.tay9u^^rfl3hip, 
-\  '*  but 


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but  not  to  speak  the  language  of  tny  heart;  and 
thus,  -whilst  I  fcnoWhat  is  due  to  your  virtues, 
I  am  bound  to  consider  how  litde  your  ear  will 
endure.  ' 

**  But,  my  Lord,  rirnce  truth  itself  is  stispccted 
in  a  dedication ;  since,  as  your  Lbtdship  is  pleased 
to  sa^,  Tt  is  seldom  read,  and  never  believed  ;"f 
hope  I  tttay  be  permitted  to  descend  to  an  hnmbier 
subject.-  CHd  age  is^  narrative,  a^d  delights^  in 
egotism*.  I  beg  Ifeavc  to  avail  niytelf  of  the  pri* 
vileg^.  The'  honour  of  being  distingirished  by 
SLord  CamdeA,  has  put  me  oti  better  terms  with 
myself;  and  though  I  fed  the  syrbpftoms  natnml 
Id  a  long  Hfc,  I  cab  boast  with  pride^  that  I  kno^ 
the  value  of  tlie  obligation,  ahd  to  whoni  Pam 
indebted. 

"  My  memory  is  not  so  bad,  but  I  can  stifl  re- 
member the  eminent  Lawyer  who  figured  at  the 
bar  forty  years  ago,  and  soon  became  the  chosen 
friend  of  the  great  Earl  of  Chatham.  I  remember 
him  in  the  office  of  Attorney  General,  support- 
fag  at  once  the  prerogatives  of  the  €rown,  wid 
the  rights  of  the  Ptople;  a  friend  to  th*  liberty 
of  the  Press,  yet  a  controller  of  rmcentiniisness, 
and  a^rm  defender  icrf  the  piinciples  of  the  Revt^ 
hrtion.  1  remanb^r  the  same  great  Lawyer  pre- 
siding in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  arid  I  was 
present,  tm  a '^greaf  i>ccafto%  -when-^iienrf«wrf^ 
S  rants^ 


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M-hi* feet.       '■     r  •'-.  '■-.•;  -^^  '-  '        '  -    -' 

'*  I  remetnbet  the  saT*tte'j^£A  J«d^c  in  tlw 
hJgfcest  CourtofJiidiciturc,  deciding,  like  Lord 
Hardwicke,  with  coen-hcAtlkd  jusikt;  uikI,  nfter 
a  regular  gradation  of  honours,  I  now  see  him 
Pireiidetxt  of  Ae  Cdunoil^  where  he  sit$  in  judg- 
tntht,  di8j)ensitig  litw  atid  equity  tballMs  Jl^jes- 
ty*s  foreign  tfominidti*, '^nd,  ^as  Shakespeare wysj 
**  beating  his  fecnlties  so  meek,  so  clear  in  hii 
gteat  bffice,^  that  a  pul^  adtniiii$tration  of  jttstiee 
5s  acknowledged  to  flov  through  aW  parts  oFtbe 
British  Empir^. 

"  My  memory,  my  Lord,  is  not  exhatrstedj 
but  I  hasten  to  a  recent  febt.  When  theXibel 
Bill  was  depending  in  Parliament,  I  know  who 
was  the  orator  in  the  cause  t)f  the  Pefople  and  the 
^6nistitution.  By  that  Bill,  which,  with  your 
Loftf8hip*S  support,  has  happily  passed  into  a 
law,  I  saw  it  determined,  tlrat  when  a  jnry  is 
sworn  to  try  the  matter  in  issue,  craft  and  chi- 
dkne  are  no  longer  to  teach  tweke  meri  to  perjure' 
themselves,  ^y  resignhig  the  xAtcf  part  itf  theftr 
duty  to  the  discretion  of  the  Court— which  has 
7>een  femphatiedlly  calted  ^^The  Lawtyf  Tyrants.'' 

^  Rut  it  fe  nh  for  tne  to-^ptead^the  canvas,  and 

liirip^f  the  'j)ditrait  by  isuch'nwak  -colourmg  ts 

^* '  "  mine. 


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$§%  y  ^mfiiu^F 


m::> 


mory  than  I  have.  In  that  page,  posterity  wiU 
be  taught  to  honour  the  Statesman  whose  coni- 
pijehensive  mind  embraces  the  light  of ;  r^aaon^ 
the  principles  of  nattural  Justice,  and  the.  spifit  of 

the  British  Constitution. 

~      ••  .      ..^i,.     .     .,.^>...* 

' '       *  •         «     '       '  , '     \    i.   ii 

.  ^*  These  are  thetbingis,  my  J^vAy  whjcl^\-wi^ 
every  BifitQ%  J  T&ofipmh^  with  pleasure.  Xn  suph 
^  case  it  is  natural  to  boast  of  my  memory, .  that 
I  may,  for, the  same, purpose^;  retain  diat  faculty 
to.  the  end  of  my  days;  and  that  the  memory,  of 
Lo;'d  Camdep^  and  the*obligations  which  he  has 
bestowed  upon  me,  may  be  the  last  to  fade  frqm 
my  mind,  is  a  consummation  devoutly  to  be 
w;i$hedfor.  /    r 

/^  I  have  the  l^nour  to  remain, 
i       ,.  ^    /"Myl^rd, 

, "  Your  Lordship's  most  grateful 

"  And  mosjt  devoted  huipble  Servant 
;  "Charles  Mackhn. 

-  ■  ■■  ' ^     ■*       '    .  .. . 
MacWin  being  thus  freed  froua  the  wants  pf. 

pld  age,  it  seemed  to  have  some  immediate  eifec^ 
upoa  his  spirits. '  His  friends  endeavoured  to  di- 
•vert  bis  mind  from:  projects,  (which  he  was  al- 
ways more  or  less  driving  at  through  life,)  and 
turned  it  merely^  toamusemente^  which  he  seemed 
;0  catch  with  moire  appetite  than  generally  be* 


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CHARLES'  MACkMW.  333 

lon*s  to  old  age;    In  the  sufntner  of  that  j^eat  he 
was  oftcti  f^hnd' at  Sidlcr's  Wcfls-, ' AstleyX'  am!' 
HdghesV  seehied'mtrch  pleased  with  theeiiter-; 
taiiittteAitS'  *  bf '  <hose '  places,  *  ahd '  somethtjes'dww 
comparisons  between  the  present  and  past  state  oT 
public  places  with  great  pleasantry. 

Beitig  met  ohe  night  at  Sadler's  Wells  by  a 
fHend,  who  afterwards  saw'-fiim  home,  he  went 
into  a  Wstorjr  of  that  place  with  an  accuracy 
which,  though  Nature  generally  denies  to  the 
fecoHettion  of  old'  age  in  recent  events,  sfeems* 
to  atone  for  it  in  the  remembrance  of  more  rfr-' 
mStc  periods;     '  *   ' 

■  ^'-Sir;  I  remembered  the  tinie  when  the  price 
of  admissioiX  here  was  but  three-pence^  except  a 
fe^  places  scuttled  off  at  the  sides  of  the  Stage 
at  sixpence,  and  which  were  usually  reserved  for 
people  of  fashion,  who  occasionally  came  to  see 
the  fun/  Here  we  smoked,  and  drank  porter  aiid 
fran  and  watfer  as  much  as  we  could  pay  for;  and 
eVety  man  had  hfs  doxy,  that  liked  it,  and  so 
forth;  and  though  we  had  a  mixturie  of  very  odd 
cdmpany,  (for  I  believe  it  was  a  good  deal  the 
baiting-place  of  thieves  and  highwaymen,)  there 
was  little  or  no  rioting.  There  was  a  public  then, 
Sir,  that  kept  one  another  in  awe.'* 

Q.  **Were  the  entertaimhents  any  thing  like 
the  present?'*— ^X  *^  No,    no;   nothing  in  the 

shape 


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3^      ,  ^^  J^%^9m^  fyr.,.^^ 

^^PS,  of  tl^©%^.son^.hal;I^i^lesa^  l|^li^^ 

lofty  tuwiblmg^-jM^.  1^^  (hU.;jWftf.  dwehy  d*yr, 
%t^?'r .^  ^FR,  ^^S  f<iur  ov,  five  p^hj^it^Qj^  ^yij*. 

Q.   ^\And  how  long  did  these  continue  at  a' 
tinwff*^*— -4-  ^'Wl^/  %  4t,,4fp^4e4  ^ipoi»:  .ff  r- 
oumstai^ces*    The  grapi^ietor^J^J^  ^wf^y&a  M^ 
on  t^  outside  of  the  hioatl^  f p  ^ji^lc^ate  boy  i^Wk^ 
iij^p?ople  werie  ccjU^cted  for  a  spco^d  jexljibjtiof, 
i^wJ.when  he.  thought  there  were qaoi^gh^  hi^e^p^ 
tftth^^baqk  of  tbe:ujxp«rse^t$,  ^14 ^W^  out,  *'^ 
Hirmn  Fisteman  here?''    (this  was  the  cant  wor4 
agreed  upon  betweeen  the  parties,  to  know  the 
rt^te  of  the  peppl^  mthout;)  :upqDi.  which  they 
9o^ud€d  the  entertainment  with  ^  ,song/  di^, 
lai^apd.  that  ^v»clieuoe,  and  prepared  for  a  second 
rj^fff^tatioo,';     .      ,  . 

Q.  '\  Was' this  iR,Rosftmou'.^,tiw^r'-^-4.  '^  Ho^ 
no,  Sir  f  long  beforei^  Not, but  oJdJBosamon  im- 
proved it  a  good  deal,  an4  Jt  brieve  raised  thc^ 
price.  giBptrally  to  ^ixpence^  and  in -this  way;go<f 
a^^pat  deai  of  money-  Sir,  VW  %t]X  you  an  au©?-; 
dote  of  him*  When  Rosamoa  b^g^  ta  scratch 
togo^ior  some  cash,  hf  lodged  it  inth^  Bank  of 
England;  and  as  he  incrensed  it,  did  the  same  ta 
a  considerable  amount.  His  friends  khoiving  him 
tojfeari^rh^man,  aiwi%dii»^:l«w  hppwt^^uthis 


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him :  h%  cQiM  Ujr  AV^%  i^*  jfortuw,  nfri^  %%  \^ut 
^qpmii Mifiwltssi;  9^^  get  4nt;uiDere9t.  of  &)^«r.pcr 
«ra4*  U«  «^^%«t  doubC^d  ihp^rmiXyi  but tlidy 
ranking^  if  plaim  to. hWf  b^  ^ai^  d^termjneci;. fk«tbe 

2H»t  dfiiy  to  iHe  Bmk^  and,-  rtUhor  in  a  Q9af^,4¥4y^ 

to  aaother  .ofllQe  U>  have  bU, voucher  ^^aoHM^i 
fae  to<i4(  £w,  fit  this,  ajid  ca^fid  out  befigf^rtbeai 
^  **  HoWop^i  J/fi#«er/— yon  ,witb  a  pCTr  «tim^ 
beUod  y^Mkf  &%xrriow  of  the  orderly  and  fs^l^JiUaf 
)iabito  of  tbme  dio»)--yw»  have  been  robbjf^  jitia 
af  Ite  uitBnfot  Aif  8»y  moiicy :  fok  several  y^an^.  And 
momjQH^  vtaiHtJottke  the  priD(Cfpal-**4i  wiHi't;d<ii, 
my  kmowiog  o»;  rill»ve  jpiy  toits-^^  ca4l  ^fofii 
foj  money) — D— mn  me  I'll  have  my  /o^«*H^ 
look  to  it."  The  Cashier  instantly  saw  what  sort 
of  a  iran  he  had  to  deal  with;  ^  it»medla«ely 
senton^  of  the  clerks  rouBd,  ^to^iave  bHl  nf^f  exf? 
amdoed,  and  ptid  ofF.  Ro&aaftQni  th^t>  invesl^d  bit 
mraey  in  tbe  three  pier  oe&ts,  and  on  hip  firM^  iK^ 
ToAEod^  he  waa  so  pleased  at  tha.cifciifnf^titiiQcw 
tiiftt  It  gave  hit  frteudd  apnbUodinnieiiontba 
nccaaton."  ;:  .' 

;  ;  When  Macklin  alluded  to  the  aMcature  of  <^^mf1^ 
may  whids  resorted  to  Sadfer's  Wdla  at  thia  4»fy^ 
yii.  ^/  dot  it  was  tkt  odcaskmal  baiting^pbica  of 
thieves^  MghimympDi.  and.  dbcMdcflj:  ppf$ons»*' 

he 


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936  ^  ^w*&it^<nh'^^ 

ParliifnMtiifry  Di&Wieli^koiMhv^^  Mfb6«qti«n«'  «^ 
«nfe^o»  (f 751>  it?  ii  ^Wtc<J>  »*^  ^aft  A^  ^fi- 
gacy  df^tbfe  ^btflM€fti*'^p^le^^ll«^(f%i^  iB6be-feg«il 

<:iity  aft(t'tb#tt'>'^*»J^,  alnw^^^ve^y  villajge  had  ^bl^ 
66itibU€&^  irf<islc,»^inbibg/  and  gaming/  TPhi? 
McajfolHAed  a  {>^^fg}ou$  disfiipation  o^  the  titn^^ 
moneiyi  4iid^>mdril*,^f  the  loM^f  orders  of  people* 
Mdbb^^riefewe^esb  frequent, » that  the^enorniicy  irf 
lite  ctiiAif  (was  almost  effaced*  in  th^^nidds  of  the 
p«&(iie;  and  toothings  was  more  c^mfiMH  than  to 
'  tdVWrti^  in  'the  n«w4papers,  aji  impniiity  to  any 
pei^ott '  #ho  c^nld'  Ibrrpg*  to  a  partynhat  was  vob*^ 
bed;  ther^Hetts  that  h^  been  itak en  i^Krom  thcm^ 
istAd^*  Ihat  too  with  a  >reward  axxordtng  to  the 
irahie.       .  ,. . 

'^  trho6«di«ordetB\<^ere  very  justly  ascribed,  in. 
i^'l^aft  ineti»6nre,itd'the^Ktravagancies  of  the  com*" 
iMn*  people ;  arid  therefore  a  Bill 'w%s  brought  i  in 
fbrtha  better  preveritiflg  tJiefitB.and  robberies^ 
ind  f6r  fegnlating  places  of  public-en  tei*iainment> 
and  ^  {:KUmlHhg'  peof(l#  keeping  disorderly  housed. 
The  operation  of  this  Bill,  when  it  passed  ike 
House  of  Commons,  was  confined  to  London  and 
Westminster,'  ^anil  'twenty  miles  round  ^  and  '  all 
pet^ijfr  Willhift^Kit^diFduit  Mnere  required  to  take 
out  lk^4DCf$«siftdm  tfatt  ju3CicBs*of  the  peaee  of  the 
cdunty^ ;  aMeiMitedS  ati  dseinquartorJgettions, .  ber 
*  ■  .  fore 


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CHABLBai:MACIU-IN.  8S7 

fore  theyjconid  open  atfy.  roQiii  or  place  for  public 
damsinf;^  mu^iQi  pr^ay  pther  entertainment  of  ibe 
like  kind.  Several  other  regulations,  regarding 
idle,  disorderly,  or  suspected  persons  and  bouses, 
^N^e  iv^fftied  i|i.  tb^  i^afttjeA^t,  and  pecuniary  as 
wfilbas  cbrporal  penaitiie$  .were  affixed  totb^  tran$* 
gfessora."  ,  , 

.1  Wl>bttr>ve  thus  describe  the  estate  of  3VI;ackll»*9 
mmdh  afcid  Im  c^a^iotial  pleasantries,  it  wa^  'm  the 
ai!ia»ci(of  1793. :  S<^rt  after  tbiis,  ^  vjsibjftchaoge 
topk>i]^ace,  :both  Jn.rjiind  and  iperian  ;  the  ravages 
of  tiiii&i^aow  begflin  visibly  to  appear,^  and  a^ 
ythen  mefif.^  wcUtas  things,, temd  to  ruin,  (wht<?h 
Qtntio.tbft: repaired,)  the  devastation  spff^ds  ra- 
pidly,. J^Jfejee:  no  longer  preserv0d  jan;y  degireft 
of  tbar^ajettr-l^hit^^ye  had  lost  all  the  iu$^  qf  de** 
scribing  the  moveiwots  ,  of  his  mjad — aftdi  in- 
stead of  that  erect  form,  and  firm  step,  which,  to 
follow,.  i5(»med.  to. describe  a. man, of  fifty,  he 
dragged  his  tegs  leisurely  after  one  another,  ists^ 
eoa^ioiis.  of  Jais  atate  of  debilitation, . 

StiB  heroctcasioMlly  frequented, the  pit  of  both 
Theatresy  bqt  seeimingly  insensible  of  Avjhat  wa$ 
passing  before  him.  Even  his  faMauri'teipart  of 
Shy  lock,  the  part  which  first  established  and  sup- 
ported his  fkme  for  i^bpveJbatf  a  century,  he^id 
Botkncni^^it  when  it  waK  rep»e$ented  before  him, 
but  ftcqucntly  aiked,.  ''  What  \f  as  the  play  ?  and 

Z  .  who 


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who  w^  the  pedomittr  ^P^ith*wt  luiy  6di^ 
mtigle  remark,  tbati  ^  tep^tioii  of  tlg»  umo 
questtotv.:  'i 

Otie  <^  die  lasfr  effiorts  of  his  mmd  ^^M  o»  the  i^ 
pearahe^of  the  i?rift6ie  and  i^incejstof  ^ttles^«t'ihw 
Theatre  soon  after  their  marriage.  When  th^  ttam*^ 
pany  rose  to  salute  them,  and  Macklin  amongst 
thfe  iiumbef^  thfe  Prin^fe  wteogiilt:ed  hhtt,  and^  iWth 
Ikh  tfsti^l  ^litefi6^,  bcfM^ed  to  JMvnH^axiii^  ifioeiH 
nn^s  the  :h*kic$6^  id^hiivi^  th^  sainte  lidttMV** 
The  v^te¥atf  fete  fhife  lik«  an  el^Wicai  Aabk  j 
«Ad could talkof u^hjtig eke^  tt^ieh h« t^nthom^ 
iMrt  thie  dkfiif^ui^d  tediftOUf  tlfaat  1(IM^p«id  hiin 
bf  hid  I^ti6e^--He  eat  hfe  Mpj^^^wril^  greatefr  giwy 
^d^#td^i)»«l  t^e  cifci«n3taiit^,  in;  a  ^fmtd  khut 
of  nartaaion,  for  a^  fiJv»r  ^day«i*^fid-til«k,-i!rtida 
aiked»fi[bottt  k>  ^tttirelif  fdfgo*  it/     i  '  ^    ;-i  ' 

HcyW^  rtiekiw!j|ifoiy/  yeikow  troly,  *o«  Swift  de* 
^^ibe  this^  sMte  of  lAtVtte  in  liis  sdceutifctif  the 
Struldbruggs  I  aiid  what  a  les^inta  ddeiit  hold  oat 
for  human  vanity  at  amy  time  of  Hfe,  but  more 
l^rticttlai^ty  to  the  impptett  aasd  ivnrtinmi  deui*es 
^  tb^fse  wlio  are  constantly  wahing:  for  jdlcjetfi- 
tfeniit?f  of  old  age ! 

**  jWb^fi  thfe'  Sfi^bmggB  «dme  tDibu^cDrB^ 
(says  he,)  wbteh  is  feokoned  dieeictrelni^y-af  lir?* 
iftg  in  .th!6^40iintry,   they  bad  w)*  xarij^^ail  tlw 

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CHJIBLCf*MAC;KLiy.  flS9 

&iiSB  said  hifinnities  of  other  oldsnen,  rbuttil&ny 
numSf :  irbitb  aresc  frdm  die  cbrtedful  prospect  ^ 
uever  %hi^^  '  They  wer^  »ot  ohly  ^piniottatty^, 
4>6evifib^  jcovctvKoif  nkorose,  raitt,  tallcative,  but  in- 
capable of  friendship,  &ad  dead  to  all  jnatUral  9{l^ 
&cta^fn^  vfeidi  neretdirsoailkad  bfeloiv  tb«ir  grbutl- 
children.  Envy  and  impotent  desires  are  ^Imr 
prevailing  passions.  But  those  objects  against 
which  their  envy  seeitieth  prlficipafly  directed,  are 
flie  tices  of  the  ybutigei'  ^ort,  and  the  destths  df 
tlie  old.  By  reflecting  on  the  fortnef,  th6y  find 
themselves  cut  off  From  aTl  possibility  bf  pleasure ; 
and^  M'Tieneyef  Ihey  see.  a  funeral,  they  lament  and 
repihe,  lliat  others  are  goije  to  aft  harbour  of  fe^t, 
to  which  they  tlieiiiselves  caii  ndvef  hop6  to  ai'- 
riveat.      ' 

"  Tlxey  hav6  no  remeriibrance  of  fhe  truth,  or 
particulars  of  any  fact;  it  is  safer  to  depend  oh 
common  trkditions^  than  upon  their  best  recol- 
lections. The  least  miserable  amongst  thfem,  ap- 
pear  tote  tliose  who  turn  to  dotage,  and  entirely 
I^se  their  mewftories.  Tliese  meet  with  more  pity 
and  assistao^c^  becaiise  they  want  iva^j  bad  qua- 
litiel  whidi  abound  in  others*  . 

".As  io^m  as  thiy  have  completed  tlie  term  of 
eighty  yettrs^  they  arte  looked  upcm  as  dead  in  law ; 
thek  heirs  -immediately  succeed  to'  their  estates; 
on]y  a  small  pittance  is  reserved  for  their  support ; 

Z  g  -  and 


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340  iiEHOiM  or 

and  the  poor  onen  are  maifitained  at  the  fvMic 
charge.  After  that  period,  they  arc  held  iqoipa- 
ble  of  any  employment  of  trust  or  profit ;  they 
cannot  purchase  lands,  or  take  leases;  neither  are 
they  allovv^ed  to  be  witnesses  in  any  cause,  either 
civil  or  criminal,  not  even  for  the  decision  of 

nieers  and  bounds.  ■  ;  . 

• 

*'  At  ninety,  they  lose  their  teeth  and  hair; 
they  have  at  that  age  no  distinction  of  taste,  but 
eat  and  drink  whatever  they  can  get,  without  re- 
lish 6r  appetite.  The  dise^es  they  were  subject 
to  still  continue,  without  increasing  or  diminish- 
ing. In  talking,  they  forget  the  common  appel- 
lation of  things,  and  the  names  of  persons,  even 
of  thos6  who  are  their  nearest  friends  and  rela- 
tions. For  the  same  reason,  they  never  can 
amuse  themselves  with  reading,  because  their 
memory  will  not  serve  to  carry  them  from  the 
beginning  of  a  sentence  to  the  end  ;  and  by  this 
defect,  they  are  deprived  of  the  only,  entertain- 
ment whereof  they  might  otherwise  be  capable. 

^^  In  their  persons,  tliey  were  the  most  morti- 
fying sight  I  ever  beheld ;  and  the  women  more 
horrible  than  the  men.  Besides  the  usual  defor- 
mities in  extreme  old  age,  they  acquired  an  addi- 
tional ghastliness,  in  proportion  to  their  number 

of  years,  which  is  not  to  be  described.*" 

Such 

*  However  melancholy,  this  is  certainly  a  correct  picture  of 
Macklia  at  this  period.    The  civility  of  his  frame  seemed  daily 

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CHARLES^  llXCKLia.  3^1 

'Such  k  the  condition  of  extreme  old  age  1  and 
nearly  such,  at  the  period  of  ninety-jive y  was  Macfc* 
lin  !  He  hngered,  however,  near  three  years  after 
this,  cmwKng  about  the  vicinity  of  Covent  Gar- 
den,»  sometimes  .visiting  that  Theatre,  which  he 
seemingly  went  to  more  from  the  force  of  habit 
than  any  gratification,  being  totally  insensible  of 
ev^:?y  thing — but  the  music  betweeif  the  acts. 

■  The  audience  on  these  occasions  venerated  his 
conditioin.  On  his  appearance  at  the  pit  doori 
no  matter  how  crowded  the  house  was,  they  rose 
to  make  room  for  him,  in  order  to  give  him  his 
accustomed  seat,  which  was  the  centre  of  the  last 
bench  near  the  orchestra.  He  generally  walked 
home  by  himsdf,  which  was  only  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Piazza;  but  in  crossing  at  the  corner 
of  Great  Russel-Street,  he  very  deliberately  waited 

Z.3  .  till 

more  apparent :  the  imbecility  of  his  mind  became  daily  more 
t>bvious.  The  only  gleams  of  self-<posses!»ion  which  he  displayed, 
emanated  from  irritation.  He  very  frequently  thought  himself 
opposed,  or  injured;  sometimes  by  his  friends,  and  stjll  more 
frequently  by  his  servants.  This  idea  often  impelled  him  to  apply 
to  Bow-Street  lor  redress  for  imaginary  grievances.'  The  Ma»- 
gistrates  used  to  hear  him  with  compassion,  sooth  him  into  coip. 
posure ;  and  very  often,  before  they  cou^ld  point  out  to  him  the 
means  of  relief,  they  have  discovered  that  the  cause  which  pro- 
duced the  complaint,  the  person  of  whom  he  complained,  and 
the  reason  that  stimulated  his  application,  were  entirely  oblite* 
sated  frotn  his  mind. 


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348  jiitB»«w»s;0r        >         • 

till  he  9aw'  the  passage  tborqw^ily  dotnsd  of 
coache*.  .      -         ,  -.    '\  ;, 

He  sooTietiiDes  used  ta  ebasge^  the  sicfi^  hy 
gi)ing  to  a  public-'houfiic  in  the  /neighbouriiopcJ, 
where  he  took  his  pint  of  ale  warmed;  dpd  ir^ 
sireetened  vith.  JwoY^n  aug^,  ^^  to  lubricate  tl» 
lungs, ".  as  he  *  caHed  it^ ,  Htfm  he  m©t  wilih  •  equal 
indulgence  as  at  the  Theatres,  every  body  striv- 
ing to  accommodate  him  ;  whilst  some  flrejqp^ted 
the  house  nfierefy  for  the  pwpose  of  acding  atid  ooa* 
versing  i^ith  a  mam  who  was  ^  lorogaa  aetc^  upon, 
the  great  srt^gc  of  the  world:  hut  in  thia  last  they 
\rere  always  disappointed  :  he  noyf  told  \m  anec* 
dotes  so  confused  and  intorritpted^  often  begia-^ 
ningwithome  thing,  and  ending  with  aJiothcr, 
that  he  fully  justified  Swift'^  obaein^ation  on  thk 
veiy  advanced  time  of  life,  ^' ttet  mmiin  tKia 
condition  have  no  remembrance  of  the  truth  of  a 
fact ;  and  it  is  safer  to  depend  pn  common  tradi- 
tion than  upon  their  best  recollections/' 

The  hour  at  last  arrived,  which  was  to  number 
the  days  of  this  extraordinary  old  man.  Som^ 
little  time  before  this  took  place,  he  grew  weaker 
and  weaker  :  he  wa4^unabte,to  go  down  slairs,  aad 
contented  himself  with  walking  iabout  his  room, 
and  resting  himself  on  his  bed ;  (ot  rather  his 
couch,  where  he  generally  slept  with  his  clotn^ 
^  on,  night  and  day,  for  many  ye^ys,)  JL^  m^,9^ 

S  these 


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CUAitLBfi  liACftllK.  943 

these  reposes,  some  friends  were  talking  of  •him 
IB  tlie  tOfMn;  thinking,  from  his  state  of  insensi- 
bility for  many  days  before,  that  he  was  incapa- 
ble of  hearing  or  understanding  them,  when  he 
suddenly  started  up,  and  answered  \vith  some 
sharpness.  This  was  thought  to  forbode  ^omc 
recovery— but  it  was  only  the  last  blaze  in  the 
socket.  The  evening  of  that  day  he  composed 
himself,  as  it  was  thought,  for.  sleeping  ;  but  in 
this  sleep  he  made  his  final  exit  without  a 
groan. 

Thus  died,  on  the  1 1th  July,  1797,  Charles  Mack* 
Irn,  by  his  own  computation  only  ninety-eight—^ 
but  on  very  strong  and  probable  circumstances 
(related  in  the  early  part. of  these  Memoirs)  at  th^ 
very  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  eight. 
He  was  buried  on  the  Sunday  following  in  St. 
Paul's,  Covent  Garden,  attended  to  the  grave  by 
several  of  his  Theatrical  Brethren,  and  a  great 
concourse  of  others,  whom  curiosity  had  draM^n 
together  to  contemplate  on  the  last  remains  of  a 
TOan  who  had  nearly  seen  three^  and  had  actually 
touched  the  extremities  of  izt)o  centuries. 


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S44  MEMoiBS  or 

J  . 
$TaXCTUa£S  on  THS  character  or  MIU  MAfRUK, 

AS  AN  ACTOR9  AN  AUTHOR,'^ AND  A  MAN. 

In  the  deliueation  of  a  public  character,  tl^^re 
is  nothing  by  which  we  can  estimate  it  so  accu- 
rately, as  taking  in  the  early  advantages,  or  di$» 
advantages,  it.had  either  to  support  or  depress  it 
Patrimony  and  family  connexions  often  leave  lit- 
tle for  fortune  to  do ;  they  vegetat;e  progressively 
of  themselves,  and  a  degree  of  ordinary  prudence 
finishes  the  whole ;  but  when  a  man  is  obliged  to 
lay  the  foundation  of  his  future  situation  for  him- 
self, frowned  upon  by  fortune  at  hi^  birth,  unas* 
sisted  by  friertds,  relatives,  or  education^  the  fir^t 
step  becomes  a  mountain,  where,  out  of  th?  many 
adventurers  who  strive  to  scale  it,  the  far  greater 
j^umber  perish  in  the  attempt, 

jlppareni  rari  mantes  in  gurgife  vasto. 

Few  men,  who  have  risen  above  the  ordinary 
level  of  mankind,  have  had  greater  difficulties  to 
struggle  with  than  the' object  of  these  Memoirs. 
•Bbrn  in  the  obscure  part  oif  an  obscure  county, 
•  under  the  recent  depression  of  a  civil  war,  his  pa- 
rents poor  and  uneducated,  and  himself  formed 
of  those  strong  and  turbulent  passions,  which  too 
often  mislead  the  mind  under  the  happiest  situa- 
tions, his  outset  in  life  afforded  no  prospect  of  fu- 
ture celebrity/    To  be  enabled  to  live  on  the  soil 

which 


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CHARXXS  HACKLIN.  545 

which  produced  him,  in  humble  mediocrity,  must 
be  his  highest  rational  expectation ;  and  to  obtaia 
and  support  even  that^  required  rather  uncom- 
mon exertions* 

"  But  there  is  a.  divinity  which  doth  often 
shape  our  ends,  rough  hew  them  how  we  will" 
Macklin  migh^for  ever  be  chained  to  the  spot 
where  he  originated,  but  for  the  circumstance 
which  we  mentioned  before  in  the  beginning  of 
these  Memoirs ;  that  of  his  being  selected  by  a 
lady  of  fashion  in  his  neighbourhood  to  play  the 
part  of  Monimia  in  the  Orphan.  This  first  seduc-? 
ed  his  infant  mind  to  the  love  of  the  Stage;  a 
profession  the  most  distant  from,  his  original  ex* 
pectations  as  can  well  be  imagined;  bjutbejug 
once  shewn  it,  his  ardent  mind  grasped  it  4s  the 
grand  object  of  its  future  pursjuits.  *'  Sucli  are 
the  accidents  (says  Dr.  Johhson)  winch  som<* 
times  remembered,  and  perhaps  sometimes  for-, 
gotten,  produce  that  p'4rticular  designation  of 
mind,  and  propensity  for  som*  certain  science  or 
employment,  which  is  commonly  called  Genius." 

We  liave  a  right  to  dtaw  sujtjh  5^1  copclusion ;  as 
it  was  this  play,  in  alLprobability,  firs^  inspired 
an4  directed  Jiis. flight  to  Dublin,  leaving  \}is  mo^, 
dier's'house,  and  all  the  associates  of  his  3'ioijtb,» 
(which  ai-e  more  or  less  dear  to  ms  all,)  for  a  pre- 
qarioiiis  subsistence  in  a.  distant  pl^c? ;  jt  w^s  this 

that 


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S4S^  UEUOfJSSi  ftF        » 

th6'^&i€KtTe  as  soon  as  ever  he  was.  able  to  afr 
ft»»4-4ibat  shilling:  it^nsas  this  that  made  bimafe 
terwards  scrape  an  acquaintance  with  the  Adi^t 
burys,  the  Ehingtons,  the  Watsons,  and  other 
Irish  Players  of  that  day:  in  short,  it  was  this 
which,  like  the  air-drawn,  dagger  of  Macbeth,; 
^marshalled  him  the  way**  to  the  profession  of 
an  Actor. 

And  here  a  question  arises-^Wbat  were  his  re- 
quisites for  this  profession  ?  To  those  who  had 
never  seen  him,  and  knowing  that  he  liad  once 
played  Mmitnia^  liiey  would  be  led  to  canclude, 
that*  bis  fbrm  was  genteel,  and  his  fbiitures  inno« 
cent, '  graceful,  and  feratinine ;  but  the  very  con«- 
ti'ary^cf  all  this  \v5aS' the  fact :  his  figuare,  ^*,eVea 
from  his  boyish  days,"  mu'st  have  beeit  oparse  aiid 
chimsy;    his  ey^,    bold  and  determined ;    wkh 
strong-marked,-  m&soallnfe  features^^n+Why  then 
siftgle  htm  out  for  Monimia?  Though' we  cannot 
precisely  mftswer  this  question,   many '  rpi'obable 
reasons  may  be  assigned  for  it.     In  the  first  place, 
real  Monitnias  must  have  been  very  scarce  in  the 
family  and  neighbburhood  of  a  Xady,  buried  in 
the recessfesf of  the  Northof  Ireland  tpwards  the 
close  of  the  seventeenth  <5etitary.     lAmtmgst  her 
oW  domestics,   the  probability  was,  ;theiie.  was: 
not  one  who^  could  Articulate  awoid  of  English. 
They  might  not  (ikis^irise  be  yoiwg^enoBgit/fiir 

the 


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tlrisperl  J  twr  thigbt,  Tt  o»  n^u*^  otU  tiwir  cotttftry 
Imbitei,  bo  too  mddoile-  to  rebmve  ajiy  kiiul  of  i^ 
9try«ti^m.  Mwklin,  tibwefor^i  who^  by  bis  o^*^ii 
account  of  him^f,  /^^as  afei^^ys  n  '(;«^e  la^" 
might  have  become  the  favourite  candidate  from 
impehow  necemty,  \^bjch .  «ft»n  coaatitute*  lyigh 
official  cbarwsfeKs^  vitb  a$  Utile  pretemlMry  titertte 
©r  fdy^ntion  fer  jtiifeir  pa<*t$,  M  MackUn  had  at 
that  timf3  far  pkyipg  M^nrmia:   , 

But  iybatev€t  tkgrw.  of  iwerit  be  might  have 
po^^enfted,  (and  >fe  are  wiUiftg  *o  believe  it  very 
twdmcrty)  he  mn^  have  some  cliima  to  superior 
rity  over  hip  .fdlow  actorii,  from  the  tfitplauae 
wbiiJh  he  often  said  he  received,  awl  frow  giving 
the  play  a  r«n  for  several  n^htsu  He  wa^,  l^e* 
aid^^  domesticated  with  the  Lady,  in, a  great  mca>- 
9i»rf ,  after  thi§,  who  took  $oioie  care  of  his  educar 
tion,  and  hi$  morals,-^*^  Though,  G---d  kncwe, 
i^md  the  Veteran)  I  took  little  care  of  eithto  at 
that  time  myself/' 

AU  thi^i  however,  only  $bews  the  tendency  of 
hia  inalinatiow  for  the  profession,  What  were 
his  general  requisites  ?  They  were  not  evidently 
lin  his  persotur^In  hia  education  tliey  could  not 
be,  for  he  had  little  or  none ;  and,  except  t^g 
abl^  to  read  EogU&h  badly,  afadimvJng  bi3  young 
miAd  sb*a?pened  by  .the  conttoMcrfsigil  heats  of  hi* 
p«rentSf*«tl^  one  a  furioua  JPre^byterian,  the  gthei* 
a  bigotted  Caikolie,  (the  ^tock^fisb  and  sword/ 6^ 
•    ■       '      ...  '.  of 


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518  •     iiEHoiRS  dF      ^ 

df  discordant  i^cts)— Macklin'haci  tolo(^  epon  tW 
Stage,  as  a  pauper  looks  to  the  accumulated  hoard 
of  another,  wiihing  to  be  th^  pos^ssor,  without 
any  reasonable  tfit!Bja%  of  acquiring  it.  • 

A  persevering  determinatiott  to  an  observirtg 
njind,,gifted  with 'Strong  common  sense,  will,  how^ 
evdr,^  do  wonders,  Macklip  ha^d  theie  qualities  hi  a 
very  considerable  degree ;  it  i$f  therefore  to  be  pre- 
sumed, that  when  he  arrived  in  Dublin,  and  had 
soon  after  got  ihti)  thcf  College  as  a  Badgeman,  that 
he  availed  himself  of  this  opportunity  of  improv- 
ing his  mind  :  fop  though  his  situation  was  hum- 
ble, and  totally  out  of  the  classes-of  literature,  he 
had  opportunities  <rf picking  lip  some  intelligetioc 
in  various  ways.  It  is  highly  ^probable,  that  h6 
was  taught  to  write  about  this  period :  foi-  though 
Foote,  and  the  jokers  of  his  day,  used  to  say, 
that  M acklin  was  forii/  years  of  age  before  he 
could  write,  we  always  thought  the  fact  tb  be 
Otherwise;  as  he  was  long  before  that  age  in  a 
respectable  line  of  his  profession;  and  how  could 
he  get  his  partfe  (which  are  all  written  from  the 
Prompter's  books)  without  understanding  w-riting? 

It  is  said  of  the  famous  Joe  Miller,  of  pun*- 
jiing'  memory,  t^at  he  could  neither  read  or 
write;  and  thatbe  bad  no  other  method  of  get- 
ting his  parts,  but  by  his  wife  reading  them  to 
him,  and  which  he  used  jocoseiy  to  urge  "  as  hi$ 
only  reason  for  committing;  so  ra«h  an  actiQn  as 

matrimony," 


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V  CHARLES    MACKLIX.  ^349 

Trfatrimony/'  But,  be  t|iis  as  it  may,,  Macklpi 
was  not  married  at  a  time  Vhen  he  was  pretty 
forward  in  his  profession,  therefore  could  not 
have  the  assistance  of  a  wife.  Beside,  we  have  no 
proofs  of  this  defect  in  his  education  from  the  re- 
cords of  any  Theatre,  or  the  sober  and  positive 
declaration  of  any  theatrical  man;  lEhd  he  that 
knows  the  Stage  intimately,  must  know  how  wil- 
ling many  of  his  brethren  would  be  to  remember ^t- 
fects  in  an  actor  who  had  such  various  merits  to 
create  envy.  To  le*oel^  is  often  the  onjy  industry 
of  this  base  and  vulgar  passion  p  for  though  it 
cannot  partake  of  the  talent  it  wishes  to  crush, 
yet 

*f  So  wild  a  Tartar,  when  he  spies 

'*  A  man  that's  handsome,  valiant,  wise, 

"  Thinks,  if  he  kills  him,  to  inherit  '    '     ' 

**  His  wit,  his  beauty,  and  his  spirit/' 

But  allowing  Macklin  the  full  extent  of  his 
qualifications  when  he  came  to  England,  they  only 
amounted  to  this — a  little  coynnion  reading  and 
writing,  with  a  quantum  sufficit  of  the  Irish  brogue 
—a  strong,  clumsy  figure— without  friends,  con- 
nections, or  recommendations  whatever — and,  ac- 
cording to  the  latest  register  of  his  birth,  in  the 
twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

And  at  this  period  (whicH  was  about  the  year 

1726)  it  will  be  found  incidental  to  these  Memoirs, 

as  well  as  curious  to  the  amateurs  of  the  drama, 

to  review  the  state  of  the  English  Stage. 

State 


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^latti'hf  Dftuil  Tf-LAN  tfutATRt  tn  the  TUtf  1f&8. 


.    J  :^.Jk/m,..  •  ^^^;;j      , 

.  Wmhini       * 

Messrs.  WilkS^       . 

Mrs;01dfield 

\            B6otli'^ 

t^orter 

■'    ''    ■  i^m^t  '■  "  -  ' 

^   'Booth' 

'•■'•'    •'  Mill^  f""  -•  ^ 

'       '  ttaftoi*,     itftfefDirlrt^ 

.;/hhnsm».  1         ^ 

MrsiCliJW 

•:,^  -. .   '  m^r> ,- . 

ThvfMofifd 

i,,^             Roberts 

The;,Cibber . 

.     .      /      Williams    " 

Heron 

'"      Bridgewater 

Horton. 

'  "  • '  -    "      fifiihptir  '     ^  - 

r              TbiiCibtor 

i  • ' .      ' 

;    \    <, ^    Griffin V  j; 

* 

Wetherelt 

* 

W.  Mills, 

State  of  Lincoln's  Inn  Theatrj:  in  the  same 

Year, 


JxL<n» 

Wamem. 

Messrs.  Quia 

Mrs.  Vounger 

flyan 

Seymour,    afterwar^s^ 

BoherfiTd   • 

B6tfertie 

^mt     . 

-Billlac*           . 

.  H^i>c8i«y 

i>^giierre 

MilwAT^     , 

,£gglet0D 

^    H^ilitt 

Chambers. 

Walker 

Hall 

^        ■ 

W.  Bullock 

lAgu^rre  : 

£giglet«m 

Chapman 

Leveridgc. 

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CHAMEArTMACHLIN*  Sit 

It  19  difflcttlt  now  totsa^  whidb  6f*the8e  actors 
MackliQ  cbade  his  modeL  ^  JFroto  the  accountt 
that  are  ttanjUntttdd  down  to  us  of  thdr  iheriAs^ 
hd  appears  to- be  no  txioct  copjrist  6f  aoy;^  Tfaa 
iaeti  We  btiid^re^  was,  that  he. might  bare  beneSti 
ed  m  a  d^rde  front  all  of  the  bdst  demrriptioii/ 
by  jmgraftab^  ancfa  parts  of  their  execrlldtce  aa 
Suited  best^to  his  coocdpti^ii.  of  the  characters*^ 
suid  tj^j  9iSteMu\\y  is  the  tru6  study  of  an  artist  i  fotr/ 
with  all  tlw  benefit  of  greatmaaters,  and  aU  die  ad« 
vanta^»  of  high  «ducatidn,  tbe  papibat  last  most 
depend  on  his  own  taste;  and  it  is  this  happy  se- 
lectnniy  biended  with  natmral  energies,  that  con- 
sti^tettiie.greatoeas  of  character. 

We  haVe  4  happy  iWustration  of  thb  in  the  fol* 
lowitag  aiiecdote.  told  of  Booth.  Tliis  actor  was 
lemirkable  in  reading  otct  several  of  tbe  parts  of 
his  ^eat  archetype,  Betterton,  to  excel  in  a  fine 
imitltioia.  oif  his  manner ;  and  one  day,  when  he 
had  read  a  seene  in  this  way,  to  the  admiration 
of  all  his  fHends^  and  one  of  them  asking  hrm^ 
Why  he.  would  n«t  represent  the  character 
tibronj^ut  ^  on  the  stage?  he^  as  modes4:ly  as* 
ingeniously,  replied,  ^'  the  whole  is  too  much 
for  me:  lishall  be  eofttent  with  taking  ftom  this 
great  e&emplar  what  i  think  best  suited  to  my  ge^ 
neral  powers." 

The 


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35f  if£if<HBS  i>r.     ^ 

The  actors  that  Mackiin:  ti»ed  to  talk  most  bf^ 
tivd  irtth-  wh^^mhe  seemed  most  pleasedrin  dmtx^ 
ung  their  merits,  we*  Wilks,  Booth,  iMills,  Jc^n^ 
iolH  Qyiin^  Bofaeme,  atuiRyan;  aiid  as  |t](  the 
yoimger  paxts  of  his  life,  lie  himself  played  c^ia* 
ract^ns  of  all  dcsa^iptiond,  it  is  probaJ?le  that  he 
tdected  moxe  of  less  fpoitf  these  models.  A  fcrief 
nwfuiry,  therefore,  how  th«y  stood  a&'  actors  of 
prputation  (which  we  shall  givei  from  his  opimoii 
of  them,  as  well  as  fmm  other  a^Qthorities)  we 
trast  will  not  be  thought  irrelative  in -1111$  piace* 

Though  we  have  ito  .very  fkvourable  account  of 
Wilks  from  Colley  Cibb^,  who  hated  him  per- 
sonally, as  well  as  Dogget,  (though  he  had  more 
prudence  in  concealing  it  during  Wilks's  life;) 
and  though  he  always  preferred  Powel  to  Him, 
"  who,"  he  says,  "  excelled  him  in  voice  atid  ear 
in  Tragedy,  as  well  as. humour  iu  Comedy  ;'*  yet 
he,  ron  the  whole,  is  obliged  to  allow  him  qualifi-^ 
cations  .which  leave  him.  a  very  considerable  ac* 
tor;  particularly  in  his  Sir  Hany  Wildair,,  Es* 
sex,  Mavk  Antony, .  Valentine,  -  Plume,  &c.  &c. 
To  these  he  adds  his  uncommon  attentian  to  be 
perfect  in  his  parts,  which  he.  was  so  exact  in, 
that  ''  I  question,''  says  Cibber,'  *^  if^  in  forty 
years,  he  ever  five  times  changed /or  ini&pta^ed  an 
article  in  any  one  of  them." 


Of 


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Of  his  determined  perseverance  in  tfcis  exercise 
of  memory,  he  adds  the  following  carious  in^ 
stance :  *'  In  some  new  Comedy  he  happened  to 
complain  of  a  crabbed  speech  in  his  part,  which 
he  said  gave  him  more  trouble  to  study  than  all 
the  rest;  upon  which  he  applied  to  the  author, ^ 
either  to  soften  or  shorten  it  The  author,  thafe 
he  might  make  matters  perfectly  easy  to  him^ 
fehrly  cut  it  all  out:  but  when  Wilks  got  hojne 
from  the  rehearsal,  he  thought  it-such  an  indig* 
nity  to  his  memory  that  any  thing  should  be  too 
hard  for  it,  that  he  actually  made  himself  perfect 
in  that  speech,  though  he  knew  it  was  never  to 
be  made  use  of." 

Wilks's  general  merits  as  an  actor,  may  be  di* 
Tided  into  the  gay  and  fashionable  characters  of 
Comedy,  and  the,  animated  pathetic  seeneS  of 
Tragedy.  As  a  lover,  no  person  since  the  death 
of  Mountford,  who  was  his  predecessor,  could 
reach  him;  nor  was  he,  perhaps,  ever  equalled, 
till  the  laurel  descended  upon  Barry ;  and  Daties, 
who  had  seen  him  act,  speaks  highly  of  his  E^an^ 
Macduff^  Mark  Antony^  Prince  ofWalu^  ^c. 

Of  Mark  Antany^  he  says,  **'/As  soon  as  Wilfcs 
altered  to^'tHe  stage,  without  taking  any  notice  of 
the  conspirators,  he  walked  quickly  up  to  the 
dead  body  of  C»sar,  and  knelt  down :  he  then 
paused  for  some  time  before  he  spoke,  and,  after 

A  It  surveying 


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954  ^  meMoihs  of 

aurveying  the  corpse  with  maBifest  tokei:^  of  iti^ 
deepest  sorrow,  he  addressed  k  m  a  most  aifectii>^ 
and  pathetic  manner.*' 

:  Of  his  Princt  of  H^akt  he  spe^s  in  still  higher 
terms.  .  /'  The  Prince,  by  Wilk»,"  aays  he,  "  w» 
0n6  of  tlie  iHo^t  perfjcct  exhibitions  of  the  Thca* 
tre,  who,  with  great  skill  and  nature^  threw  asickr 
the  libertine  gaiety  of  Hal,  wj^ien  he  aBsamed  the 
princely  dej^ortment  of  Hejaty.  At  the  Boaf  a 
Head,  lit  w$i9  lively  aad  froticksome :  ib  the  re- 
eoncili^tifon  with  his  father,,  Ws  penitence  w» 
gratefully  becomiog,  and  his^reaolntioii  of  smend-r 
ment  manly  and  affecting. 

.  ^^  In  his  ohaiieiige  of  Hot^fy  his  defiance  wask 
equally^  gftUant  amd  modest :  in  bis  combat  with 
that  Nobleman,  bis  &rt  was  tempered  with  mode* 
jration  i-  and  his  rtflectioos,  o»  the  death  of  tbe 
^reat  rebel,  generous  and  pathetic.  The  Hotepnr 
0f  Booth,  though;  anoble  portrait  of  courage,  hu*- 
m>(i>Hi', ,  a(iid  gaikji^r}',  was  nofc  superior  to  the 
^Viftc€€^fW«le$:by:Wilk8.'^,  •    . 

Macklrn  used  to  praise  him  iti  three  parts,. 
^^:^bi^i*^p«h»ps,w*efe  the  only  charaictira  be  might 

b^eiswnrjitmm;  and  |he»e  wtarc,  Hl^Jktark  Afh 
:ionyi,  Captain  Plume,  and  Lord  Tmpubf.  .He  jspoke 
:h\glily  of  the  first,  but  with  the  mAet ^jnujudlified 

Al^Uuse  of  the  two  las't^  Vhich  were  perfect  mo- 
X  •  del* 


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CHARLES  MACKlIirr  355 

dels  of  ease  and  good  breeding.  To  tbese  testi* 
monies  we  shall  add  tbat  of  an  Irish  Barrister  of 
great  eminencie,  who  djed  about  thirty  years  ago^ 
and  who  was  always  considered  tiot  more  eminent 
in  the  walks  of  his  profession,  than  in  those  of 
dramatic  criticism.  From  him  we  have  4>een  in« 
formed,  **  that  whatever  Willcs  did  upon  the 
stage,  let  it  be  ever  so  trifling,  whether  it  fcon- 
sisted  in  putting  on  his  gloves,  or  talking  out  his 
watch,  lolling  on  his  cane^  or  taking  snuff,  every 
movea^ent  was  marked  with  such  an  ,ease  of 
breeding  and  manner,  every  thing  told  so  strongly 
the  involuntary  nuxtion  of  a  gentleman,  that  it 
was  impossible  to  consider  the  cbaraoter  hcirepre- 
seivted  in  any  other  light  than  that  of  a  reality.'* 

*^  Bjut  what  was  still  more  surprising,"  said 
the  Gentlemaa,  in  r^ating  this  anecdotie,  ^^  that 
the  .person  who  could  thus  delight  an  audience 
from  the  gaiety  and  sprightliness  of  his  manner,'! 
met  the  next  day  in  the  street  hobbling  to  an 
haqkoey  coach,  seemingly  so  enfeebled  by  agq 
ai^  In^rmities,  th^t  I  could  i^arcely  believe, him 
to  be  the  aame  man^'*  Such  is  the  power  of  illu- 
sion, when  a  great  genius  feels  tl^e. importance  jpf 
character!* 

A  a  ft  We 

*  The  above  event  took  place  in  the  yeat  l/^Sj  two  year^  be- 
fore the  cfeath  of  WHki,  Who,  as  Cibber  trfU  us  "  Va«  moch 
mere  •iife«bfed  by  ^  c«>iutatit  iyritatioms  «f  hit  ^wpier  th^  M 
,  *W»^by  bi»  declining  years/' 


0 

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.    S56'  3teE!feC0lRS   0^ 

'  We  cannot  conclude  the  character  of  this  gr^ 
Actor  without  mentioning  the  following  circunr-' 
stance,  which  does  him  great  professional  honour^ 
and  which,  considering  the  general  irritability  of 
fiis  temper,  shews  with  what  maderation,  and 
even  good-breeding,  he  could  bear  reproof,  whenr 
it  came  from  the  nrnyuth  of  a  judicious  friend. 

Witl^  Wilks's  genera;!  talents  for  Tragedy,  there 
were  some  parts  that  he  was  unequal  to ;  and  in 
particular  th^  Ghost  in  Hamlet.  One  day  at 
tehearsal,  Boortb  took  the  fiberty  ta  jest  with  him 
upon  it.  "  Why,  Bab,''  says  he,  **I  thought 
last  flight  you  wanted  to  pky  at  fisty  cuffs  with 
me,  (Booth  played  Hamlet  to  his  Ghost,)  yoa 
bullied  me  so,  who,  by  the  bye,  you  ought  to 
hare  revered.  I  rememlief  when  I  acted  the 
Ghost  with  Betterton,  instead  of  <  my  awing  him, 
>  he  terrified  me — ^But  there  was  a  divinity  hung 
round  that  maij  1'*^ 

To  this  rehufte,   Wilks,  feding  it's  propriety, 
modestly  replied,  "  Mr,  Betterton  and  Mt.  Booth 
"could  always  act  as  they  pleased  j  tut  fw  my 
part,  I  must  do  as  well  as  I  can.**^ 

Boothy  who  was  the  next  model  after  Wilks  in 
the  old  School)  of  which  Macklin  is  suppo^d  to 
have  drawn  his  information  ftom,  we  have  alrea- 
dy touched  OB  in  the  coupse  of  these  Memoiips; 

.and, 


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CHAALES   MACKLIK.  S.57 

UTk^j  indeed,  his  general  life  is  so  well  known,  and 
«poken  of  by  so  many  Theatrical  Writers,  Jthat  ip 
would  be  little  curiosity,  to  the  connoisseurs  of  the 
di*ama  at  least,  to  reiterate  the  whole  of  it;  but  as  we 
are  exhibiting  a  critique  on  the  character  of  Mack- 
iiu  as  an  Actor,  Booth  forming  one  of  the  great 
examples  of  his  time,  some  anecdotes  relative  to 
him,  not  generally  known,  and  some  observations 
oil  his  talents  and  natural  powers  ia  the  parts  he 
was  distinguished  in^  we  think  will  not  be  found 
irrelative  to  the  subject;  nor,  perhaps,  wholly 
unprofitable  to  the  rising  critics  and  performers 
pf  the  present  day.  . 

The  sciences,  as  well  as  the  arts,  have  their 
«ras  of  alterations — some  evidently  to  their  im*/ 
provement,  and  some  to  their  disadvantage.  The 
Stage  partakes  of  this  fluctuation ;  and  the  cant 
of  the  day,  amongst  too  many  of  the  critics  and 
5ons  of  the  buskin,  is  all  for  n^xo  readings,  and 
new  methods  oi  giving  the  party  without  con&ider- 
ipg,  that  if  these  new  readings  were  always  given 
with  thp  piost  consummate  judgment,  (the  very 
reverse  pf  wjiich  is  the  case,)  they  will  not  con-^ 
3titute  thp  whole  of  ai^  Actor,  whpse  business  is, 
^Ho  bold  the  mirro^  up  to  Nature;''  who  recjuires 
voice,  figure,  pnergy,  taste,  &c.  &c.  wh.Q  ipyst, 
Jike  thp  Poet, 

■  ^     **  now  give  my  breast  a  thousand  pains, 
^*  ^d  mal^e  m^/ee/eacb  p^siop  th^tt  he  feigns.'* 

A  a  3  Without 


# 


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S5S  MEMOIRS  or 

Without  this — he  is  a  mere  reciter,  "full of  sound 
and  fary—sjgnifying  nothing/' 

Booth,  with  a  very  classical  and  highly  improv- 
ed judgment,  possessed  all  the  natural  powers  of 
an  Actor  i^  a  very  eminent  degree.  "  He  was  of 
a  middle  stature,  five  feet  eight;  his  form  rather 
inclining  to  the  athletic,  though  nothing  clumsy, 
or  heavy ;  his  air  and  deportment  naturally  grace- 
ful, with  a  marking  eye,  and  a  manly  sweetness 
in  his  countenance.    * 

"  His  voice  was  completely  harmonious,  front 
the  softness  of  the  flute  to  the  extent  of  the  trum- 
pet: his  attitudes  were  all  picturesque :  he  was  no* 
ble  in  his  designs,  and.  luippy  in  his  execution.**^ 

To  this  testimony,  Aaron  Hill  (a  writer  of 
great  theatrical  knowledge)  adds,  •"  It  was  this 
Actor's  peculiar  felicity  to  be  heard  and  seen  the 
same,  whether  as  the  pleased,  the  grieved,  the  pi* 
tying,  the  reproachful,  or  the  angry.  Ope  would 
be  almost  tempted  to  borrow  the  aid  of  a  very 
bold  figure,  and,  to  e^cpres?  this  excellence  the 
more  significantly,  beg  permission  .to  affirm,  that 
the  blind  might  have  seen  him  in  his  mice,  and 
XheJleafhdLwe  heard  him  in  his  visage. 

.  Thougl| 

• 

♦  Victor's  History  of  the  Theatre. 


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CHARLES   MACKLIK.  359 

Though  Booth,  froin  the  possessk)n  of  these 
iqualificalfions,  ipust,  by  attending  to  them,  have 
necessarily  reached  the  top  of  his  profession,  it 
was  not  till  the  production  of  CWo  that  he  gained 
this  emii^nce;  and  as  the  manner  by  which  he 
obtained  this  part  shews  ingenuity  and  address 
on'  his  side,  as  well  as  judgment  on  ihf  side  of 
die  Managers,  we  shall  here  celate  k.      ■ 

When  Mr.  Addison  carried  this  admirable  Tra^ 
gedy  to  the  Green-Room,  he  of  course,  as  t|>s 
Author,  read  it  first  to  the  Players:  but  being*  ^ 
man  of  uncommon  bashfulness  apd  diflklence,  a^ft 
ter  this,  he  desired  Cibber  M^ould*  supply  hk 
place,  who :  read  it  sO  much  to  the  satisfaction^ of 
the  Author,  that  he  re<]uested  him  to  p^j  forrn  thi^ 
part  of  Caio,    » 

Cibber,  though  otherwise  a  vain  man,  knew 
his  own  foru  too  well  to  risque  his  reputation  iii 
ia  character  so  much  out  of  his  way ;  he  theri^foM 
ppefered  tlie  part  of  Htfphas,  whilst  Wilks  to6te 
that  ofjaba,  CatOy  iiowever,  still  remained  im^ 
disposed  of,  till  they  both  agreed,  that  Booth 
would  be  the  most  likely.  representAtire,  from  fi^ 
gure,  voice,  aijd  Judgm^t^  of  this  virtuous  Ro*^ 
man;  but  Wilks,  feafipg  th^t  Booth  \Vould  thirtk? 
himsejf  injured  in  bfcing  cast  for  so  venerable  O' 
character,  (he  being  then  a  young  man,)  had 
t^e  good  nj^ture  to  carry  the  part  to  his  lodgings  , 

A  ^  4  himsdf; 


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960  MEMOIKS  OP 

himself;  to  inform  him  of  itis  importance  j  and  to 
persuade  him,  if  necessary^  to  accept  it  Booth, 
who  told  this  anecdote  to  Victor,  said,  **  that  he 
sunk  the  importance  of  the  character,  and  seemed 
to  accispt  it  entirely  at  the  Manager's  desire ;  which 
condescending  behaviour,  with  his  performance 
^  the  part  so  much  to  the  delight  and  admira^ 
lion  of  the  audience,  gave  both  Wilks  and  Cihr 
bcr  the  greatest  pleasure.*'  However,  when  the 
consequences  began  soon  after  tp  appear,  viz.  a 
feputation  and  interest;  to  obtain  a  special  licience 
from  the  Queen  to  be  included  ^s  fourth  Mana- 
ge of  the  Theatre,  this  pleasure  was  converted 
into  remorse  and  disappointment,  and  ended  with 
<M)e  of  the  Managisrs  (Dogget)  retiring  \n  disgust 
from^  the  Stage  for  ever, 

The  parts  which  Booth  principally  distinguished 
himself  in,  beside  Cato,  were  Pyrrhus^  OtheUo, 
Brutus^  LeaVi  Marc  Antony^  Aurcngzebe,  Jaffi^f 
the  Ghost  in  ftamlet^  Sfc.  and,  for  the  entertain-? 
iBcnt  of  our  readers,  (which  at  the,  same  time 
tends  to  illustrate  Macklln's  stage  history,)  we 
shall  coUect  the  various  critiques  which  have  been 
made  upon  those  pafts,  as  they  lie  scattered  in  a 
variety  of  Theatrical  Authors,  now  not  very  easy 
to  come  at,  together  with  some  traditionary  ncr 
cgunts  from  the  Sjftctatares  HmporU  Acti.  . 


?yRRHU$. 


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CHARLES   MACK  LIN.  9^1 


PITRRHUS. 


Though  Pyrrhus  is  a  part  now  rejected  by  the 
principal  Actors,  it  demands  a  great  deal  of  thea- 
trical talents;  and  Booth  saw  enough  in  it  to 
make  it  one  of  his  most  distinguished  performan- 
ees.  ^*  His  entrance  in  walking  up  to  .the 
throne,  his  manner  of  saluting  the  ambassador, 
his  majesty  in  descending  from  the  throne^ 
his  leaving  the  stag?,  &c.  though  circumstan-- 
ces-of  a  very  common  natjire  in  theatrical  per- 
formances, yet  were  executed  by  him  with  a  gran- 
deur not  to  be  described,  and  never  failed  meet- 
ing with  the  most  distinguished  applause. 

^'  Through  the  whole  part,  his  dignity  and  love 
were  so  gracefully  blended,  as  made  him  at  once 
awful  and  amiable ;  for  while  he  expressed  the  ut- 
njost  tenderness  of  the  lover,  he  never -descended 
beneath  th^nnonarch." 

To  this  eulogium  we  have  the  following  from 
Macklin.  He  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  thir 
great  man  in  a  few  of  his  characters ;  Pyri'hus 
was  amongst  the-  number ;  and  it  happened  just 
as  he  was  going  into  the  pit,  that  Booth  was  mak- 
ing his  approach  to  the  throne;  which  struck 
Jbim  so  ppwerfully,  from  the  grandeur  and  dignity 

of 


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Z62  MflMOlM   OP 

of  his  manner,  that  he  thought  himself  in  th^ 
royal  presence:  but  when  he  came  to  that  line, 

*<  Am  I,  am  I  tb«  las^  of  all  the  EcepterM  heroes," 

he  repeated  it  so  awfully  impressive,  and  accom- 
panied it  with  such  an  air  of  mSjesty,  that  he 
stood  fixt  with  amazement ;  nor  could  he  t^kp 
his  seat  till  Pyrrhus  left  the  audieijcc-chambcr. 


OTHELLO, 
% 

In  Othello,  though  Cibber  was  always  sparing 
in  Bopth's  praise,  yet  he  admits  it  to  be  his  best 
part.  "  The  paster-piece  of  Booth,"  says  he, 
**  was  Othello;  there  he  was  most  in  character, 
and  seemed  not  more  to  animate  himself  in  it  thau 
his  spectators." 
I 

Other  contemporaries  are  more  lavish  in  their 
praises  of  him  in  this  part,  and  particularly  in 
the  following  passage,  which,  no  doubt,  is  thp 
touchstone  of  a  great  Actor: 

"  This  fellow's  of  exceeding  honest}', 

**  And  knows  all  qualities  with  a  learned  spirit 

**  Of  human  dealings." 

This  he  spoke  with  his  eye  fixt  upon  lago's  exit, 
after  a  long  pause,  as  if  weighing  the  general  cha- 

3  facter 


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CHARLES  MACEtlK.  56S 

caLcter  of  the  man  in  his  own  mincl,  and  in  a  low 
tone  of  voice.    Then  starting  into  anger, 

^*  If  I  do  find  her  haggard, 
*^  Hough  that  her  jesses  were  my  dear  heart-btrings^ ' 
'<  I'd  whistle  her  off,  and  l^t  her  down  tk%  wisd 
"  To' prey  at  fortune?* 

Then  a  pause  as  if  to  ruminate : 

■     **•  Haply,  for  I  am  Mack, 
**  And  have  not  those  soft  parts  of  coot enatioa 
'^  That  chamberershave/' 

Then  a  look  of  amazement  at  seeing  Desdemo^^ 
na,  the  voice  and  countenance  softened  into  love; 

*^  If  she  be  false,  O  then  IJeaven  mocks  itself  1 
«« I'll  not  believe  it/* 

^*  In  this,  and  all  the  distressful  passages  of 
heart-breaking  anglxish  and  jealousy/*  says  Vic- 
tor, "  I  have  frequently  seen  all  the  men,  suscep-, 
tible  of  the  tender  passiohs,  in  tears.** 

Yet,  though  Booth  must  be  conscious  of  his 
great  excellence  in  this  part,  he  had  the  modesty 
never  to  compare  himsdf  witliBelterton,  (whom, 
perhaps,  he  might  have  excelled,  from  possessing 
a  greater  union  of  strength^  and  melody  in  his 
yoice,)    On  the  contrary,  Avhen  this  comparison 

has 


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i64f  MSHOIU  Of 

1»B  'been  attempted  by  his  ftieiids  in  company^ 
he  would  not  only  confess  his  inferiority^  bat 
break  out  in  the  rapture  of  Pierre, 

^  Obi  coald  yoa  know  him  all,  m  1  have  known  him !  > 
'«  How  grcM  he  was/'  &c. 

Macklii),  however;  with  all  his  partiality  to  Booth, 
gave  the  preference  to  Barry  in  Othello.-  So  did 
Cibber,  (as  Davies  tells  us,)  .accompanied  with 
the  best  vouchers  of  his  veracity-*Aii  tears  at  the 
representation  of  the  part.  But  Barry  was  na- 
turally so  much  the  lover,  with  the  advantages  of 
80  fine  a  person,  and  so  musical  a  Voice,  that  the 
Strong  probability  is— he  has  never  been  equalled 
in  Othello. 

Baurys, 

Booth's  excellence  in  Brutus  was  the  effect  of 
a  fine  study  of  the  part,  which  he  acquired  by 
his  taste,  and  intimate  knowledge  of  the  classics. 
This  outline  he  filled  up  with  all  that  colouring, 
of  which  his  powers  gave  him  so  great  a  com- 
mand. Hence,  though  Brutus  is,  in  many  parts 
of  the  play,  warm  and  transported  beyond  the 
bounds  of  bis  level  temper,  it  is  still  the  choler 
of  ^.patriot  .^Jid  philosopher.  In  the  celebrated 
quarrel  scene  between  him  and  Cassius^  when  th? 
latter  reiterates, 


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PHAtltES   If ACKtiK.  963 

<' What  dunt  not  tempt  Urn  r' 
and  Brutus,  in  reply,  says, 

'<  For  your  £[^f  you  durst  not  s  • 

**  No !— finr  3K)ur  soui  you  dursi  ^ot ;'' 

Quin  spoke  the  last  lines  with  a  look  of  an^er, 
and  a  tone  of  voice,  approaching  to  rage ;  but 
Booth,  on  the  contrary,  looking  stedfastly  at 
C^fissius,  pronounced  these  words  not  much  raised 
above  a  whisper,  yet  ^with  such  a  firmness  of 
tone,  as  always  produced  the  loudest  effect.— 
Again,  when  Brutus  says, 

"  When  I  spoke  this,  I  wi^  ill-tempered  too,'' 

be  prepared  the  audience  so  for  the  cause  of  his 
ill-temper,  by  shewing  he  had  some  private  griefs 
at  heart,  as  to  call  up  the  utmost  attention :  but 
when  he  afterwards  acquaints  them  with  the 
cause,  ' 


**  Vp  man  bears  sorrow  better— Portia  is  dead;^ 

the  expressive  pause  beftJre  he  speke  the  last 
words,  and  his  heart-piercinjj  manner  in  speaking 
them,  forced  every  auditor  to  be  a  participator  of 
bis  sorrows. 


It 


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It  is  remarkable,  that  in  this  scene,  the  pfayer*^ 
from  time  immemorial,  have  made  a  small  altera- 
tion in  the  text,  (of  their  own  accord,  without 
the  seduction  of  any  commtittttor,)  by  adding 
after  the  line,  .  . 

•*  For  yottr  life  jovl  Aii«t  ndt,*         ^ 

the  following,  No,  for  your  soul  you  durst  not. 
They  might  imagine  by  tihis,  that  the  sentiment 
is  conveyed  with  a  stroi^r  emphasis.  But,  ab- 
stracted fropi  the  restriction  they  iire  impliedly 
under,  of  not  adding  or  retrenchhig  from  any  Au* 
thor,  the  first  line,  in  our  opinion,  conveys  the 
spirit  zxiA  firmness  of  the  character  who  speaks  it 
fully  sufficient :  the  other  may  serve  an  indiflFer-^ 
ent  Actor,  or  an  indifferent  Critic's,  purpose' 
better,  being  more  of  a  itt%m^,  pompous  ndLture; 
but  he  that  would  e:?cei}[iplify  the  firm,  independent 
spirit  of  Brutus,  will  find  ample  scope  for  that 
display  in  the  first  line. 

Of  all  the  performers  who  have  ^distinguished 
themselves  in  this  part  since  the  death  of  Booth, 
perhaps  the  late  Mr.  Sheridan  was  entitled  to  the 
bays.  He  was  a  good  scholar^  had  a  fine  classical 
taste,  apd  excelling  in  the  level  declamatory  parts 
of  Tragedy,  hi^  ^rtitus,  Cato^  King  John,  and  a 
few  other  characters  of  this  stamp,  were  fine  spe- 
cimens of  the  histrionic  art  * 


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eRAIiL£:8   MACKLttir.  3^7 


LEAR/ 

Setter  ton  was  the  predecessor  of  Booth  ia  this 
part,  but  how  he  performed  it  we  have  no  very 
particular  critique :   we  may,  however,  conclude, 
that  a  man  of  his  ge»eral  geniu^s,  who  keptppsses- 
i^on  of  the  chtiraeter  so  Icmg,  milst  have  made  it  a 
least  respectable.    Booth,  though  a  processed  ad* 
mirer  of  bid  gr^t  master,  never  servilely  copied 
him— though  he  has  oftea  confessed  to  have  stu^ 
»died  him,  on  the  whole,  so  a?  to  transplant  what 
beauties  he  could -from  Wni  afttr  his  own  tAMrmer. 
In  Lear,  we  are  told,   **That  his  fire  was  ar- 
dent,    and    his   feelings  remarkably   energetic; 
but  that,  in  uttering  the  imprecations  in  gene- 
ral,  he  was  more  rapid  than  Garrick :  nor  were 
his    feeling's   attended   with   those  struggles    of 
parental  affection,   and  those  powerful  emotions 
of  conflicting  passions,  so  visible  in  every  look 

and  attitude  of  our  great  Roscius." 

*  f 

t 

And  here  fet  the  pen  of  a  living  witness  throw 

in  his  mite  in  favour  of  the  liast'  mentioned  Lear, 

which,  from  first  to  ]ast,  was,  p^riiaps,  the  finest 

exhibition  of  the  passions  since  the  invention  of 

the  drama. 

How  awful  waa  his  preparation  for  the  impre- 
cation onGonerill — He  stood  for- a  moment  like 
•  one 


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one  struck  dumb  at  the.  sudden  and  une^pecie^ 
feel  of  his  daughter'^  ingratitude — then  throwing 
away  his  crutch,  kneeling  on  one  knee,  clasping 
his  hahds  together,  and  lifting  up  his  eyeis  to- 
wards heaven,  rendered  the  whole  of  the  curse  so 
terribly  affecting  to  the  audience,  that,  during 
his  utterance  of  \ty  they  seemed  to^  shrink  as 
from  a  blast  of  lightning.  Indeed,  the  picture 
he  represented,  independent  of  the  language,  was 
worthy  the  pencil  of  Raphael  in  the  dirinest  mo- 
ments of  his  imagination. 

In  the  scene  where  Lear  is  Represented  asleep 
in  Cordelia's  lap,  and  where  he  breaks  out, 

<<  Old  Lear  shall  be  a  King  again,*" 

Booth  was  inimitably  expressive,  from  the  full 
tones  of  his  voice,  and  the  admirable  manner  of 
harmonizing  his  words. 

Upon  the  whole,  Booth  rendered  the  character 
of  Lear  less  terrible  than  Garrick ;  but  \he  latter 
filled  up  the  whole  with  a  truth,  energy,  and  fire, 
which  all  who  ever  saw  hidi,  must  remember  with 
gratitude  and  enthusiasm. 

Barry's  figure  in  this  part  was  dignified  and  ve- 
nerable; and  some  passages  were  so  well  suited  to 
his  voice,  particularly  Ihe  cune^  as  to  make  a  con- 
siderable 


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CHARLEi!   MACSttir^  ,8^9 

-  ^y erable  impre^idn.  Powell  caught  a  good  deal 
of  the  fire  of  his  master  j  but  both  wanted  those 
enfergies,  and  exquisite  touches,  with  which  Gar- 

.rick  vivified  the  whole.  But  he,  indeed,  was  the 
leading  deity  in  almost  all  the  departments  of  the 
drama ! 

UAtLC  ANtON** 

;  flhc  playof  "  All  for  Love,'*  of  which  this  part 
,forma.the  principal  character,  was  revived,  some 
years  before  Booth's  death,  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  strength  and  variety  to  the  list  of  stock 
plays ;  and  his  dignified  action^  and  forcible  ek> 
cution,'  gained  him  so  i;nuch  applause,  that  the 
play  was  acted  six  liights  successively  to  crowded 
audiences,  without  the  assistance  of  pantomime 
or  farce,  which  was  at  that  time  remarked  aa 
something  very  extraordinary. 

When:  Bpoth  and  ]W[rs.  Oldfield,  as  Marc  An- 
tony and  Cleopatra,  niet  in  the  second  actj  "their 
dignity  and  deportmeqt  commanded  the  applause 
and  approbation  of.  the  most  judicious  critics; 
but  when  the  former  (^iddvessing  himself  to  the 
Jatter)  sajdi      i     :  .   . 

*-^,\  ..['..'         .         ',.♦'■> 

"  You  promised  me  your,  silepte,  and  you  break  it 
*•  Ere  I  have  scarce  begun;" 

Fb  the 


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't}k  hxxtXibtitiiWej  yet  digftiified  manner  6fspe^^ 

"kg  it,   <iouId  6nly  be  iq^aHed  by  the  t^ectf«il 

ttiatitidr  ih  which  Mrs.  OWfteld  ftlt  this  eheck-^ 

hire,  ftt  the  Jjhrase  ^  Shakespea^^  "' Ail^  d^»i^# 

We  have  an  account  of  the  cast  of  thi^  Trage^ 

dy  as  it  was  then  per fbrrftietf;   aiid  it  does  honour 

to  the  judgment  of  the  Managers,  who,  without 

"iny  false  pride,  or  M?age  ratiity,  not  (Hily  came 

Ibr^arid  thfrn^selves^  but  bmagbt^tttf  tbr^wngtht 

^f  thHi?  company  in  Sopport  of  it. 

VewtiilWf>  TK«  EMer  Mills. 

DoiobdUa^  ;      WHks. 

^  ^,,-  ,        AlejMS,  Coiley  Gibber. 

"^  Ofctdvia,  Kiru.  Pdrtftr,  ^  ' 

Here  we  ^ee  two  of  the  most  trifling  parts  of 
flic  drama,  DolobelU  arftd  Alexas,  undertajcen  by 
two  of  the  Managed;  parts  that  WOwld  6*a^efy 
be  accepted  now  by  thrrd  rate  Actors,  merely  to 
give  weight  and  importance  to  the  wfrolfe  £vto 
theiittle  part-of  Octavia,  which  only  consists  of 
a  scene  or  two,  Mrs.  Porter,  then  in  tke  tn^idian 
of  her  fame,  did  not  disdain  to  accept— -Nor  wai 
it  um^rortiiy  of  hep  acceptance,  as,  with  her  pow- 
ers, she  drew  the  most  affecting  approbation  of 
tears  from  every  part  of , the  audience. 

MO  RAT, 


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\        f   '         '     '    '  /.     **■''' 

We  are  told  in  the  dedication  ofM%  play»  thcit 
Charles  the  Second  altered  an  incident  in  the 
plot,  and  pronounced  it  the  best  of  all  Diyden's 
Tragedies.  Of  his  riiyming  ones  we  bdieTe  the 
King  was  right,  as  the  passions  ar^  strongfy  ide- 
picted,  thcf  characters  well  discriminated,  and  the 
diction  more  familiar  and  dramatic  than  in  any 
of  his  preceding  pieces.  Kynaston  was  the  origi- 
,nal  Mirat  in  this  piece^  and  is  preferred  by  Gib-' 
ber  to  Bopth^  for  throwing  more  arrogant©  and 
savage  fierceness  into  it  than  the  latter*  But 
Booth's  retort  to  this  criticism,  which  was  the 
opinion  of  others  before  Qbber  wr^rte  his  Apolo- 
gy, we  think  not  only  sufficient,  bat  ihews  the 
superior  taste  and  discernment  of  tne  Actor. 
The  passage  particularly  alluded  to  is,tliis;  when 
Nourmahul  s^ySf  > 

<'  TmW  net  be  safe  to  let  him  live  m  hsriit/' 

Morat  answtrs,  ** 

*'  Y\\  ao't'to  »be^  m\f  arjUkrary  ^ff er/'   ^    !  .  i       ^ 

**  it  was  not  through  negligence,"  says  Booth, 
*'  but  design,  that  I  gave  no  great  spirit  to  that 
ludicrous  bounce  of  Morat.    I  know  very  well 

B  b  2  that 


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572  UZILOIM    OF 

that  d  laugh  of  approbation   may  be   obtained 
from  the  understanding. few;  but  there  is  nothing: 
more  dangerous  than  exciting  the  laugh  of  sim- 
JplfetQUS,-   who  know; not' wheiC; to  stop.     The  ma- 
ijcrity:  is  B6t  the  wisdsi  part  of  the  audience;  and 
Jbr'tbettlrfiason  Lwill  r:un  no  hazard,/^!!;  'He  there- 
fore »u|>pressed  the  ?^fis^;^  of  hisyoitioin  th&  line,  at 
-the  ii^me  time  thaC  he  ..spoke  it  ^ijtb  a  firmnedsf 
:.aujd).4tcUion  of  tone  ;cpyre$pondertt  to  the  cha- 
•racteii,.;  ■;  rr  ::-:''.  ■/'     .  >   ;'  ^.. 

TWdplay  ^as  revived  at  Drurjr  LaneTbeatrc^ 
about  the  year  1726,  wit^h  the  piiblicapprobatioa, 
arid  WAS  cast  in  the  following  strong  mtaner; 


ItefOtd  Ettiperor/> 

Mills.        :\' 

AufjBDfezebey 

'     wiiks.       ; 

Moraty 

^      Booth. 

Indiana,                        ' 

iVIrs.  GldfielA 

NourmahuT, 

Mrs.  Porter. 

and 

:^kl&iiida, 

The  .first  Wif^  of 

Theo.  Gibber; 

51  very  pleasing,  agreeable  Actress,  and  in  private 
life  unblemishe;d.    She  died  lis  1753. 

;  ,     .  ;    ,   l^'IifeiofUpotb/byThearCibberi    '<  -  ,^    ' 


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CHAHIES    MACKLIN^  *    ,  873 


1 
JAVtltK* 


.  This  was  another  of  Booth's  princjljpal  parts, 
•vvher^ia-  he  k  s^id  to  have  excelled.  He  jh44 
likewiise  a  fitoe  repre^ntative  of  Belvideta  in  Mr& 
3Parter,  who  was  c^n  eleve  of  the  wlebrat^  Mrs^ 
Barry,  whom  she  succeeded  when  that^Actress 
left  the  Stage.  Booth  was  no  admirer  of  Mrs. 
OkMield's  Tragedy,  but  was  m  rapture?,  when  he 
«ppke  of  Mrs*  Porter  in  Belvidera.  She  is  said 
to  have  particularly  excelled  in  the  agony  she 
e;?cpresse4  when  forced  from  Jaffier  in  the  second 
act,  nud  iii  th©  ^madjiess  pf  tjie  last  .  **  Nor 
should  ,ev^r  be  forgot,"  S9.ys  Davjes,  "her  de4i. 
cate  ^Qanper  of  putting  Jaffier  in  mipd  of  his  ap^ 
^oijfit^pr;^  in  thp  thjrd  act^ 

**  Remember  twelve  r 

Soon  aftef  Booth  had  obtained  a  share  in  thp 
patent  of  Drury  I^anis  Theatre,  he  thought  he 
pould  strengthen  the  cast  of  this  play,  by  taking 
the  part  of  Pkrrt  himself  ipstead  of  Mills,  who 
Jiad  bepn  in  possession  of  it  for  many  years;  but 
proposing  this  one  day  in  the  Green  Boom  to 
Wilks,  the  latter  instantly  took  fire,  a»d  thro\v- 
ing  down  the  part  of  Jaffier,  which  he  held 
in  liis  hand,  solemnly  protested  "  he  would  never 
plav  if  ao-ain."  ]Mills  was  an  old  frien^  of  \yilks ; 
*      Pb?    \  and. 


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874  MEMOIRS  OF 

jtnd  in  the  warmth  of  his  temper,  he  mighfe  ima-* 
gine  a  blow  was  levelled  at  him ;  or  perhaps  he 
might  be  apprehensive,  in  this  change  of  parts, 
Booth  might  carry  away  the  laurels  from  himselft 
HoKvever,  Booth,  though  vexed  and  disappointed^ 
suppressed  his  anger,  and  submitted  to .  act  the 
part  of  JaflSer,  which  be  continued  in  till  he  left 
the  Stage;         / 

This  celebrated  Actor,  though  in  general  a  very 
liberal  regulated  man,  was  not  altogether  free 
frdm  that  irritation  which  men  in  the  iame  walk 
of  profession  feel  at  the  success  of  others.  After 
he  had  resigned  his  employment  as  tn  Actor  in 
1729,  Wilks  was  called  upon  to  perform  two  of 
his  principal  parts,  Jaffier  and  Lord  Hastings; 
and  though  Booth's  infirmities  Would  not  permit 
pf  his  performance,  his  love  of  the  Tlieatre  often 
carried  him  to  the  house,  and  particularly  on  those 
nights  when  Wilks  performed  those  characters 
which,  he  himself  appeared  in  ^itb  such  unpompion 
lustre.  But  the  display  of  the  boxes,  and  the 
overflow  of  audiences,  could  not  atone  fof  the  ap- 
plause which  Wilks  obtained  in  these  parts.  He 
found  this  severe  iruthy  (experienced  by  many  in 
this  and  other  public  professions,)  that  fezv  are 
papable  of  making  judicious  distinctions;  and 
that  by  far  the  greater  part  haye  neither  memory, 
or  ju^lgment,  to  recollect  or  relish  any  thing  bc" 
yond  their  present  enjoyments.  He  likewise 
3  found 


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fMttd  Hf.  liim^elf  (or  at  lea;$t  it  appeared  so  to- 
others) that  he  was  not  free  from  the  jealousy  of, 
SL  rival's  merit ;  as,  amidst  the  thunders  of  applause 
which  Wilks  received  from  crowded  and  succes- 
sive audiences.  Booth  alone  ^  «ileQ4^  and  seemed 
iuseasib]e  to  the  merits  of  hts  brother  Manager. 

Though  wt  mcwmt  this  anecdote  oh  tjie  crpdit 
iof  Viclbor,  who  told  it  to  Dfivies  in  ^  private  con- 
vcimlioiii,  it  should  pet  di^redit  hi§  g^eoer^l  obar 
niCte^  which  wai  4S  much  tsteemed  hy  bijs  bro-^ 
tber  i^erforiiiiers  as  by  the  ^'oice  of  the  public,  ^mi 
vhieh  ih^  foUoyiag  little  pa^cdote,  ^ip^og>K 
/Others,  wHl  demo«strate. 

Hai^,  a  k>w  Comedian  of  some  mftrit,  re- 
«MAi»t»ted  to  him  <m^  day  in  the  Green  llopm, 
that  Sk^Jbcnrs  in^come  was  greater  than  his  by 
tveety  shilling  per  week;  though  be  presumed, 
he  §aid,  **that  his  own  industry,  qjad  variety  ^f 
busin<?5S,  were  not  inferior  to  Mr.  Shepherd's." 
w  Well  then,"  says  gpoth,  ^^  §uppo^  we  should 
pMke  you  botii  equ^j,  b^  fed^cing  his  salaay  to 
|rpur'&?"  t'  By  no  niipjns.  Sir,"  says  Harper,  witi) 
§B  iKme^t  prid^  of  phar^ter ;  *'  I  would  n.ot  injure 
Mr.  Shepherd  for  the  world ;  I  would  only,  by 
your  favoiir,  hpi^tly  »rv§  niy^elf," 

The  Manager  felt  pleased  with  Harper's  frank- 

li^flfl,  \mt  s^id  no  more :  however,  4t  the  end  of 

Bb4  the 


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S7S'  /  ••      MEMOIRS  0'F 

the  week,  Harper  foiwid  his  allot^rance  mcrease4' 
according  to  the  sum  he  demanded. 

THE  GHOST^  in  Humlet. 

We  have  no  written  criticism,  that  we  know  of, 
of  Booth  in  this  part,  except  that  it  wasf  a  cha-f 
tacter  that  he  stood  well  in  with  the  town,   and 
that  he  performed  it  under  the  perfect  approba? 
4ion  of  Betterton,  who  was  his  Hamlet  fofr  many 
years :  it  was,  however,  the  coiistant  eulogy  of 
Macklin^  who  said^   he  never  was  imitated  with 
effect.      His  tones  and  manner  throughout  hifif 
conference  with  Hamlet,  were  grave  and  pathetic ; 
his  tread  solemn  and  awful;  and  in  the  recital  of 
Jiis  murder  by  a  brother's  hand,  and  the  conduct 
pf    ^^  his  most  seeming  virtuous  Queen,"   the 
audience  appeared  to  be  under  the  nnpression  of 
peeing  and  hearing  a  real  Ghost. 

He  was,  beside,  always  particularly  well  dressed 
for  the  character,  even  to  the  soles  of  his  shoes, 
l^hich,  from  being  eovei-ed  with  /<?//,  ^made  no 
noise  in  walking  on  the  stage,  which  he  crossed  as 
If  lie  3lid  over  it,  and  which  strongly  corresponds- 
pd  with  the  ideas  we  have  X)f  an  incoiporeal 
beipg. 

Whilst 


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Wl)M9t  mW  er6  ftpeaking  of  the  co^nwa^of  the 
Stag6  at  this  period,  it  may  be  necessary  to  re- 
mark, that  Booth  in  the  Ghost  wore  a  plume  of 
feathers  in  his  helmet;  and  that  Mills  and  Quin 
both  wore  white  fiats  in  the  character  of  Pierre,  in 
Venice  Preserved, 

Having  now  concluded  our  remarks  on  some 
of  the  principal  characters  of  Booth,  as  gleaned 
from  a  variety  of  theatrical  writers,  as  well  as  tra- 
dition, it  may  not  be  reckoned  incurious  to  look 
back  tp  the  circumstance  which  first  induced  him 
to  thiiik  of  the  Stage. 

We  are  told  by  all  his  biographers,  that  his  fa- 
iiier  intended  him  for  the  Church;,  and  he  was. 
early  sent  to  Westminster  School,  in  order  to  fit 
him  for  the  University ;  but  having  a  natural  turn 
for  Latin  poetry,  and  for  reciting  it  with  great 
propriety  and  modulation  of  voice,  he  was  early 
taken  notice  of  by  his  master.  Dr.  Busby;  and  at 
the  accustomed  time  of  performing  Latin  plays, 
young  Booth  \vas  assigned  a  considerable  part. 
The  discerning  eye  of  Busby  (who,  when  young, 
performed  a  part  in  a  play  of  Cartwright's  with 
considerable  applause)  soon  found  out  the  real 
talent  of  his  pupil ;  as  on  that  representation  he 
wo  distinguished  himself  by  the  elegance  of  his 
department,  the  harmony  of  his  voice,  and  the 
justness  pf  his  enunciation,  that  the  applauses  he 

received 


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3781  .  HfjroiBss  lorf . 

received  fired  his  yoiiog  miftdi  ^ad  irne^sli^  jtd 
him  to  that  proftatidQ  whhih  mture  (tfi^niiMy  d^ 

Booth  was  twice  inarried ;  in  the  year  1704-,  to 
Miss  Barkham,  daughter  to  Sir  William  B^rkham, 
of  Norfolk,  Bart.  M^ho  lived  with  hiw  six  years; 
l|Ut  dying  without  issu^,  he  married,  some  time 
aft-er  he  became  Manager,  Mis$  Santlo wa,  a  risiM: 
Actress,  who  gained  great  reputatioTi^  m  the  cna* 
racter  of  The  Fair  Quaker  of  Deal,  With  thiii 
Lady  he  got  a  very  considerable  fortune;  as  it 
appears  by  his  will,  ^*  that  though  he  left  all  his 
fortune  to  his  wife,  it  did  not  amount  to  more 
than  /rw  thirds  of  what  he  had  received  with  her 
on, the  day  of  marriage."  Now  as  Bootli  must 
have  at  least  died  worth  between  five  and  six 
thousand  pounds,  Miss  Santlowe's  fortune  on  the 
day  of  marriage,  by  this  computation,  must  have 
been  between  eight  and  nine  thousand  pounds;  a 
sum  impossible  for  her  to  have  acquired  by  her 
acting,  both  from  her  youth  and  theatricalrepur 
tation.  The  question  then  arises,  Hqw  could  shp 
obtain  it? 

Tlie  answer  consists  in  an  anecdote  little  knowa 
to  the  wor!d,  and  which  we  give  on  the  credit  of 
a  Literary  Gentleman  many  years  dead,  who 
heard  it  from  Tom  Chapman  the  Player,  which  ]f 
this:  Miss  Santlowe  being  one  of  the  most  ele- 
gant and  captivating  women  on  the5ta|;^at  that 

time, 


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CHAItLEB  MACK t IN.  079 

thnc,  attracted  the  notice  of  John  Duke  of  Marl- 
boroagh>  who,  after  somi?  solicitation,  perauaded 
her  to  go  the  campaign  of  1706  with  him  to 
Flanders*  Here  she  conliinued  near  two  years; 
and  during  this  time  it  is  highly  probable  that, 
she  had  amassed,  or  at  least  laid  the  foundation 
of,  that  fortune  which  gained  her  so  respectable 
|in  husband. 

Whether  Booth  knew  this  circumstance  *  or 
not,  it  is  impossible,  perhaps,  now  to  say ;  but  we 
have  the  clearest  proofs  of  their  living  together 
very  harmoniously,  and  by  his  will,  mentioning 
her  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  affection, 
fihe  likewise  gave  proofs  of  reciprocal  attachment, 
as  she  continued  a  widow  to  the  end'of  hei:  life, 
>n  privacy  and  retirement;  though  she  outlived 
Jier  hysband  for  nearly  the  space  of  forty  years,  f 

Next  to  Booth,  in  the  Dramatis  Personce  of 
Macklin*s  first  entree  on  the  London  Stage,  was 
Jthe  Elder  Mills,  the.  intimate  friend  of  Wilks, 
and  an  actor  of  considerable  merit,  particularly 
in  the  grave  and  weighty  characters  of  Tragedy. 

The 

^  See  Dennis's  Character  and  Conduct  of  Sir  John  Edgar,. 
Vol  II.  of  the  Theatxe,  p.  Z65.  Editor. 

t  Booth  is  said  to  h^ve  been  concerned  in  the  building  Bar- 
ton and  Cowley  Streets,  Westminster;  to  the  former  of  which  he 
gave  his  own  Christian  name,  Barton;  and  to  the  latier,  that  of 
his  favourite  Poet. 


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380  .     .  MEMMRST  OF    * 

The  parts  that  Mills  geherallyi  played  in,  irers 
Volpone  in  *^  The  Fox*'  of  Bcn^  Jonson^  Venti* 
dius  in  **  All  for  Love,"  Lpon  in  **  Rule  a  ll\^ife 
and  Have  a  Wife,"  Falstaff,  the  old- Emperor  in 
*^  Aurengzebe,"  Chamont,  Pierre,  King  Henry 
the  Fourth,  &c,  '  \ :  ! 

The  first  of  these  plays,  Volpone^  is  well  kiiown 
to  he  written  by  Ben  Jonson;  the  plot  of  which 
is  founded  to  expose  avari^  and  luxiiiy.  in  the 
year  1731  it  was  revived,  and  Mills' ^pted  VolpoM 
with  a  considerable  degree  of  Reputation.  About 
three  years  afterwards,  by  way  of  giving  still 
greater  novelty  to  this  pijece,  Quin  played  Volt- 
pone,  and  Mills  took  the  part  of  Corvino,  which 
was  originally  played  l>y  Colley  Gibber^  Gibber 
seemed  to  jest  withNthe  ch^^acter  too  much; 
but  Mills  was  in  earnest,  and  had  a  stronger 
toice  to  express  passionate  and  jealous  rage  thai^ 
the  other..  ,    - 

It  was  a  curiosity  to  the  amateurs  oi  Xht  o\di 
School,  to  see  the  venerable  Bowman,  at  that 
time  verging  to  his  eightieth  year,  playing  the  part 
of  the  first  Jvocatori,  or  Superior  Judge.  Thi$ 
Actor  was  the  last  of  the  Betteftonian  Scjjopl; 
and  even  by  the  remains  of  this  man,  t)ie  spectq.- 
tors  might  guess  at  the  perfection  to  which  the 
old  masters  had  arrived;  as,  when  Bowman  pro- 
nounced the  sentence  upon  the  several  delinc^uents 


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CUAA^tS^  MASKLIN.  381 

in  tli6  ComtftJy,  he  did  it  witll  siith  a  becoming  gra* 
vity;  grafc^,  •  and  dignity,  as  commanded  the  at- 
tention and  applause  of  the  audienfce. 

•  Mr,  Garricfc  had  Idng  wished  to  revit^e  Vol- 
fone^  and  to  aet  the  principal  character  himself; 
and  the  parts  were  transcribed  and  delivered  to 
the  Actors  for  that  purpose;  but  the  play  was  su- 
perseded by  some  meatis  not  known. 

'Jn  the  pky  of  '^  AH  for  Love/'  Mills  played 
yentidius  to  Booth's  Antony;  and  he  is  •said  to 
liave  acted  it  with  a  true  spirit  of  the  rough  and 
-generous  soldier.  Indeed,  'the  whole  of  thi^  dra- 
matic chef  d'cmvre  of  Dryden's  was  so  admirably 
represented,  that,  after  the  death  of  these  actors, 
itgradually  sunk  into  forgetfalness,  till  Barry  shew- 
-^ed  the  publiq,  in  Marc  Antony,  all  the  grace  and 
dignity  of  the  Roman,  and  all  the  pathos  of  the  lover. 

-  We  have  no  particular  eulogium  on  Mills's 
Xeoh;  thdugh  the  play  had  a  good  hin'atthe 
time  of  its  revival  at  Driiry  Lane,  when  Wilks 
played  Perez,  Mrs.  Horton  Margaretta,  and 
■Estifania  by  Mrs!  Oklfield.*  '  Booth,  it  is  thought, 
rwould/ liave  been  an;  admirable  Leon,-  for^  he 
had  enough  of  comic  humour  for  the  assumed 
.folly  of  the  part,  and  atbuhdance  of  manly,  fine, 
land  noble  action  to  display,  when  he  broke 
through  the  cloud  of  his  disguise,  and  proved 
'         '  -   .       himself 


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himself  the  vindicator  of  his  own  honour,  smct  thir 
vortby  hudb^Dcl  of  the  lady  he  had  married ;  bu€ 
Booth  avoided  a  con teiition  with  th^  impetuouei 
Wilks,  the  avowed  patron  of  Mills :  he  was,  be- 
dd^f  too  indoknt  to  struggle  for  those  parts 
whidi  iipparentfy.  elain^e^  his  aBiaiated  exertipAb 

Mrs.  CHdfield'3  £stifania,  too,  ia  regarded  t» 
a  part  of  great  merit  thoughout  the  whole,  atkd^ 
in  particular,  her  manner  of  prete^iding  to  shoot  . 
Pereis.;  In  this  scene,  when  she  drew  the  piltol 
from  l^r  pocket,  Wilks  drew  back,  as  if  greafljr 
frightened,  and,  in  a  tremulous  voice,  uttered^ 
''  What,  hill  thy  otm  husbandr  Oldfield  replied, 
with  an  archness  of  countenance,  ^nd  half  shut 
eye,  which  at  all  times  had  a  fascinating  expres- 
sion, ^^  Let  mine  awn  hwband,  then,  be  in  hisowh 
wits,'*  in  a  tone  of  voice  so  exactly  in  imitation 
of  his,  that  the  Theatre  was  in  a  tumult  of  ap- 
plause. Mrs.  Pritchard,  and  Mrs.  Abington, 
without  having  ever  seen  Mrs.  Oldfield,  gave  a 
lustre  to  this  part  that  left  no  wish  ungratifed, 
and  no  legitimate  successor  ever  si|K:e, 

Garrick  revived  this  Comedy  in  }7S9;  and  it 
was  then  wished'by  Mossop,  and  his  friends,  that 
the  two  principal  parts  might  have  been  divided 
between  him  and  the  Manager;  Mossop,  Leon; 
and  Perez,  Garrick;  but  Hoscius  determined 
otherwise.  Before  the  representation. of  the  play^ 
the  public  Jiad  some  doubts  of  the  propriety  of 

bi» 


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CHAftLSS  JfACILLISr.  $9$ 

lim  '^hoki;  hixt  \m  perfommu^t  instantly  dissi- 
f^ted  eytVf  ^oubt;  hi$  dUguisie  of  foHy  in  the 
ftrs«  pm^  jpresented  t^  complete  picture  of  a 
Wiltolj  and  when  be  put  on  the  man  of  seme 
tlid  oou'rige,  and  ifc^erred  the  honest  rights  of  a 
bHsbawrf,  the  watmth  of  his  feeimgg,  and  the  force 
of  hid  judgment,  tart^Hf  spirit  <)f  sympathy  to  the 
dbHeil'9pdctiaM)r:  but  when  he  replied  to  the 
Diike  ^  liledina,  who  deitres  him  to  nsk  his  wife 
^we8,  *•  My  owtt  ^manity  will  teaeh  iwe  this,  ^  his 
ex^>fe^sive  look,  tone,  afi^  action,  can  itiever  be 
lerg(^t :  tfcte  Single  line  was  a  most  perfect  portrait 
of  true  greatnew,  at  the  same  tiwie  tliat  it  ejtpo«* 
fA  the  little  dontemptiWe  artiR  ctf  his  mMc  adviser. 

Henderson  caught  a  good  deal  of  Garrick*^ 
-itia<H»e*  in  this  part,  and  his  own  judgment  made  * 
it  a  respectable  piece  of  acting;  yet,  though  it 
had  many  beauties,  it  was  but  the  copy  of  a  great 
original 

FALSTAFF.  ^ 

^  -  Betterton  was  the  first  Actor  who  aj>pearcd  in 
^thi#  part  aft6r  fhe  Rcstomtion,  which  he  is  said 
'to  have  supported  with  all  the  various  requisites 
•  necessarj^  to  sustain  it.  On  his  death,  it  lay  '^r- 
mant  for  some  time; ■  and  probably  wouM  have 
remained  much  long*er  on  the  shelf,  if  Queen 
Mr^  liid'not;  by  particukr  command,  otdered 

Booth 


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9t4  .  :      M£MOlli$  oy 

Booth  to  ibe  it$  representative^  But  £»I$I^  h^ 
qtiaUtie^  which  Booth^'s  grave  and  dignified  i  i|i9j^ 
nerrcould  not  u-dl  assume}  l^tharcfoi^fv^^m. 
th^  habit  but/or  one  night  only^  a^d  then  r$s%06d 
it  That  he  did  not  ventiure  a  seecitid.atte^^pt, 
might  he  owi»g  As.iftiMih  tora  pre^iteciioft  for  the 
part  of  Hotspur,  a^acoitsfiousnessffof  4^eieQcgr 
iia  Falstaff:  howi^vep,  ithe-play.-heiftg  ,#afe  aeta 
gc^ng^  Mtils  waa  cast^aa  the  iwt)r«tfnla*ti««.rf£ 
Booth^^but  with  litUe.  more  fAioe«ii»  >r  nekheir  }m 
sobep  4fra«ity,  or  judgmejat,  co^d  resK^fa  t]|?  MHf 
mit)ablem>hrth  of  this  stage  prodigy  ^  uid  he  wm, 
after  being  appbmded  in  tadc&y  sceiiea  £6r  his-juaife 
concepttion  of  the  Author,  obliged  to  jrjesign  the 
part  to  Harper,  whose  fat  figure,  full  voice,  round 
face,  and  honest  laugh,  more  than  inad^  up  for 
his  waiijt  of  intelligence,  and  at  last  fi:i^4  him  ia 
the  jolly:  Knight's  easy  chair* 


Aurcngzehc  (md  the  Orphan* 

The  old  Etnperor  in  the  former,  and  Chamont 
in  the  latter,  were  favourite  parts  af^M4Ua»  Thtf 
first  of  tliese  pieces,  we  have  before  observed,  \^as 
cast  with  the  whole  strepgth,  of  th^e  C4^pa^y,r 
and  Mills  is  said  to  have  kept  his  rank,  iq  this  dis- 
tinguished list,  with  appropriate  character.  He 
had  likewise  long  possessed  (be  partof  ^hapi^njb; 
but  as  years  grew  on,  he  fpMud  himftelf  fto  lo»g?r 

qualified 


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CHARLES   ltACKLIir«  US 

<}ua1ified  fot  a  part  which  required  a  younger  man, 
with  much  variety  of  passion,  tod  quick  transi* 
lion  from  anger  to  calmness,  and  from  calnlnesi 
to  returning  rage. 

There  arc  many  traits  in  the  character  of  Acasto^ 
in  this  Tragedy,  which  are  supposed  to  be  drawn 
for  James,  Duke  of  Ormond,  that  old  and  faith- 
ful servant  of  King  Charles  the  Second.  And 
when  we  compare  this  Nobleman's  neglected  stat^ 
with  the  following  character  given  of  him  by  old 
Ernesto,  a  servant  in  the  piece,  it  will  strongly 
apply  to  the  original : 

"  When,  for  what  he  bad  borne^ 

*'  Long  and  faithful  toH,  he  might  have  claimU 
^'  Places  in  honour  and  employment  high, 
'^  A  huffing,  shining,  flattering,  cringing  coward, 
**  A  canker^vsorm  ofpeactj  was  rais'd  above  him. 

This  canker-worm  was  the  infamous  VilHeM, 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  who  often  kept  the  King, 
in  spite  of  himself,  from  doing  justice  to  his  own 
feeKngs,  as  will  particularly  appear  from  the  fol* 
towing  anecdote  told  by  Carte. 

•'  The^  King,  who  was  extremely  affable,  and 
made  it  his  constant  business  to  please  every  man 
with  his  conversation  at  the  levee,  saw  Ormond 
always  ready  to  pay  his  court;  but,  by  Bucking- 
ham's influence,  he  never  could  get  to  speak  to 

C  c  him. 


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386  .      MEMOXKS   OF 

bim.  This  behaviour  -w^s  copied  by  all  who  fre- 
quented  the  Court,  with  a  view  to  gain  employ- 
nient,  or  to  secure  the  Minister's  favour.  But 
those  who  had  nothing  to  ask,  and  went  there 
only  to  make  their  bows,  however,  formed  a  cir- 
cle about  Omiond,  and  listened  with  great  atten-* 
tion  to  his  discourse. 

"  It  happened  one  day,  that  the  King,  struck 
with  the  respect  paid  to  his  old  loyal  servant,  was 
willing  to  break  through  his  forced  silence,  and 
speak  to  him ;  but  the  favourite's  presence  embar- 
rassed him  so  much,  that  Buckingham,  in  a  whis- 
per, said  to  the  King,  **  I  wish  your  Majesty 
could  resolve  me  one  question — Is  the  Duke  of 
Ormond  out  of  favour  with  your  Majesty?  or  is 
your  Majesty  out  of  favour  with  the  Duke  of 
Ormond?  for,  of  the  two,  you  seem  to  be  in  most 
confusion," 

Venice  Preserved. 

.  Pierre,  in  **  Venice  Preserved,"  was  another  of 
Mills's  parts,  and  in  which  he  principally  ex- 
celled ;  his  figure,  voice,  deportment,  and  study 
of  the  character,  all  conjoined  to  give  him  a 
considerable  degree  of  reputation.  "  Mills  act* 
cd  Pierre  so  much  to  the  taste  of  the  public, 
that  the  applause  bestowed  on  him  exceeded  aU 
that  was  given  to  his  best  eflForts  in  every  thing 

else: 


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CHARLES   IkTACKLIN.  397 

else:  the  Actors  joined  their  voices  to  that  of  the 
Public,  who  never  saw  him  in  this  part  with- 
out a  degree  of  approbation/' 

When  this  play  was  cast  about  the  year  1706^ 
Wilks  played  Jaffier;  Mills,  Pierre;  and  Mrs.  Ro- 
gers, Belvidera.  This  Actress,  after  standing 
out  a  long  siege  of  amorous  courtship  from  Wilks, 
at  last,  "  to  save  his  life,"  says  Gibber,  yielded 
up  the  fortress;  and  the  issue  of  this  intrigue  was 
a  daughter,  afterwards  married  to  Charles  Bul- 
lock, by  approbation  of  Wilks.  However  ardent 
Wjlks*s  passion  for  Mrs.  Rogers  was,  it  propor- 
tionally cooled;  and  the  lady's  temper  not  readily 
submitting  to  this,  produced  much  bitterness  and 
disagreement  They  were,  however,  obliged  of- 
ten to  play  the  lovers  on  the  Stage,  and  particu- 
larly the  parts  of  JafBer  and  Belvidera,  in  which 
there  are  scenes  of  as  much  tenderness  as  in  any 
play  upon  the  stock  list.  Wilks  bore  up  the  cha- 
racter of  the  lover  with  much  ^ee/wiVi^;  but,  (if 
we  can  rely  upon  contemporary  writers)  Mrs.  Ro- 
gers was  so  incapable  of  stifling  her  resentment  in 
the  embraces  which  she  gives  Jaffier,  that  sh6 
"  ever  and  anon"  left  visible  and  bloody  marks  of 
her  jealousy.  This,  however  painful  to  Wilks, 
was  sport  to  the  audience  j  and  to  behold  this 
strange  perversion  of  courtship,  where  love  was 
turned  into  spite,  and  jealous  rage  took  place  of 

C  Q  S  conjugal 


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388  JnEMoiRS  6* 

conjugal  embraces,    the  play,    for  this  reason, 
was  much  frequented. 

The  fiuest  representations  of  Jaffier  and  Pierre^ 
during  the,  course  of  the  last  century,  were  Bet- 
terton  and  Smith ;  the  first  of  whom,  says  a  con- 
temporary writer,  **  possessed  such  tenderness, 
friendship,  and  love,  conflicting  with  such  rage, 
tenderness,  and  remorse,  as  exhibited  the  charac- 
ter in  the  most  pathetic  and  impressive  manneri 
Smith's  person  in  Pierre  was  grand  and  command- 
ing, with  all  the  advantages  of  a  fine,  manly 
voice,  and  great  theatrical  talents.  The  audience 
always  felt  the  force  of  the  character  given  of  him 
by  himself, 

**  A  fine,  gay,  boId-facM  villain,  as  diou  scc*»t  me,"* 

as  well  as  Bedamor's  compliment, 


'^  The  Poets  who  firsft  feigned  a  god  of  war, 
•*  Sure  prophecied  of  thee.'* 


The  figure  and  manners  of  the  Actor  represented 
the  character  of  the  Poet  so  truly,  that  both  were 
in  unison,  and  consequently  reflected  reputation 
OH  each  othen 

Wilks  and  Mills  succeeded  them  with  consi- 
derable reputation — ^To  them  Delane  and  Garrick, 
1  Garrick's 


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CHARJJ:*  mack  LIN.  58© 

GarHdc'3  Pierre  (^bating  his  peraoi],  wliich  could 
newr  correspond  with  the  Poet's  description)  was 
a  fine,  manly  performance,  and  must  have  greatly 
eclipsed  the  Jaffier  of  Delane;  and  for  this  reason 
he  was  fond  of  the  part ;  but  the  moment  Barry 
appeared  in  JatBer,,  he  declined  Pierre.  His 
friends  pressed  him  to  know  the  reason  of  it.  To 
which  he  replied,  *^  I  will  not  bully  the  Moriu- 
mcnt.'\  Here  Roscias  acted  with  his  usual  Stage 
prudence;  Barry's  commanding  height  must  not 
only  have  diminished  the  person  of  Garrick;  feut 
his  exquisite  performance  of  the  part,  through  all 
the  scenes  of  rage,  tenderness,  and  distress,  mdst 
have  thrown  him  in  the  back  grbimd;  and  to  a 
man  of  Garricfc's.  universal  great  talents,  this 
cpuld  iiot  he  either  prudent  or  agreeable. 

To  them  aiicceeded  Powell  and  Holland.  The 
former,  undoubtedly,  bad  a>n$«ierable  talents  in 
parts  of  love  and  tendemfcisv  Jike  Jaffier;  and 
whilst  he  could  imabe  way  to  the  lieart,  was  al- 
ways fure  of .  jipjdausC';  but  having  no  judgment 
equal  to  his  pathetic  powens,  he  failed  in  particu- 
lar passages. 

Holland's  Pierre  was  respectable:  indeed,  ht 
waa  so  in  all  the  rdugh  manly  parts  of  Tragedy 
and  Coftiedy;  but  his  study  of  Garrick,  without 
having  a  portion  of  the  divine  fire  of  his  original, 
rendered  him,  at    times,  stiff  and    mechanical. 

C  c  3  However, 


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590  MEHOtRS   OF 

However,  both  these  performers  made  the  Tra- 
gedy of  Venice  Prcsfrce4  very  popular,  and  de^ 
sprvedly  so^ 


Henry  the  IVth. 

Upon  Drury  Lane  Theatre  assuming  the  firm 
ef  Gibber,  Wilks,  and  Booth,  the  last-mentioned 
performer  played  Henry  to  Wilks's  Prince  of 
Wales;  and  both,  as  we  have  before  observed, 
obtained  great  reputation  in  their  respective  parts. 
To  them  succeeded  the  dder  Mills  in  the  King, 
?ind  his  son  in  the  Prince  of  Wales.  The  first  had 
a  considerable  deal  of  merit  in  this  part,  from  a 
liberal  study  of  Booth,  and  an  easy,  dig4iifi6d  dc* 
portment  of  his  own;  but  the  son  was  a  mere 
copier  of  Willcs,  which,  to  those  who  did  not  see 
the  original,  appeared  respectable.  But  mere 
copyists,  laying  nq  claim  to  original  talents,  have 
but  a  secondary  reputation,  and  are  always  con- 
sidered as  little  better  than  rairdc  and  file  meo  itl 
the  catalogue  of  Actprs. 

It  IS  rather  singular,  that  Henry  the  IVth  was 
the  last  part  which  Mills  played :  he  was  taken  ill 
a  few  days  after  he  acted  it ;  but  not  so  bad,  but 
that  his  name  was  announced  in  the  bills  for  Mac- 
beth- He,  however,  died  on  the  morning  of  that 
(lay,  (November  173ff.)    The  Manager  had  not 

tim? 


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CHARLES   MACKLIN.  391 

time  to  alter  the  play,  so  Quin  was  obliged  to 
supply  his  place.  "  I  saw  him,"  says  Davies^ 
"  hurrying  to  the  playhouse  between  five  and  six 
on  that  evening  for  that  purpose-" 

Milward  was  the  successor  of  Mills  in  Henry, 
and  was,  in  the  pathetic  parts,  allowed  his  supe- 
rion  His  countenance  was  finely  expressive  of 
grief;  and  the  plaintive  tones  of  his  voice  were 
admirably  adapted  to  the  languor  of  a  dying  per* 
son,  and  to  the  spirit  of  an  ofFencled,  yet  aflFec* 
tionate  parent* 

-  Though  Garrick's  figure  did  not  assist 
the  personification  of  this  character,  the  forcible 
expression  of  his  countenance,  and  his  energy. of 
utterance,  made  ample  amendis.  To  describe  the 
a^nguish,  mixed  with  terror,  which  he  seemed  to 
feel,  when  he  cast  up  his  eyes  to  heaVen,  and  pro- 
nounced these  wordi, 

.    **  How  icami  h^  the  Crown^  .0  God  forgive  me!**- 

must  ever  he  rewembered  by  those  who  were 
present,  with  a  feeling  as  difficult  to  describe  as 
it  is  to  forget. 

Garrick  taught  Powell  to  play  this  part;  and, 

as  far  as  his  feelings  went,  he  was  very  impress 

sive  J  but  those  who  compared  him  with  his  great 

^  ^  C  c  4  original, 


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$92  MEMOIRS   OF 

original,  instantly  saw  the  difference:  he  never 
had  science  enongh  in  his  profession  to  accoinpa«<r 
py  his  natural  powers.  The  latter,  it  is  true,  did, 
and  will  always  do,  a  gre^t  deal;  but  without  the 
former  for  their  guide,  perfection  is  sought  for  iij 
vain. 

In  the  la$t  lingering  stage  of  life,  w^rn  by 
complicated  distempers,  Barry  undertook  to  re*' 
present  the  dying  scenes  of  Henry.  It  was  a 
part  of  his  in  his  youthful  days,  in  which,  he  ob- 
tained celebrity ;  and  his  infirmities,  particularly 
in  the  last  scene,  now  gave  an  ^j^quisite  sensibi- 
lity to  ^e  <^lmracter.  In  person,  if  we  consult 
history,  Barry  was  better  adapted  to.  Hwry  than 
^y  of  his  predecessors,:  as  almost  ^11  the  Princes 
of  the  PlaPvtagtnet  line;  were  remar)^able  for  height 
of  figure,.  But  this  was  owe  of  theieast  requisites 
of  tl>w  igr^e^t  Actor---d;he  fatherly  reproofs,  and 
earnest  admonitions,  from  ,the  conscience  im- 
parted by  Barry's  pleasing  manner,  as  well  as  nOr 
ble  figure,  acquired  authority  and  iinportance, 

.  His  itelings  KHerpi  perhaps,  helgfrtefled  by  the 
anxiety  df  his-mind  in  the  declipirig  state  of  his 
health,  which  was,  at  this  time,  so  pfecarioiis, 
that  he  was  not  sure  but  each  representation 
v^'ould  ht^  his: last.:  But  from  this  setting  sun 
-emitted  a*  warm,  though  glimmering  ray,  by 
J  '        which 


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CHAELE8   UACKLim.  39 

which  spectators  might  fprm  a  judgment  what 
he  had  been  in  the  meridian  of  his  glory. 

The  two  Henrys  of  Drury  Lane  and  Govent 
Garden  Theatres,  are  at  present  very  respectably 
filled  by  Messrs.  Wroughton  and  .Murray,  who 
are  both  Actors  of  judgment  and  feeling,  and,  in 
parts  of  this  kind,  will  not  be  readily  equalled. 

By  the  bye,  royalty  seems  to  be  very  much  de-» 
graded  by  its  general  re|>resentation  on  the 
Stage;  as  some  of  the  meanest  Actors,  in  point  of 
abilities,  are  shoved  on,  like  Lindimira  in  the 
Critic,  as  Kings  and  Princes — such  as  tlie  Kipgs 
in  Hamlet,  Cymbeline,  &c.  &c.  This  seems  to 
arise  from  their  being  littte^  bustle  or  business  in 
those  parts,  so  as  to  be  worthy  the  talents  of  a 
superior  Actor;  but  Managers  should  consider, 
that  if  Kings  have  not  a  great  deal  to  say^  they 
have  always  a  great  deal  to  took — there  is  a  de- 
mand for  manners,  deportment,  and  dignity; 
which  would  give  the  little  that  is  to  say  a  con- 
formable importance  to  the  character;  and  not 
only  to  the  character  itself,  but  to  all  the  dramatis 
persofKe^  of  which  he  is  supposed  to  be  the  head, 
in  point  of  rank  and  situation. 

This  surely  ought  to  be  reformed ;  and  which 
may  be  done,  without  losing  the  value  of  a  first 
rate  Actor  ii^  the  part  of  a  mere  King.     Let  some 

man 


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S9^  MEMOIRS  OF 

man  of  good  figure,  easy  manners,  and  propei' 
enunciation,  be  chosen.  They  are  not  difficult 
to  be  found  in  any  Theatre ;  and  when  once  found, 
and  properly  rewarded  for  this  mediocre  talent, 
there  would  not  be  wanting  those  who,  in  future, 
would  aspire  to  be  as  good  Kings,  as  good  lovers, 
good  fops,  great  heroes,  &c.  when  Stage  Royalty 
would  not  be  rendered  as  cheap  as  it  is  at  present; 
we  should  no  longer  see  its  robes  disgraced  by 
the  awkward  strut  and  air  of  a  mechanic;  but  he 
that  was  set  down  fbr  this  part,  would  have  am- 
bition to  attain  the  character  given  of  Louis  the 
XlVth— "  That  he  was  the  best  actor  of  a  King 
in  Europe.*^ 

Having  now  gone  into  some  length  on  the  me- 
rits of  the  contemporary  performers  on  Macklin's 
introduction  to  the  Stage,  the  better  to  shew  the 
state  of  the  Theatres  at  that  period,  as  well  as  to 
examine  what  opportunities  he  had  under  the  in- 
fluence of  such  eicamples,  we  shall  now  conclude; 
this  part  of  the  inquiry,  by  just  touching  on  two 
remaining  characters,  whom  he  has  often  acknow* 
ledged  to  have  received  great  delight  and  im-» 
provemeut  from,  viz.  Gibber  and  Ky^n, 

CIBBER. 

Of  Gibber  he  has  often  said,  **  that  Nature 
formed  him  for  *  coxcomb;"  for  though,  in  many 

respects, 


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CHARLES   MAC&LIK.  S9S 

respects,  he  was  a  sensible  and  observing  man,-  a 
good  perfonner,  and  a  most  excellent  comic  wri-. 
ter,  yet  his  predominant  tendency  was,  to  be  con- 
sidered amongst  the  men,  as  a  leader  of  fashion  ; 
amongst  the  women,  as  a  beau  gargon.  Hence 
he  excelled  in  almost  the  whole  range  of  light 
fantastic  comic  characters.  His  Lord  Foppington 
was  considered  for  many  years  as  a  model  for 
dress,  hauteur,  and  nonchalance,  which  distin- 
guished the  superior  coxcombs  of  that  day  •  and 
the  picture  of  him  which  we  have  seen  in  this 
stage  dress,  viz.  a  stiff  embroidered  suit  of  clothes, 
loaded  with  the  ornaments  of  rings,  muff,  cloud- 
ed cane,  and  snuff-box,  would  exhibit  the  best 
lesson  to  a  modern  beau,  of  the  versatility  and 
frivolity  of  fashion. 

His  Richard,  though  it  was  a  part  he  was  much 
followed  in,  Macklin  did  not  entirely  approve  of; 
he  wanted  variety  of  powers,  as  well  as  dignity  of 
deportment;  and  his  voice,  naturally  shrill,  did 
not  accord  with  the  deep-minded,  heroic  Richard, 
His  lago,  and  Cardinal  Wolsey,  he,  however,  did 
ample  justice  to :  the  former  more  particularly ; 
it  was  studied  not  only  in  the  best  conception  of 
the  part,  but  exhibited  with  singular  taste  and 
judgment;  and  from  this  model,  Mackhn  has 
often  acknowledged  to  have  received  great  im- 
provement. 

As 


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996,  .   i|fis|«oiM  Of     ^ 

As  a  reader  of  plays,  too,  Ma^klin  gave  him 
great  praise,  wbich  be  bad  mf^ny  opportunities  of 
bearing;  not  only  on  the  6tage>  but  from  his  often 
fjssidingj  to  the  iSrst  M|^s.  Mackli^^  parts  that  she 
wished  to  have  his  opinion  on.  This  he  condes* 
tended  to  do  long  after  he  quitted  the  Stage^  to 
the  delight  and  imi^ovemeut  of  those  who  heard 
bim. 

J  In  corroboration  of  this  last  eulogy  on  Cibber*$ 
character,  we  have  the  authority  of  one  of  the 
}no$t  respectable  dramatic  writers  of  the  present 
day,  who  has  often  heard  him  read  the  Comedy 
of  the  Provoked  Husband,  in  order  to  instruct 
iWrs.  Woffington  irji  the  part  of  Lady  Townjy; 
His  reading  this  play  was,  to  use  the  Critic's  own 
words,  *^  an  impressive  personification  of  each 
part,  so  that  it  appeared  more  like  a  rehearsal  than 
a  mere  recitation."  He  had,  he  confessed,  what 
sounded  like  a  quaintness  of  voice  in  his  tones, 
which  did  not  altogether  correspond  with  the 
reading  of  the  present  day ;  but  this  he  consider*- 
ed  as  the  costume  of  an  old  picture,  which  belong 
ed  to  the  character  of  the  times,  and  gave  it  th<; 
value  of  an  original, 

RYAN. 

As  to  Ryan,  though  he  claimed  the  lovers'  parts 
in  Tragedy,  and  the  fine  gentlemen  in  Comedy,. 

and 


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CHAlltES  MACKLIM.  397 

and  possessed  them  through  a  long  life,  yet  he 
did  not  rise  much  above  mediocrity:  he  was, 
however,  a  sensible,  inoffensive  man ;  and  in  se- 
veral parts  of  Tragedy,  such  as  Hamlet,  Orestes, 
lago,  Edgar,  &c.  shewed  a  knowledge  of  his 
authors  which  was  well  worthy  the  attention  of 
rising  Actors, 

The  circumstance  of  his  being  shot  in  the 
mouth  by  some  street-robbers,  though  in  some 
respect  true,  was  not  the  cause  of  that  defect  in 
his  utterance  which  the  public  both  gave  him  pity 
and  credit  for.  He  had  a  scar  ever  after  upon 
his  upper  lip  from  the  wound,  it  h  true,  but  it 
did  him  no  further  damage.  The  story,  however, 
was  in  circulation,  that  he  had  a  fine  voice  before 
mis  accident ;  and  Ryan,  perhaps,  willing  to  fa- 
vour this  report,  did  not  contradict  it.  Quin, 
however,  who  knew  the  real  abilities  of  Ryan,  and 
loved  the  man  with  a  sincere  friendship,  could 
not  help  cracking  his  joke  upon  the  occasion; 
for  when  Ryan  was  one  day  complaining  to  him 
of  the  inabilities  of  a  young  friend  of  his,  whom 
he  could  not  dissuade  from  the  Stage,  **  Poh ! 
poll !"  says  Quin ;  "  try  him  ;  perhaps  he  may  yet 
do  something.'*  **  I  have,"  says  the  other,  "and 
nothing  will  do ;  he  wants  almost  every  requisite.'* 
"  Why  then,"  says  Quin,  "  bum  him  in  the 

mouth ; 


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S98  KTEMOIRS   OF 

mouth ;  and  that  at  least  will  give  him  the  credU 
of  a  good  Acton"* 

Under  such  masters,  Macklin  had  to  form  him- 
self as  an  Actor.  It  must  be  confessed  he  had 
good. opportunities;  and,  considering  the  many 
impediments  thrown  in  his  way  from  original  dis- 
advantages, he  availed  himself  of  such  masters 
very  creditably,  both  for  his  talente  and  industry. 
He  was  a  long  time,  however,  before  he  could 
make  any  way  on  the  Theatre.  He  was,  as  we 
have  before  stated,  at  first  rejected  b}r*Rich  almost 
as  totally  inefficient — a  repulse  which,  to  a  mind 
less  daring  than  Macklin's,  would  have  deterred 
him  from  a  second  attempt ;  but  he  seemed  to 
know  the  powers  that  then  lay  dormant  in  his 
xnind  ;  and  the  perseverance  he  was  master  of,  a,vA 
his  future  success  in  life,  fully  answered  all  hb  ex* 
pectations. 

When  he  was  first  tet  in  to  the  Theatre,  (as  he 
himself  expressed  it)—**  For,  Sir,  my  salary  was 
so  small  I  could  hardly  say  I  was  engaged*'-^hh 

characters 

*  This  sarcasm  of  Quin  is,  however,  differently  told.  It 
should  be  remembered,  that  ttie  humour  of  Old  Hippesley  was 
miich  aided  by  an  accidental  bum  in  his  face.  Talking  with 
Quin  about  the  destination  of  his  son,  he  said,  he  had  some 
tiioughts  of  bringing  him  up  to  the  Stage.  "Have  you  so?" 
said  the  Tragedian ;  *^  then  I  am  sure  it  is  high  time  to  think  of 
burnifig  him" 


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CHARLE3   MACKLIN*  399 

fhatacters  were  very  trifling— the  mere  faggots 
and  subordinate  parts  of  the  drama.  This  must 
have  been  very  mortifying  to  a  man  who,  in  his 
probationary  country  excursions,  figured  away  in 
Richard,  Hamlet,  &c.  but  he  considered  London 
as  the  great  emporium  for  talents,  and  he  trusted 
to  himself  for  the  rest. 

An  opportunity  at  last  presented  itself  of  taking 
biin  out  of  this  drudgery,  by  being  accidentally 
cast  in  the  Comedy  of  the  Coffee-house  Politician, 
written  by  Harry  Fielditig,  and  brought  out  in 
1730.  This  part  was  originally  designed  for 
another,  who  either  failed  in  the  representation, 
or  was  taken  ill  after  the  first  night ;  so  that  it 
was  on  the  spur  of  the  occasion  Macklin  was 
thought  of.  He  more  than  answered  the  Author's 
exppctatiop ;  for  if  we  are  to  believe  his  own  opi- 
nion,  his  performance  much  contributed  to  the 
success  of  the  piece.  And,  indeed,  when  we  con- 
sider that  this  Comedy  had  a  considerable  run, 
though  much  under  the  par  of  Fielding's  general 
abilities,  we  are  inclined  to  think  Macklin  did  not 
pver  compliment  himself 

His  next  step  to  preferment  was  in  the  Drunken 
Colonel,  in  th6  Intriguing  Chambermaid ;  a  part 
which  Macklin  valued  himself  much  on,  and  was 
>vell  received  in ;  and  yet,  though  he  might  have 
considerable  practice  in  the  dissipation  of  those 

times. 


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400  MEMOIRS   OF 

times,  we  must,  from  what  we  have  seen  of  him 
in  Sir  John  Brute,  think  him  greatly  deficient  in 
the  character  of  a  rake  of  fashion.  Woodward^ 
who  succeeded  him  in  this  part,  must  have  been 
much  his  superior — but  Woodward  was  an  Actor, 
amongst  some  others  of  that  day,  who  has  left  his 
niche  in  the  temple  of  the  drama  still  uninha« 
bited. 

From  this  period,  Macklin's  theatrical  glass 
pointed  upwards,  and  he  was  called  into  a  variety 
of  parts,  which  increased  his  salary  and  reputa- 
tion, till  the  full  extent  of  his  abilities  were  disco* 
vered  in  Shy  lock,  in  "  The  Merchant  of  Venice/* 

From  this  fixed  point  of  view,  we  shall  now 
consider  him  as  an  Actw^  and  inquire  into  what 
qualifications,  and  in  what  lines  of  performance, 
he  was  entitled  to  the  praise  of  this  character. 

In  his  person  he  was  above  the  middle  size,  ra- 
ther stout  than  well  proportioned,  with  a  marked 
eye,  an  aquiline  nose,  and  a  face  altogether  that 
expressed  more  acumen  than  grace,  or  even  than 
what  we  call  openness  of  countenance. 

His  voice  was  strong,  clear,  important,  and 
sufficiently  variable  for  the  parts  he  generally 
played :  he  had  likewise  the  peculiar  manner  of 
governing  ity  and  hence  the  terminations  of  his 

sentences 


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CHARIES   MACKLIN.  401 

sentences  werfe  as  well  heard, ."  even  in  the  whirl* 
wipcl  of  passion,"  as  in  the  middle  parts— a  point 
of  attention  which  he  supported  to  the  end  of  his 
stage  life,  and  which  he  inculcated  in  all  the  va-^ 
rious  pupils  he  had  under  his  direction ;  adding, 
by  way  of  example,  "  Sir,  there  is  no  hearing 
nine  Actors  out  of  ten  through  the  whole  of  a 
passage,  and  it  is  nine  to  one  but  that  the  tenth 
Hian  roars  like  a  bull." 

•  With  these  requisites,  he  was  always  perfect  in  his 
parts,  Svhich  talent,  he  said,  he  by  no  means  receiv- 
ed from  nature,  (having  always  what  the  players 
call  *^  a  hard  study,")  but  strengthened  his  me* 
mory  from  much  private  reading  in  his  profession, 
as  well  as  by  attending  to  as  many  rehearsals  a3 
he  could.  Rehearsals,  too,  in  his  time,  were 
very  different  from  what  they  are  at  present. 
Players  were  not  permitted  to  *'  mouth  over  their 
parts^"  and  hurry  from  one  passage  to  another, 
without  attending  to  the  enunciation,  or  exhibi- 
tion of  the  character;  almost  every  thing  was  de- 
tnanded  at  a  rehearsal  as  before  an  audience;  eve- 
ry person  did  their  best  to  please;  and  their  er- 
rors were  either^  modestly  reprehended  by  the 
Manager,  or  deputy,  or  by  the  mutual  correction 
of  themselves. 

But  hear  how  a  contemporary  Author  has  des- 
cribed these  rehearsals,  of  which  he  was  often  a 

D  d  spectator. 


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402  MEHOIM  Of 

Spectator.  '*  If  a  nc\r  play  (say*  he,  speaking  of 
the  period  of  Wilks,  Booth  and  Gibber's  admi* 
nistration)  was  coming  on,  th^  first  tlffee  read^ 
ings  fell  to  the  share  of  the  Author:  if  a  revived 
play,  it  fell  to  the  share  of  the  Maoag»cf,  who 
was  the  principal  performer  in  it.  The  readings 
over,  there  followed  a  limited  number  of  rehear- 
sals with  their  parts  iniheplayers  hands)  ^fter  whicb^ 
a  distant  morning  was  appointed  for  eyery  person 
in  the  play  to  appear  perfect,  because  the  rehear- 
sals only  then  begin  to  be  of  use  to  the  Actor.. 
When  be  is  quite  perfect  in  the  words  and  cues^ 
^e  Gin  then  be  instructed,  and  practise  his  pi?oper 
entries^  emphasis,  attitudes,  and  exits. 

"  Thus  the  rehearsals  went  on  under  tlie  eye 
of  a  person  who  had  ability  to  instruct,  and  pow- 
er to  encourage  and  advise,  those  of  industry  aaid 
merit,  and  to  forfeit  and  discharge  the  negligent 
and  worthless.  They  soon  found,  by  experience, 
that  regularity  was.  the  first  step  to  success';  and 
XKXt  only  the  merits  of  the  great  Actors  appeared 
by  that  in  their  full  lustre,  but  even  those  of  th^ 
lowest  class  acquired  a  decency  that  saved  them 
from  contempt..^'* 

Macklin,  through  life,  was  an  hearty  owr/ei^r 

of  his  profession,    and,    of  course,  was  always 

thinking  and  observing  on  what  could  induce  to 

his  own  improvement,  and  the  credit  of  the  Stage* 

•   .  Hence, 

♦  Victors  History  of  the  Theatres, 


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Hftnee;  ffee  mohitftit  h^  gbt  afi  ascendancy  irl 
tHt  Thfcafre^  wliich  feommericfed  under  the  riia-i 
ftagcfriifent  of  Mf,  rfighmbfe,  he  begin  the  officd 
of  dflibrig  arid  tit^imzitig.  '"^This  man  (say^ 
Ticibi;  Speaking  of  f^ickliri)  ^^as  at  that  time 
of  se^inmg  hufiiwe  pfreteriiipitt,  but  of  eapaibilitiW 
t'O  f aiie  Himsfelf  ib  th^  ©ffifce  of  Lord  High  Cafdi^ 
nal.''  No  douBt  he  wa4  not,#ithout  ambitleftl, 
and  was  fond  of  sh^\^irig  thif  poorer  delegated  to  . 
him  by  the  Mariager:  htrieef  tie  wais  c6n$ftantly 
ihfbrriimg  hfs  rdcruits'  ho\<^  the  great  Actors^  mi* 
nigid  foriE^rly ;  that  they  Wirier  not  only  atten- 
tif6  id  the  perforniance  of  their  6 wn  parts,  but' 
t6  £H6^  by6-play,  WhicTi  was  alvray^  to  beekpfected 
fr6tt  p^rsoAs  iriferest^d  iri  th6^  scene;  He  enjofti-' 
ed  theita  t'tf  ktep  the?r  tyes  fr6frif  A\raTfder?rig  dvftr 
the  house,  ifthferfti  lic'arch  of  2^dm?rai;ron>  or  the 
looser  companions  of  their  leisure  hours;  but  to 
consider  the  audience,  as  connected  with  the 
<ibi!iduct6f  thepSece,  *^a*  so  many  cabbage-stalks/' 
&fe.  &c.  In  short,  those  who  rert'ember  him 
in  the  latter  part  of  liFs  life  at  rehearsals,  as  well 
as  in  the  performance  of  plays,  mast  ^ve  observ- 
cc^  a' pecnlrar' decorum,  riot  only'  in  the  part  he  re- 
presented, btit  throughout  the  whole  piece;  e^^ery 
thing  run  more  upon  dll  fours  than  usu^l,  which 
very  much  doiftributed  ^' to  the  cunning  of  the 
scene." 

As^  he  gre\ir  oW,  he  was,  at  timc^^,,  a  little  too 
cBctstttTidi  fa^  fhfese  MieaTsals ;  and  vmh^h  he  d6- 

D  d  2  jired 


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404  HEHOiRA  or^ 

$ircd  a  thing  to  be  done,  which  was  not  readily 
complied  withi  he  would  let  loose  the  natural  ir« 
ritability  of  his  temper,  and  assume  a  tone  too 
managerial.  He  likewise  would  grow  tedious  in 
arranging  the  etiquette  of  the  scene,  in  respect 
to  sitting  or  standing;  crossing  the  Stage,  or  re«» 
maining  still;  and  many  other  little  peculiarities, 
that  in  a  great  nieasure  must  be  left  to  the  discre- 
tion of  the  performer.  At  one  of  hb  late  rehear- 
sals of  "  The  Man  of  the  World,"  he  was  going 
on  in  this  kind  of  way,  when  a  performer,  not  a 
little  goaded  at  this  school-boy  kind  of  treatment, 
tartly  observed,  '*  Why,  d-~n  it,  Mr*  Macklin, 
you  don't  meaa  to  teach  me  the  A.  B.  C.  of  my 
profession  at  this  time  of  day  ?"  "  No,  Sir,"  says 
Macklin,  assuming  one  of  his  civil  sarcastic  leers,^ 
V  I  only  wanted  to  teach  you  manners." 

To  estimate  Macklin  as  an  Actor,,  from  the 
various  parts  he  played  tlirough  the  range  of  his 
profession,  would  be  injurious  to  his  reputation, 
as  he  was  for  many  years  the  creature  of  necessity 
in  the  hands  of.  the  Manager,  and  sometimes  of 
"camty  in  his  own  hands;  we  shall  therefore  only 
consider  him  in  those  parts  in  which  he  ultimate- 
ly settled,  and  which  gave  him  that  degree  of 
fame  which  he  was  so  justly  entitled  to  on  the  roll 
o^  his  profession. 

Of  his  Shylock,  nv.  "The  Merchant  of  Venice,'* 

we  have  a  number  of  living  witnesses,  .*5  evidi^nces 

.  V        K  of 


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fit  its  being  one  of  the  finest  pieces  of  modern 
akcting;  and  there  are  passages  in  it,  partictilarly 
in  the  third  act,  which  exhibit  the  contracting 
passions  of  grief  for  his  daughter*s  elopement,^ 
and  joy  at  Antonio's  misfortunes,  M^iich  demand 
an  uncommon  versatility  of  powers.  This,  and  the 
whole  of  the  trial  scene,  we  may  safely^pronounce, 
have  not  been  equalled,  at  least,  since  Mack- 
lin  had  possession  of  the  part  Many  have  since 
attempted  it,  and  Mfith  considerable  success ;  such 
as  the  late  Mr.  Henderson,  the  present  Mr.  Mur- 
ray, and  Mr.  Cooke ;  each  of  whom  would  be 
principals^  but  for  Macklin's  superior  abilities, 
which  have  placed  them  in  the  second  class.  To 
Henderson's  Shylock,  the  veteran  himself  paid 
this  compliment,  when  asked.  Whether  he  was 
entitled  to  that  popular  applause  which  he  receiv- 
ed? **  Sir,  there  is  no  putting  out  the  light  of 
the  sun — the  young  fellow  has  very  considerable 
merit."  At  Murray's  Shylock,  he  was  so  insen* 
sible,  (such  was  the  deranged  state  of  Macklin's 
intellect  at  the  time,)  that  he  frequently  asked, 
in  the  course  of  the  representation,  what  play  it 
was?  He  then  seemed  to  recollect  himself,  and 
acrew  up  his  attention  to  the  scene ;  but  Nature 
was  too  imbecile  for  any  sort  of  mental  combina- 
tion. All  these  succeeding  Shylocks,  though 
just  and  pleasing  portraits  of  the  character,  want- 
ed the  original  firmness  and  colouring  of  Mack-t 
Hn's  pencil.  There  was,  beside  his  judgment, 
%  D  d  3  which 


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4i^  yjMioiEf  Qf 

which  went  to  the  s^pdy  of  tycxy  lint  of  it,  9u<^ 
an  iron-yisaged  look,  SHch  a  relenUi^^s  savage  cMk 
of  mannen,  that  the  audience  9eemed  to  shrink 
from  the  character;  nor  could  they  recover  tbii 
true  tone  of  their  feeling9,  till  the  merchant  >rM 
liberated  from  the  fangs  of  $uch  a  merciless  credw 
tor.  Cooke  seems  to  be  nearest  the  original  of 
any  we  have  ever  seen. 

His  Sir  Pertinax  Mac  Sycophants  in  ^*Tlto 
Man  of  the  World,  •*  and  Sir  Arcby  Mac  Sar^. 
casm,  in  *^  Love  a  la  Mode— characters  both 
^rawn  and  performed  by  himself-rdid  ^qufl  crct 
dit  to  his  pen  and  performance.  TJiey  are  both 
cunping,  plodding  men,  of  intrigue  and  know-r 
Jedge  of  the  world;  and  they  were  both  given  in 
a  fine  style  of  colouring  and  discrimination.'  The 
difficulty  of  an  Englishman  keeping  up  the  Scotch 
accent,  through  the  whole  of  a  five  act  piece, 
may  likewise  be  numbered  amongst  the  merits  of 
this  Actor* 

The  above  three  characters  being  the  only  onea 
that  the  rising  generation  can  remember  him  in^ 
we  shall  now  proceed  to  others  (which  c?ii  he  re< 
memhered  but 'by  a  fiew)  in  which  he  had  great 
celebrity;  such  as  his  lago^  Sir  Gilbert  Wrangk^ 
Sir  Francis  Wronghead,  Sir  Paul  Pliant,  Trapanti, 
Scrub,  Lory,  &c.  &rC 

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CHARLES   MACKLIN*  407 

llie  first  of  these  (lago)  we  have  seen  him  in 
about  thirty  years  ago,  to  the  Othello  and  DesdeJ- 
monaof  thethen  Mr.  and  Mrs^-Barry ;  and  it  would 
be  difficult  for  any  critic  of  the  first  reputation 
to  name  a  play  so  strongly  cast. and  represented. 
The  merit  of  the  two  former  we  have  had  frequent 
occasions  to  mention  as  of  the  first  order— nor  did 
Macklin  fall  short  of  such  excellence:  his  gradual 
disclosure  of  the  character;  his  seeming  open- 
ness, and  concealed  revenge;  and,  above  all,  his 
soliloquies,  were  so  much  the  natural  workings 
of  real  character,  as  to  demand  the  profoundest 
attention.  It  was,  indeed,  a  mo&t  finished  per* 
formance ;  and  received  the  approbation  of  Drs* 
Johnson  and  Goldsmith,  Messrs.  Langton,  Stee* 
vens^  &c.  kc.  who  composed  part  of  the  audience 
of  that  night,  and  whose  judgments  must  be  con* 
sidered  as  decided  reputation. 

Sir  Gilbert  Wrangle  was  another  of  the  parts 
he  was  esteemed  in.  He  generally  played  it  for 
his  own  or  daughter's  benefit,  and  always  drew 
the  attention  and  applause  of  the  public. 

His  Sir  Francis  Wronghead  was  by  far  the  best 
of  modem  times,  because  Macklin  could  remem* 
ber  the  manners  from  which  the  original  was  com- 
posed. Fastidious  critics,  it  is  true,  sometimes 
said,  the  portrait  was  rather  too  coarse;  but  they 
did  not  consider  the  difference  of  the  times,  when 

D  d  4  country 


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408  :memoirs  of 

country  gentlemen  were  almost  a  distinct  race  of 
beings  from  what  they  are  now — their  manners^ 
,  their  dress,  their  ideas,  and  conversation,  all 
smelt  of  the  honest  plain  soil  they  sprung  from. 
The  farmers  were  of  a  still  homelier  strain ;  as 
monopolies  had  not  then  given  them  the  means  of 
vitiating  the  whole  course  of  their  original  habits, 
setting  a  bad  example  to  others,  and  grinding 
the  face  of  a  laborious  poor. 

The  Miser  of  Macklin  gained  him  a  considera* 
ble  part  of  his  early  reputation;  and  we  always 
considered  it  as  a  just  and  correct  draught  of  the 
character.  Shuter,  we  must  confess,  had  more 
mellowness ;  but  it  diverged,  at  times,  too  much 
from  the  chastity  of  the  original*  Though  Mack* 
lin  declined  this  part  many  years  before  he  left 
the  Stage,  he  was  to  the  last  well  received  in  it; 
and  it  was  always  one  of  the  stock  pieces  which 
he  engaged  himself  to  perform  in  his  articles  Avith 
town  and  country  Managers, 

He  gaye  a  quiet  arch  dryness  to  the  cliaracter 
of  Sir  Paul  Pliant,  which  was  very  congenial  to 
the  original,  and  very  properly  avoided  those 
bufFooheries  which  Toote,  and  others, .  after  the 
example  of  Foote,  had  introduced  into  it.  The 
fact  was,  the  predominancy  of  Macklin's  drama-» 
tic  character  was  chastity,  and  he  seldom  or  ne- 
y^r  pjayed  ^tage  tricks  with  any  of  his  parts. 

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CHAtlLES  iCACKtlN.  409 

In  the  character  of  Trapanti,  though  he  wanted 
the  flippancy  with  which  it  is  now  generally  play- 
ed, he  exhibited  that  low  arch  comedy  and  in- 
trigue which  belong  to  the  original.  Modern 
Trapantis  have  the  town-bred  English  Footman 
too  much  about  them-*-Macklin  was  the  Fialet  dc 
Place,  which  is  certainly  more  the  Authors  mean* 
ing :  and  yet,  who  that  has  seen  King  in  Trapanti, 
would  wish  him  to  play  it  in  any  other  manner 
ihan  he  does? 

In  the  lower  parts  of  Comedy  and  Farce,  such 
as  Scrub,  Lory,  &c.  &c.  he  had  humour,  vulga- 
rity, rusticity,  and  cunning,  at  his  disposal;  and 
he  could  lay  his  colours  on  the  character  he  as- 
sumed with  singular  propriety. 

As  to  the  imperial  walks  of  Tragedy,  such  as 
Richard,  Macbeth,  &c.  which  he  latterly  performed, 
(with  some  abatement  in  favour  of  his  knowledge  in 
the  outline  of  these  characters,)  they  must  be  consi- 
dered as  the  reveries  of  approaching  dotage;  and 
it  is  to  be  presumed,  that  his  better  powers,  and 
better  sense,  would  have  restrained  him  from  the 
attempt,  especially  before  a  London  audience, 
who  have  greater  opportunities  of  judging  and 
comparing.  He  met  with  many  rebuffs  in  this 
latter  attempt,  and  particularly  one  day  ^t  the 
rehearsal  of  Macbeth,  from  the  late  facetious  Ned 
Shuter,     M^kUp  had  been  teaming  him  about 

th? 


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410  UVVOIRS  Qf 

the  propriety  of  $ome  passage  for  4  long  time;  at 
last,  Shuter  could  hold  out  no  longer,  but  ex^ 
claimed, 

■  I       **  the  times  have  been 
That  whan  the  brmns  *W€rt  out  the  man  t^vld  die^ 
^d  there  an  ^cfrr-hut  now  they  rise  again, 
With  twenty  mortal  murders  on  thair  crawn^ 
An4  push  us  from  our  stools/' 

The  performers  on  this  could  not  resist  a  ge- 
neral laugh,  which,  though  Macklin  felt  for  a 
moment,  by  growling  out  the  word  *^  BuffoQn,'' 
it  was  not  sufficient  to  restrain  him  from  his  pro- 
ject 

We  have  now  gone  thrpugh  most  of  the  princi- 
pal characters  which  established  Macklin's  thea- 
trical reputation ;  and  taking  him  on  the  general 
scale  of  his  merits,  we  may  fairly  conclude  him 
to  be  an  Actor  in  some  parts  original^  in  many 
respectable;  and  iu-the  walks  of  low  Comedy^ 
and  Farce,  one  of  the  first  in  his  own  times, 

Having  considered  Mr.  Macklin  as  an  actor^ 
and  appropriated  to  him^  in  that  capacity,  such 
talents  as  we  thought  he  possessed,  we  are  now 
to  review  him  as  an  author,  and  a  fuan. 

In  the  first  of  these  characters  he  is  to  be 
nought  for  in  his  original  situation,  in  order  the 

2  better 


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CHAR|.|;S  }fACllif4».  411 

.  bettfr  )to>j9€  li0Tf  ftr  (Jift,  conpepted  with  his  m^ 
tiiral  abilities,  might  accelerate  or  retard  his  pro- 
gress. "  An  author/*  says  Dr.  Johnson,  "  is  a 
gfRfral  ch^llepgcf;  ^u4  eyery  pi^n  h^s  ^  ri^bt  to 
pn^isp  or  bjafpe  him,  ^fipfdiflg  tp  tl^e  hfSt  Of  ^h» 
judgi^pn^*' 

Jf  w?  |po}^  round  the  general  circle  of  authors, 
Ye  P^4U  €pd,  hc)wever  defi^^tive  thpy  might  he  ja 
genius  the  choice  pf  subjects,  designartippj  ^q. 
they  hftvp  gpnpr^]ly  some  prptcftsfons  to  literatm*?. 
TTiiB  hopk?  which  they  have  fead  at  schppl^  ox  at 
college,  first  generally  induce  th^iii  to  make  bpok^ 
thgipselvps:  their  leqri^ipg  is  the  foundation  of 
tfepiF  Vppwkdge,  and  furnisher  pi^teri^ls  np^  pnjy 
to  th?  philpjophef  and  Ipgiqian,  but  to  the  poet 
of  thp  ^uWiine^t  ipf^aginjition.  Bijt  ?vpn  with  the 
lud  of  lei^raing,  it  is  v^  commoi^  step  to  pass  from 
a  r«a4b*  to  a  ffri^r:  a  man  m\i.st  have  a  feeling 
within  hitnself  tQ  4p  something,  whi,ch  he  thinks, 
>t  Ipaat,  ha^  UPt  fe??n  done  befaye;  or,  if  done, 
not  so  ^ell  a^;  hi^  is  c^pal^e  pf  performing  it :  he 
must  pQSsew  tlm  art  of  ^rjpanging  \ii^  matter,  and 
constructing  his.  sentences ;  h^v^  a  gopdear ;  and^, 
defer^njce  for  that  public,  before  whom  he  is  ^hont 
to  appear  in  the  ajsmmed  character  of  a  preceptpr. 
In  siiort,  insignificant  as  n^i^ny  whp  invest  them-, 
^ves  with  this  character  of  a?  author  may  be 
thought,  yet,  classed  wit^  tbfe  g^^xal  nan  of  rea- 
ders. 


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412*  MEMoins  Of 

ders,  they  rise  into  a  kind  of  coroparatJvc  impor*^ 
tance. 

But,  alas !  where  shall  we  look  for  the  founda- 
tion of  Macklin's  authorship  ?  We  have  already 
sketched  his  education,  which,  taken  at  its  sup-- 
posable  extremity,  could  amount  to  no  more 
than  a  capacity  for  reading  some  of  tlie  com- 
monest English  school-books,  with  scarcely  any 
knowledge  of  the  habits  of  civilized  life.  Thrown 
upon  the  world,  therefore,  with  this  scantiness  of 
information,  aided  by  a  vigorous  constitution, 
and  strong  desires  to  fill  some  niche  in  society, 
the  odds  were  greatly  against  him,  that  he  would 
have  run  rapidly  down  the  stream  of  vulgar  vice, 
and  be  no  more  heard  of;  but  Nature  seems  to 
have  kept  something  in  store  for  him,  in  order  to 
turn  these  circumstances  to  his  advantage.  With 
an  ardent  desire  to  emerge  from  his  low  circum* 
stances,  and  do  something  fdr  himself,  he  took 
care  that  this  something  should  not  be  wrong,  or 
at  least  not  sufficiently  so  as  to  hurt  his  moral 
character.  It  is  true,  when  he  first  entered  him* 
self  as  a  performer  on  the  Stage,  he  was,  from  his 
eccentricities,  called  the  "Mad  Irishman;"  yet 
no  man  attended  the  duties  of  his  profession  more 
than  he  did,  or  laid  in  more  observation  and  re- 
mark: so  that,  though  he  indulged  his  passions, 
in  general,  his  passion  for  improvement  always 
seemed  to  claim  his  principal  attention, 

What 


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CHARLES    MACKX.IK.  41? 

What  cpuld  have  at  first  induced  him  .to  com- 
mence author,  it  is  difficult  to  say :  if  we  might 
venture  a  conjecture,  we  should  think  it  might 
arise  from  the  atmosphere  of  Trinity  College,  of 
vhich  he  was  for  some  time  a  badge-man,  or  por- 
ter: for  though  he  became  an  author  many  years 
after  he  left  this  place,  and  after  passing  through 
a  great  variety  of  Hfe,  yet  the  seeds,  though  un- 
^nown  to  himself,  might  be  laid  here#  In  a  col- 
lege, learning  is  the  general  traffic  of  the  students . 
^  by  it  the  spirit  of  emulation  is  excited,  and  by  it 
the  degrees  of  honour  are  obtained.  Macklia 
saw  all  this;  and  though  he  saw  it  at  an  humble 
distance,  it  might  have  roused  some  wishes  to  be 
entitled  to  those  advantages,  which,  though  his 
subsequent  habits  of  scrambling  for  a  liveUhood 
might  have  for  a  time  blown  off,  were  not  totally 
eradicated. 

What  sh^re  Macklin  had  in  the  alteration  of 
Lord  Lansdowne's  play  of  *'The  Jew  of  Venice,'* 
9nd  restoring  it  to  the  Stage  about  the  year  1740, 
we  do  not  exactly  know;  he  never  claimed  any 
further  merit  himself,  than  some  suggestions,  and 
the  arrangement  of  his  own  part  of  Shylock  in 
point  of  dress,  with  other  little  particulars :  he 
therefore  can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  commenced 
his  authorship  here :  though  he  did  that  of  an 
established  Actor;  for  in  Shylock  his  merit  was 
such,  that,  whilst  ever  the  English  Stag^  pre- 
serves its  character,  his  name  will  be  remembered,^ 
US  the  original f  in  its  fullest  extent  of  praise. 

The, 


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414  Mtmini  6* 

The  ftfSt  evident  ptadf  \^e  have'  of  hfs  brfhi^  an 
ittthdr,  therit  vfe  are  ta  fix  in  the  yeai*  17^4^,  wheli 
fie  brttutght  out  the  historical  play  of  "  Henry  ih€ 
^^veiith,  or,  the  Popish  Intpostdr,''^  at  l)rtiTy  Lani* 
thefetffe.  IThough  this  Tragedy,  in  the  title  6f 
p6pish  Impostor,  carries  a  nominal  absurcKty  bnthifr 
face  of  it,  (Protestatttistn  at  that  point  of  tiiWe  tioe 
Beltig  knotv'n  in  the  comrtry,)  arid  though  it  irzi 
the  hasty  sketch  of  i  si*  \Veek4  wrrting,  those  \^ho 
have  seen  rt,  have  spoken  of  it  with  reisfrect,  and, 
i'li  hiany  patssages,  fepott  they  disco^efe'd  a  mofd 
than  ofdinstry  mirid.  It,  hbwe^r,  met  \i^ith  ge- 
riefat  disappfob^tbn  on  the  Stage;  and  he  had 
good  setise  enough  t*  atbide  by  that  deternrina-^' 
tion ;  thtfngh,  Jii  most  other  respects,  fully  at-' 
tach^d  ttf  the  oiFspring  of  his  owil  brain'. 

He  was  more  successful  in  his  next  attempt, 
which  was*  a  Faree,  entitled,  ''  A  Will  or  No  l^fll; 
or,  a  Bone  for  the  Lawyers/'  This  wa»  very  fa-* 
Yourahty  deceived  at  that  tiftie,  and  coritimJed  to- 
be  so  ft>r  many  year's  afterwards,  Ijeing  iacted  oc- 
easfonalFy  at  hi^  benefits,  but  never  printed. 

The^T*2rt^ce  of  "  The  Suspicious  Husband  Gri*i-' 
eised;  or,  the  Plague  of  tlnvy,"  folloVi^ed  neXt; 
the  idea  of  which  was  taken  up  On  the  liberal 
ground*  of  defending  the  celebrated  Comedy  of 
*^  The  Snspicious  Hii^band;"  which,  like  th^' 
choieest    frmt,    tempted    some    critic    flies^  of 

tla# 


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CHARLBa  MACKLIK.  415 

tbat  day  to  peck  at  Macklin  raised  tbe  laugh 
mcaessfully  agartist  those  Zoilusses,  and  had  the 
honour  of  being  aided  by  the  juvenile  pen  of  the 
late  Right  Hon.  John  Hely  Hutchinson,  (father 
of  the  ptesent  celebrated  Lotd  Hutcbtn^on,)  then 
a  student  of  the  Middle  Tempte,  who  wi'ote  the 
prologue* 

To  these  succeeded  the  Far«;  of  '^  Tbe^  For* 
tiine  Hunter^/'  &c.  &q.  all  of  vlifcb,  though  they 
slight  be,  at  thait  tioDoe^  of  service  to  him  as  ail 
Aetor^  did  liot  rabehls  i^pukatioa  as  at  comic  wri^ 
ter;  insomuch,  that  if  he  had  stopped  here,  his 
^ces  would  have  only  b<mie  their  titles  in  the 
Dra«atic£d  Register;  along:  with  the  lorig  list  of 
Ibrgotfen  things  that  are  recorded  there;  arid  the 
still  kmger  list  which  modem  play^makers  aire 
daily  preparing  for  this  literary  mausoteum. 

Macklin  seemed  to  be  the  first  to  feel  his  insuf- 
ficiency in  these  pieces,  and  very  prudently  never 
printed  them,  (except  Henry  the  Vllth,)  to  stand 
on  a  future  day  as  recorded  vouchers  against  him : 
l>e  therefore  lay  fellow  fot  a  certain  time,>  in  order 
to  correct  his  former  mistakes,  and  enlarge  tbe 
circle  of  his  experience-  His  next  attempt  at 
Authorship  was  not  till  the  yar  1760,  when  he 
produced  his  Farce  of  "  Love  a  la  Mode;  a  dra-*- 
matte  imrceauy  which,  though  it  bad  many  ene» 
mies  to  combat  with^  from  pe^rsonal  prejudices,, 

has 


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415  ifxiffOiRs  or 

has  long  since  surmounted  them,  and  given  to 
the  author  the  merited  rank  of  an  able  comic 
writer. 

Having  now  produced  a  piece  which  would 
stand  the  test  of  time,  he  was  ambitious  of  pro- 
ducing a  Comedy  which  would  carry  the  same 
seeds  of  longevity;  and  for  this  purpose,  without 
consulting  books,  which  are  very  often  but  the 
multiplied  copies  of  fanciful  originals,  he  sought 
his  principal  characters  from  his  own  long  expe- 
rience of  life,  and  of  the  Stage;  and  \nth  these 
aids  produced  a  Comedy,  which,  considered  for 
regularity  of  plot,  strength  of  character,  and 
Tcnowledge  of  the  world,  will  remain  a  favourite 
on  the  stock  list,  whilst  there  are  performers 
found  capable  of  supporting  so  arduous  and  dis- 
criminating a  part  as  that  of  Sir  Pertinax  Mao 
Sycophant. 

To  the  praises  of  this  Comedy,  the  time  of  life 
he  produced  it  in  should  not  be  forgotten,  (near 
or  above  fourscore;)  an  age  when  the  great  ge- 
nerality of  mankind  have  long  ceased  from  their 
kbours,  and  which,  if  they  survive,  possess  no 
minds  capable  of  deep  reflection  and  combina- 
tion: but  Macklin*s  mind  seemed  to  have  grown 
like  the  oak,  long  maturing,  and  long  flourishing; 
as,  during  the  time  of  his  writing  it,  he  wrote 
with  all  the  ardour  and  love  of  fame  incident  to 

a  young 


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CHAULES   MACKXIK.  417 

a  ydung  uuthor,  who  was  to  lay  the  foundation, 
and  reap  the  benefits,  of  future  celebrity.  *•  When 
I  finish  this,  Sir,  (says  he  one  day,  reading  some 
of  the  loose  sheets  of  his  Comedy  to  a  friend,)  I 
have  another  upon  the  stocks,  which  I  think  will 
not  disgrace  me;  and  then.  Sir,  you  may  depend 
tipon  it,  I  shall  no  longer  procrastinate  writing 
my  own  life.'*  Such  was  the  unusual  gaiety  of 
hope  that  fluttered  about  the  heart  of  this  extra- 
ordinary man. 

Macklin,  therefore,  is  only  to  be  judged  as  ati 
author  by  these  two  last  pieces,  (for,  to  say  the 
truth,  his  former  productions  should  only  be  con- 
sidered as  so  many  efforts  of  an  uneducated  mind 
labouring  at  perfection;)  and  as  such,  we  must 
plac^  him  considerably  elevated  on  the  drama- 
tic scale ;  for  though  he  does  not  possess  the  wit 
of  some,  or  the  classic  diaolgue  and  novelty  of 
others,  his  characters  are  drawn  with  truth  and 
precision ;  his  language  is  appropriated  to  those 
characters;  and,  in  the  management  of  his  plots, 
they  are  so  simply,  yet  judiciously  constructed, 
that,  although  we  believe  he  never  read  Aristotle's 
Poetics,  they  partake  of  many  of  his  best  in* 
structions. 

Upon  the  whole,  we  are  warranted  in  pronoun- 
cing him  a  very  respectable  author  r  and  had  he 
been   early  and  properly  educated,  and  brought 

Ee  out 


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4a  S^  1CEM0IR8  Of 

out  unHcr  the  auspices  of  ^ood  compiany,  and  aa 
easy  fortune,  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose 
(from  the  uncommon  strength  of  his.  natural  ob-r 
servation)  that  he  would  have  stood  in  the  very 
first  class  of  English  dramatic  writers* 

We  are  now  to  revfew  this  veteran  of  the  Stage 
in  his  last,  yet  most-to-be-esteemed  character—^ 
that  of  3.  man — a  character  compared  to  which, 
talents,  and  the  highest  literary  reputation^  "are 
but  as  tinkling  cymbals." 

To  the  great  generality,  who  only  saw  Macklia 
at  a  stage  distance^  and  in  his  principal  chkracter 
of  Shtflock,  we  have  no  doubt,  impressions  have 
been  ignorantly  received  against  his  private  cha^ 
racter,  arising  from  those  combinations,  that  iid-» 
turally  enough  slide  into  the  inexperienced  mind^ 
**  that  he  who  plays  a  villainous  character  so  well, 
must  have  some  corresponding  qualities  of  the 
heart:"  nor  is  even  the  applause  that  an  Actor  re- 
ceives nrider  this  circumstance  (whatever  his  real 
merit  be)  so  loud  and  general,  as  in  the  perfor- 
mance of  suffering  or  triumphant  virtue.  Cibber 
accounts  for  this  in  the  following  shrewd  obser** 
vation* 

"  When  virtue  is  applauded,  the  spectator  gives 
part  of  it  to  himself;  because  his  applause,  at  the 
same  time,  lets  others  about  him  se^  that  he  him-t 

3  self 


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CHARLES  MACKL1N-.  419 

sflf  admires  it:  but  when  a  wicked  action  is  going 
fOTWRtd,  when  an  lagb  is  meditating  revenge  and 
mischief,  though  art  and  nature  may  be  equally 
strong'  in  the  Actor,  the  spectator  is  shy  of  his 
applause,* 'lest  he  should,  in  some  sort,  be  looked 
upon  as  an  aider  or  abettor  of  the  wickedness 
in  view ;  and  therefore  rather  chuses  to  rob  the 
^Actor  of  the  praise  he  may  merit,  than  give  it 
him  in  a  character  which  he  would  have  you  see 
his  silence  modestly  discourages.  From  the  sanxe 
fond  principle,  many  Actors  have  made  it  a  pointy 
to  be  seen  in  parts  sometimes,  even  flatly  written, 
only  because  they  stood  in  the  favourable  light* 
of  honour  and  virtue." 

But,  lest  any  of  the  film  of  this  prejudice  should 
remain  on  the  public  eye,  relative  to  Macklin  as  a 
man,  we  shall  review  him  abstracted  from  all 
Stage  characters:  and  here  it  will  be  found,  that 
he  put  off  the  masks  of  Shyloch  and  lago  at  the 
Stage  door,  entering  into  the  superior  characters 
of  the  honest  and  benevolent  mati  on  the  great 
theatre  of  the  world.        * 

W,e  have  before  observed,  that  he  entered  into 
life  under  an  inauspicious  planet,  which  might 
fibr  some  time  have  hurried  him  down  the  stream 
of  vice  and  dissipation.  But  ^\  hatever  Ij^pses  he 
might  have  made  when  imperious  necessity  over- 
riiled  him,,  from  that  part  of  his  life  which  com- 

E  e  2         '  .    menced 


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429  liEHOIRS   OF 

menced  upon  the  English  Stage,  his  general  c&A^ 
duct  has  been  marked  with  an  integrity  and  be- 
nevolence which  do  credit  to  his  memory, 

,  In  respect  to  his  public  situation,  he  had  many 
trials,  as  it  was  his  lot  (partly^  perhaps,  arising 
^rom  natural  temper,  and  partly  from  the  unavoid- 
able accidents  of  life)  to  be  engaged  in  many 
controversies,  in  which  others  as  well  as  himself 
were  concerned ;  and  though  he  might  sometimes 
incline  a  little  too  much  to  rigid  justice^  we  be- 
fieve  it  arose  niore  from  a  self-abhorrence  of  doing 
wron^y  than  any  sinister  or  disputatious  views. 

Many  proofs  might  be  given  of  this,  and  parti- 
cularly  his  agreement  with  Garrick,  and  other 
performers,  to  stand  or  fall  together,  in  opposition 
to  Fleetwood,  the  then  Manager  of  Drury  Lane 
I'heatre;  for  though  Garrick,  from  prudential 
reasons,  thought  fit  to  break  through  this  agree- 
ment, Macklin  stood  firm  to  his  engagement  to 
the  last;  nor  could  the  seduction  of  Garrick's 
offered  benevolence,  nor  the  calamities  usually  at- 
tending on  a  disengaged  Actor,  nor  the  forlora 
hope  of  fighting  singly,  shake  him  from  his  pur- 
pose— ^^  till,  Sir,"  says  he,  **  the  fears  of  starving 
myself  arid  family y  made  me  stoop  to  do  that  which 
others  oiight  to  have  rescued  me  from." 

It  was  likewise  to  his  firmness  and  resolution  iin 
'  supporting  the  rights  of  his  theatrical  brethren, 

that 


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CHATllES   MACKLIN.  421 

that  iJiey  bave  been  relieved  from  a  species  of  op* 
pression,  to  which  they  had  been  ignominiously 
subjected  for  many  years,  whenever  the  caprice  or 
malice  of  their  enemies  chose  to  exert  itself.  We 
allude  to  the  prosecution  which  he  commenced 
and  carried  on  against  a  certain  class  of  insignifi" 
eantSy  who,  calling  themselves  the  public^  used 
frequently  to  disturb  the  entertainment  of  the 
Theatre,  to  the  terror  of  the  Actors,  as  well  as  the 
annoyance  and  disgrace  of  the  town.  His  gene- 
rosity on  this  occasion  shotild  not  be  omitted,  as 
it  shewed  the  purity  of  his  sentiments  in  carrying 
on  the  prosecution ;  for  no  sooner  had  he  esta- 
blished the  legal  rights  of  the  Theatre,  and  had  his 
enemies  in  his  grasp,  than  he  let  them  off  for  a 
small  remuneration  for  himself;  contented  with 
the  higher  reward  of  being  serviceable  to  the 
rights  of  his  profession. 

Indeed,  Macklin's  character  for  punctuality  and 
integrity,  was  so  well  and  long  established,  that 
very  often,  when  the  Irish  Manager's  credit  was 
so  low,  that  some  of  the  higher  performers  would 
not  rely  on  it,  Maeklin's  verbal  security  was  al- 
ways accepted  as  a  bond;  and  he  never  once 
gave  an  instance  of  its  being,  defective,  though 
often  considerably  to  his  own  cost. 

In  the  wsilks  of  private  life,  he  carried  the  same 
justice  and   punctuality ;  for  wlietber  fixed   in 

Jl  e  3  winter 


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422  MEMOIRS    OF 

winter  quarters,  or  strolling  through  the  country, 
he  always  discharged  every  current  debt  at  the 
end  of  the  season,  or  his  temporary  engagement ; 
and  for  this  purpose  he  had  a  quarto  bound  book, 
in  which  he  entered  the  receipts  of  the  different 
tradesmen.  Many  a  time  have  we  seen  him 
trudging  through  the  streets  with  this  book  un- 
der his  arm  ;  and  on  being  challenged  on  the  par- 
ticularity of  his  method,  he  used  to  reply,  ^*  Sir, 

I  keep  this  as  a  check  upon  my  tradesmen — ^for 
those  kind  of  people  are  sometimes  troubled  with 
short  memorieSj  and  can  remember  nothing  out  of 
book — so,.  Sir,  this  gives  them  their  cues  occa^ 
sionally." 

In  his  private  charities,  and  kindnesses,  he  was 
ever  prompt,  both  with  his  purse  and  advice,  re- 
lieving many  of  the  inferior  performers  in  their 
distress,  and  recommending  them  to  different 
engagements.  Upon  all  occasions,  he  was  ready 
to  subscribe  to  any  charity  that  was  recommend- 
ed, or  presented  itself  to  him  as  meritorious,  and 
sometimes  at  the  expence  of  his  prudence,  as  was 
the  case  on  the  death  of  the  late  Dr.  Frederick 
Glover, 

Mr.  Glover  had  been  originally  on  the  Dublin 
Stage,  where  Macklin  knew  him ;   and  to  know 
him,  it  was  impossible  not  to  be  attached  to  him ; 
fox  if  ever  man  possessed  the  often  caia^nitous  se- 
cret 


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CHARLES   MACKLIK.  4£9 

cret  of  being  a  fascinating  jolly  companion,  it  wai 
him — ^he  bad  wit,  reading,  anecdote,  with  a  per- 
petual fund  of  good  humour  to  set  them  in  mo- 
tion, and  a  total  absence  of  all  worldly  cares. 
This  man,  with  whom  Macklin  spent  many  ia  joy- 
ous night,  happened  to  die  suddenly,  leaving  his 
family,  as  is  usual  with  these  kind  of  choice 
ispirits,  in  great  distress.  Some  friends  imme^ 
drately  opened  a  subscription  for  them ;  which 
Macklin  no  sooner  heard  of,  than,  with  a  tear  of 
sympathy  rolling  down  his  old  iron  cheeks,  he 
hurried  into  the  city,  and  paid  down  his  ten 
pounds  for  their  immediate  relief.  This  happened 
about  the  year  1786,  when  his  own  finances  were 
very  inadequate  to  such  a  bounty ;  as  in  so  short 
a  time  as  seven  years  afterwards,  through  age  and 
inability,  he  .was  obliged  to  ask  the  same  relief 
himself.  The  public,  very  much  to  their  honour; 
admitted  the  justice  of  his  claims :  and  he  had 
not  only  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  hiftiself  respect- 
ed by  this  liberal  notice  of  him,  but  literally  to 
experience  the  reward  held  out  by  Scripture, 
*'-  He  that  giveth  to  the  poor,  lendeth  to  the 
Lord,"  &c. 

In  respect  to  Macklin's  character,  as  it  stood  at 
the  head  of  his  family,  (which  consisted  of  a  wife, 
a  son,  and  daughter,)  nothing  could  be  more  cor- 
rect and  respectable ;  for  though  he  zvould  ride  be- 
fore sometimes,  this  once  understood,  and  sub- 
E  e  4  mitted 


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4£4  MEMOias  OF 

mitted  to,  every  thing  was  conducted  with  libe- 
rality and  propriety.  His  daughter,  he  rather 
educated  above  the  par  of  his  fortune,  or  expecta- 
tion ;  but  as  he  designed  her  for  the  Stage,  this 
may  be  his  excuse.  Nothing  was  spared  to  ac- 
complish her  in  the  highest  degree— Music, 
dancing,  French,  Italian,  &c.  insomuch  that  it 
appeared,  on  his  bankruptcy,  no  less  a  sum  than 
twelve  hundred  pounds  had  been  expended  on 
her  education.  She  had  talents  to  imbibe  these 
instructions  with  advantage  tD  herself  in  her  pro- 
fession ;  which,  indeed,  were  her  principal  advan- 
tages ;  3s  her  natural  genius  for  the  Stage,  inde- 
pendent of  these  qualifications,  was  not  alone  suf- 
ficient to  give  her  any  considerable  rank  in  the 
Theatre. 

His  conduct  to  his  son  deserves  particular  no- 
tice ;  as  he  jiot  only  took  care  to  give  him  the' 
best  education,  in  his  power^  to  fit  him  for  the 
many  situations  which  the  versatility  of  the  boy*s 
temper  led  him  to,  but  constantly  added  the  best 
and  most  forcible  advice  relative  to  his  moral  cha- 
racter. Speaking  of  Macklin  as  a  man^  there  is 
nothing  \i^hich  points  out  his  innate  character 
more,  than  his  letters  to  his  son  on  this  subject. 
They  are  not  the  letters  of  a  man  writing  with  a 
view  to  aggrandize  himself  or  family ;  they  do  not 
consist,  either  in  the  frivolous  exteriors  of  educa- 
tion, or  the  saws  and  subtleties  of  mere  worldly 

prudence. 


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CHAHLES   MACKLIN.  425 

prudence,  or  with  a  view  to  the  parade  of  literary 
ahilities — they  are  the  warm  effusions  of  his  own 
heart,  appreciating  the  high  value  of  moral  cha-- 
racter;  and  he  inculcates  this  leading  principle 
with  all  the  authority  of  his  long  experience  with 
the  world,  and  the  anxious  solicitude  of  a  tender, 
benevolent  father. 

The  world  has,  from  time  to  time,  been  present- 
ed with  letters  on  various  occasions ;  many  of 
which,  though  wrftten  by  men  of  genius  and  in- 
tegrity, smell  more  of  the  /jwip  than  the  heart; 
zfiA  are  relished  more  as  the  productions  of  a 
scholar,  than  the  man  of  long  experience.  But 
if  all  the  letters  which  Macklin  wrote  to  his  son 
and  daughter,  were  properly  collected  and  arrang- 
ed, we  have  no  doubt  they  would  be  found  a  very 
useful  and  entertaining  volume.  They  would 
tell  us,  what  few  men  from  themselves  are  privi- 
leged to  tell  U5,  the  many  temptations  which  at- 
tach to  the  inequalities  of  life— the  miseries  of 
pjoverty,  and  the  vices  which  sudden  and  high 
fortunes  are  subject  to.  They  would  calculate 
for  us  the  value  of  time,  the  riches  of  health  and 
industry,  the  pride  of  independence,  the  calami- 
tics  and  contempts  which  follow  prodigality ;  and, 
above  all,  the  grand  secret  of  being  useful  and 
conciliating  to  our  fellow-creatures.  From  what 
we  have  seen  of  these  letters,  and  from  those  which 
yft  have  heard  to  be  in  the  late  Miss  Macklin's  pos- 
session, 


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426  II£AK)IRS   OF 

session,  we  have  a  right  to  expect  these  benefits,  as 
well  as  to  conclude,  they  might  more  strongly  in* 
culcate  this  useful  and  never*to-be-forgotten  max- 
im, **  That  honestt  is  the  best  polict."* 

As  a  man  of  general  knowledge,  Macklin  drew 
his  information  much  more  from  the  world  than 
from  books :  not  that  he  was  altogether  unread, 
being  tolerably  well  versed  in  history  and  belles- 
lettres  ;  but  not  being  early  instructed  in  any 
species  of  logical  distinction,  Or  educated  to  any 
one  stience,  or  formed  on  any  basis  of  progressive 
school  education,  all  his  book  knowledge  was  ac- 
quired by  snatches  (and  that  too  in  maturer  age) 
from  the  duties  of  his  profession.  Hence,  when 
he  attempted  to  bring  it  forward  in  tx)nversation, 
at  least  for  any  continuance,  it  was  loose  and  de- 
sultory. What  he  had  forgotten  in  authors,  he 
could  not  supply  from  himself;  hence  he  grew 
embarrassed  and  confused  ;  and  the  least  rub  of 
contradiction  threw  him  still  more  off  his  guard; 
60  that  he  not  unfrequently  supplied  with  rude* 
ness  what  he  wanted  in  conversation. 

It  was  said  of  him,  that,  sensible  of  this  defect 
in  his  education,  he  occasionally  read  in  the  mam- 
ingj  for  the  purpose  of  shewing  off  at  night :  and 
Foote,  who  took  upon  him  to  assert  this,   states 

the 

*  For  a  specimen  of  these  letters,  see  the  Appendix* 


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CHARLES   MACKLIN.  427 

the  following  instance,  which  happened  under  his 
own  immediate  knowledge. 

Macklin  being  engaged  to  sup  with  some  men  of 
science,  where  Foote  was  of  the  party,  and  being 
ambitious  of  cutting  a  figure  independent  of  com- 
mon conversation,  had  prepared  himself  in  the 
morning,   by  reading  a  philosophical  treatise  on 
the  properties  of  gunpowder.    This,  one  would 
suppose,    was  rather   an  anomalous  subject  for 
common  conversation,  and  rather  difficult  to  be 
introduced ;  but  whether  it  was  his  only  book  at 
hand,  or  whether  it  was  the  eccentric  turn  of  his 
mind,  this  was  the  great  gun  he  hnd  prepared  to 
fire  off  that  evening.     A  long  time,   however, 
elapsed  before  an  opportunity  presented  itself; 
and  probably  a  much  longer  time  would  have 
elapsed,  if  Macklin  had  not  thought  of  an  expe- 
dient,  by  suddenly  starting  from  his  chair,    and 
exclaiming,   *^  Good  G— • !  was  not  that  a  gun 
fired  off?" — *^  A  gun !"  cried  the  company,   in 
amaze.—"  Aye  !    there  it  is  again,"   says  he ; 
*^  and  I'm  sure  some  accident  has  happened  be- 
low stairs."    Upon  this  the  landlord  was   called 
up  ;  who  soon  satisfying  the  company  there  was 
no  such   thing,    Macklin  then  took  up  the  cue : 
"  Well,"  says  he,  "  though  my  hearing  has  been 
deceived  in  respect  to  the  report  of  a  gun,  yet  the 
properties  of  gunpowder  are  in  many  other  respects 
of  a  very  singular  nature ;"  and  then  went  on  in 

that 


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428  MEMOIRS    OF 

that  track  of  reading  he  had  previously  instructed 
himself  in,  with  great  parade  of  philosophical 
knowledge. 

His  conversation,  abstracted  from  this,  was 
lively,  humorous,  shrewd,  and  generally  etiter- 
taini»g— always— save  and  excepting  flat  contra* 
,  dictions,  or  questions  that  he  could  not  readily 
answer.  These  embarrassed  him,  and  he  would 
often  reply  in  the  rudest  manner. 

His  best  conversation  was  the  Stage,  and  anec- 
dotes of  former  times.  In  the  first,  he  shewed 
himself  much  a  master  of  his  art ;  and,  indeed, 
the  close  application  which  he  paid  to  his  profes- 
sion through  life,  deserved  to  have  so  much  at- 
tention remunerated  with  superior  knowledge. 
He  had  particular  studies  and  annotations,  not 
only  on  the  characters  he  generally  played  hiiti- 
self,  but  on  many  others ;  so  that  he  could  rea- 
dily recur  to  the  passages  where  the  poet  helped 
the  actor,  and  where  the  actor  must  depend  more 
on  himself  He  was  bred  too  in  a  school,  where 
the  chastity  of  acting  was  better  understood  than 
it  is  at  present  Then,  it  had  its  marks  and  boup-? 
daries ;  now,  either  too  much  is  left  for,  or  too 
much  is  assumed  by,  the  actor. 

As  to  anecdotes,  he  was  rich  in ;  not  merely  a§ 
matter  of  fact,    but  coupled  with  observations  on 

thos© 


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CHARLES   MACKLIN.  42^ 

those  facts,  and  the  diflference  of  times,  which 
rendered  his  company,  occasionally,  very  enter- 
taining and  improving.  But  man  is  of  that  mixed 
character,  that  few  can  escape  inequalities  of 
mind.  Cromwell,  when  he  attempted  to  play  the 
orator,  was  fanatical  and  confused^-when  the 
soldier,  and  active  statesman,  clear,  bold,  and  de* 
cisive.  Macklin,  on  the  same  line  of  inequality, 
when  he  attempted,  to  shew  off  his  reading,  was 
tedious,  and  embiarrassed  beyond  measure— but 
when  he  gave  us  his  experience  of  life,  he  evi- 
dently shewed  he  did  not  live  inattentively. 

But  as  men  are,  perhaps,  best  exhibited  by  some 
little  familiar  strokes  in  their  character,  we  shall 
emleavour  to  recollect  some  of  those  sallies  of  con-' 
versation  which  distinguished  Macklin,  and  which 
will  at  once  shew  the  natural  strength  of  his  mind, 
and  the  coarseness  of  his  original  education. 

Being  refuted  in  a  matter  of  fact,  relative  to 
black  letter  reading,  by  a  dignitary  of  the  church, 
and  the  company  exclaiming,  •  *  Well,  Mr.  Mack- 
lin, what  do  you  say  now  ?"  He  growled  out, 
**  Say,  Sir;  why  I  say,  (looking  the  other  full  in 
the  face,)  that  black  letter  men,  by  G — d,  will 
lie  like  other  people." 

A  person 


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430  KEMOIRS   OF 

A  person  praising  Garrick's  generosity  upon  a 
certain  occasion,  he  quickly  replied,  "  Did  you 
see ;this yourself,  Sir?"  **  No,  Sir;  but  I  heard  of 
it*''  *' Aye,  hear  of  it,  (sarcastically) — ^yes,  by 
G-r-,  you'll  hear  a  great  many  things  of  this  kind 
of  Ganrick,  for  he  has  toad-eaters  in  every  comer 
-^and  the  fellow  will  talk  a  great  deal  himself  of 
cibaiity,.  generosity,  &c.  whilst  he  is  at  his  own 
table ;.  but  let  him  once  turn  the  corner  of  South- 
ampton Street,  and  meet  the  ghost  of  a  farthing^ 
all  his.  resolutions  will  vanish  into  air/' 


A  notorious  Egotist  one  day,  in  a  large  com-^ 
pany,  indirectly  praising  himself  for  a  number  of 
good  qualities  which  it  was  well  known  he  had 
not,  asked  Macklin  the  reason  why  he  should 
have  this  propensity  of  interfering  in  the  good  of 
others,  when  he  frequently  met  with  very  unsuit- 
able returns  ?  "  I  could  tell  you,  Sir,"  says  Mack- 
lin. "  Well  do,  Sir ;  you're  a  man  of  sense  and 
observation,  and  I  should  be  glad  of  your  defini- 
tion."— "  Why  then.  Sir— the  cause  is  impudence 
—nothing  but  stark-staring  impudence." 


A  gentleman  at  a  public  dinner  asking  him,  in* 
considerately,  Avhether  he  remembered  Mrs.  Bar- 


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CHARLES   MACKLIN.  431 

ly,  the  celebrated'  Actress,  wha  died  about  the 
Ifttter  end  of  Queen  Antoe'js  reign,  he  planted  his 
countenance  directly  against  him  with  great  se^ 
verity,  and  bawled  out^  "  No,  Sir — nor  Harry 
the  Eighth;  either^ — they  were  both  dead  before 
my  time.'* 


An  Irish  dignitary  of  the  church  (mot  remarka- 
ble for  veracity)  complaining  that  a  tradesman 
of  his  parish  had  called  him  a  liar^  Macklin  asked 
him  iirlmt  reply  he  made  him.  "  I  told  him,  ** 
said  be,  *' that  a  lie  was  amongst. the  things  I 
ilared  i)ot  commit."  *^  And  why,  Doctor/'  re- 
plied Msacktin,  "  did  yon  give  the,  rascal  ^o  mean 
an  opinion  of  your  courage  T*^ 


One  of  the  band  of  Covent  Garden  Theatre, 
who  played  the  French  horn,  waS  telling  some 
anecdotes  of  Garrick's  generosity.  Macklin,  who 
heard  him  at  the  lower  end  of  the  table,  and  who 
always  fired  at  the  praises  of  Garrick,  called  out, 
^^  Sir,  I  believe  you  are  a  trumpeter.'^  **  Well, 
Sir,"  said  the  poor  man,  quite  confounded,  "and 
if  I  am,  w^hat  then?"  "  Nothing  more.  Sir,  than 
being  a  trumpeter,  you  are  a  dealer  in  puffs  by 
profession,'* 

One 


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43!2  MEMOIRS  OF 

Ohe  iiight,  sitting  at  the  back  of  the  ftont 
febkes  with  a  gentleman  of  his  acquaintance,  (be* 
fore  the  late  alterations  at  Covent  Garden  Thea- 
tre took  place,)  one  of  the  under-bred  box-lobby 
loungers  of  tiie  present  day  stood  up  immediately^ 
before  him,  whose  person  being  rather  large,  co-*' 
vered  the  sight  of  the  Stage  entirely  from  him. 
Macklin  took  fire  at  this ;  but  managing  himself 
with  more  temper  than  usual,  patted  him  gently 
on  the  shoulder  with  his  cane,  and,  with  much 
seeming  civility,  requested  of  him,  ".that  when 
he  saw  or  heard  any  thing  that  was  entertaining 
on  the  Stage,  to  let  him,  and  the  gentleman  with 
him,  know  of  it:  for  you  see,  my  dear  Sir,  "add* 
cd  the  veteran,   **  that  at  present  we  must  total- 
ly depend  on  your  kindness."    This  had  the  de- 
sired effect-— and  the  lounger  walked  off. 


Another  time  sitting  nearly  in  the  same  place, 
a  Noble  Lord,  since  dead,  rather  of  a  suspicious 
character  In  his  amours,  placed  himself  close  by 
him,  and  entered  into  conversation  with  him.  Af- 
ter his  Lordship  went  away,  a  friend  of  Macklin's 
was  rallying  him  on  the  awkwardness  of  his  late 
situation.  "  Why  yes,  Sir,"  says  he,  "  it  wa* 
rathijr  critical,  I  must  confess:  but  what  could 
I  do?  He  offered  me  the  first  civilities;  and  you 
know  there's  no  tmming  one's  back  upon  such 
fellows." 

Talking 


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CHAKLES   MACRLIH  433 

Talking  of  the  caution  necessary  to  be  nseA  in 
conversation  amongst  a  mixed  company,  Mack- 
lin  observed,  "Sir,  I  have  experienced,  to  my 
eo&t,  that  a  man,  in  any  situation  of  life,  should; 
never  be  off  his  gmTd-^  A  Scotchman  never  is;  he 
never  lives  a  moment  estempore,  and  that  is  one 
great  reason  of  their  success  in  life." 


In  a  continuation  of  the  same  subject,  he  used 
to  say,  vitli  some  feeling  of  his  former  impru-^ 
dence^  **  It  is  a  long .  time  before  men  learn  the 
art  of  neutralizing  in  coTvoersation.  I  have,  for  a 
great  part  of  my  Kfe,  been  endeavouring  at  it, 
T>ut  twas  never  able  to  act  up  to  it  as  I  wished. 
I  could  never  sit  .still,  hearing  people  assert  what 
I  thought  wrong  things,  without  labouring  to 
set  them  right;  and,  often  putting  myself  in  a  pas- 
sion,, without  considering  how  kw  people  in  mix* 
ed  companies  are  worth  powder  and  shot,  and 
how  difficult  it  is  to  correct  the  errors  of  others, 
when  we  feel  ourselves  so  wedded  to  our  own. 
But  this  folly  generally  attaches  to  men  of  inex- 
perience, and  lively  imaginations :  your  dull  fel- 
lows know  better;  tliey  have  little  hut  neutrality 
to  trust  to,  and  soon  find  out  the  policy  of  it." 


F  f  Discussing 


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454  3rEJHoiRs  or 

Discussing  one  night,  at  the  Globe  Tavern,  on 
the  merit  of  some  dramatic  character,  a.  brother 
performer  present,  retorted  .with  some  tartness,  as 
if  he  had  said,  '^  he  was  a  better  Actor  than  him- 
self;" upon  which  Macklin  got  up,  and,  with  very- 
becoming  dignity,  replied,  "  No,  Sir,  I  did  not 
say  a  better  Actor — I  said  an  older  Actor.'' 


Macklin  M^as  very  intimate  wit|i  Frank  Hay- 
man,  (at  that  time  one  of  our  first  historical 
painters,)  and  happening  tp  call  in  upon  him  one 
morning,  soon  after  the  death  of  the  painter's  wife, 
(with  whom  he  lived  but  on  indifferent  terms,) 
he  found  him  wrangling  with  the  undertaker 
about  the  extravagance  of  the  funeral  expences. 
Macklin  listened  to  the  altercation  for  some  time: 
at  last  going  up  to  Hajrman,  with  great  gravity 
he  observed,  **  Come,  come,  Frank;  though  the 
bill  is  a  little  extravagant,  pay  it  in  respect  to 
the  memory  of  your  poor  wife :  for,  by  G —  I 
am  sure  she  would  do  twice  as  much  for  you, 
liad  she  the  same  opportunity." 


When  Macklin  was  in  Dublin,  on  one  of  his 
theatrical  trips,  Reddhhj  a  vain,  conceited  man, 
belonging  to  the  same  company,  (and  who  gave 

it 


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CHARLES    MACKLIK.  435 

it  out  he  teas  a  gentleman  of  easy  fortune^)  was 
playing  a  character,  where,  in  reading  a  book,  it 
was  necessary,  on  the  approach  of  another  person, 
to  throw  it  aside.  Reddish,  however,  threw  the 
book  into  a  rivulet,  supposed  to  be  at  the  bottom 
of  the  garden*  On  this,  a  gentleman  in  the  Pit 
whispered  Macklin,  **  Is  it  usual  for  actors  to 
throw  away  their  books  thus?"  "  Why  no,  Sir, 
(replied  Macklin,)  not  for  an  Actor:  hut  a  Geiitle-^ 
man  of  easy  foi^tune^  you  know,  ^an  afford  it/' 


But,  notwithstanding  some  biting  parts  of 
M-acklin's  character,  his  conversation,  at  other 
times,  was  hberal,  pleasant,  and  instructive ;  and 
he  generally  observed  upon  common  things,  in 
his  own  way,  with  singular  force  and  perspicuity. 
Speaking  of  one  of  our  late  Naval  victories  durin^* 
the  American  Av^ar,  he  exclaimed,  **  Ah,  Sir!  an 
English  man  of  M^ar  is  the  thing  after  all.-rrShe 
speaks  all  languages — is  the  best  negociator,  and 
the  most  profound  politician,  in  this  island — She 
was  always  Oliver  Cromwell's  Ambassador— r-She  is 
one  of  the  honestest  Mihisters  of  State  that  evej* 
existed,  and  never  tells  a  lie — Xor  will  she  suffer 
the  proudest  rrcnchman,  Dutchman,  or  Spaniard, 
to  ban)booz)e  her,  or  give  her  a  Sf^pcy  answer." 

rf^  Such 


Digitized  by 


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^36 


HDBIOIRS   OF 


Such  was  Macklin !  who  may  be  estimated  as 
a  man  by  the  character  given  by  Dr.  Johnson  of 
the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Sheridan,  *'  that  were  man- 
kind divided  into  two  classes  of  good  and  badj  he 
would  stand  considerably  within  the  ranks  of  the 
former." 


The  follmcing  is  a  List  of  the  several  Characters 

performed  by  Mr.  Macklin  in  London^ 

from  the  year  1734  /o  1781. 


• 

1734- 

sd  Grave  digger, 

Hamlet 

Captain  Strut, 

Double  Gallant. 

Peter  Nettle^ 

The    What     H'ye 

Sancho,  , 

Love  Makes  a  Man. 

call  It. 

Clincher,  jun. 

Constant  Couple. 

Cheatley, 

Squire  of  Alaatia* 

Farmer, 

Merlin;  or,  The  De- 

> Young  Cash| 

Wife's  Relief. 

vil  at  Stonehenge. 

Davy, 

Mock  Doctor. 

Tho.  Appletree, 

,  Recruiting  Officer. 

Beggar, 

Phebe. 

Poins, 

Henry  IV. 

Boor  Servant* 

Burgo  Master 

Ramillie, 

Miser. 

Tricked. 

1735- 

Ostric, 

Hamlet. 

Wormwood, 

Virgin  Unmasked, 

Francis, 

Henry  IV. 

Whisper, 

Busy  Bddy. 

Pierrot, 

Poor  Pierrot  Mar« 

Petulant, 

Way  of  the  World. 

ried. 

Undertakeri 

The  Plot  a  Panto- 

J«ff«y, 

Amorous  Widow. 

mime. 

1737. 

Tempest. 

Peachum, 

Beggar's  Opera,  ^ 

Mustacho, 

Cure  for  a  Scold. 

Sir  Hugh  Evani, 

Merry  Wives  of 

Manly, 

Merry  Cobicr. 

Windsor. 

Snip, 

Trick  for  Trick. 

Fmder, 

Double  Gallant. 

«73«. 

Sailor, 

Tempest. 

Connoisseur. 

Capuin  Weaze), 

£arydice;or,The 

Drunken  Colonel,  Intriguing    Cham- 

Devil  Henpecked. 

bermaid. 

Grig, 

Beggar's  Wed  ding. 

Snap, 

Love's  Last  Shift. 

Razor, 

Provoked  Wife. 

Robm, 

Contrivances. 

Subtleman, 

Twin  Rivals. 

Lory, 

Relapse. 

Gibbet^ 

Stratagem. 

Count 

Digitized  by 


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CHARLES   MACKLIN. 


437 


Count  Basset, 

Provoked  Hus- 

Mad WelshmiD, 

Pilgrinu 

band. 

Numpa,     • 

Tender  Huslwind. 

Jeremy, 

Love  forXofC* 

Morocco  Servant, 

Fall  of  Phaeto^. 

Abel, 

Committee. 

Squib, 

Tunbndge 

Setter, 

Old  Bachelor. 

/ 

Walka. 

Coupecj 

Virgin  Unmasked 

»739- 

Brass, 

Confederacy. 

Marplot, 

Busy  Body. 

Poins, 

ad  Part  of  Henry.  Mo delove^ 

Bold  Stroke  for  f 

JV. 

■^ 

Wife. 

Poet, 

Mother-in-Law. 

Clown, 

Harlequin  &iif* 

Asino 

Uriiversal  Passion. 

wrecked. 

Beau  Mordecai 

Harlot's  Progress. 

Don  Choleric, 

Love  makes  a 

Lord  FrotJi, 

Double  Dealef. 

Man. 

race, 

Alchymist, 

Clincher,  sen. 

Comtant  Couple. 

Cutbeard, 

Silent  Woman. 

Old  Mirabel, 

Inconstant. 

1738. 

Mock  Doctor* 

Mock  Doctor. 

Quaint, 

iEsop. 

Tim  Peascod* 

What  d'ye  caU 

Jerry  B!aekaei«, 

Plain  Dealer* 

It. 

Pierrot, 

Harlequin  Gram 

L  John  Moody, 

Provoked  Huf- 

' 

Volgi. 

baud. 

Bayes,  ' 

Coffee  House. 

Sir  Novelty  Fashion,  Love's  Lait Shifts 

Orange  Woman, 

Man  of  Mode 

Sir  John  Daw, 

Silent  Woman. 

Lord  Foppington 

,    Careless  Hus- 

Lord Lace, 

Lottery. 

band. 

Clodpole, 

Amorous  Wi- 

Lord FoppingtoD] 

Relapse. 

dow. 

Scrub, 

Stratagem. 

Sir  William  Belfond«  Squire  of  Alsatia. 

Man  of  Taste, 

Man  of  Taste. 

Bullock, 

Recruiting  Offi- 

Roxana, 

Rival  Queens. 

cer. 

Tattle, 

Love  for  Love. 

Trincalo, 

Tempest. 

Citizen, 

Mercury, 

Hospital  for 

Butler, 

Drummer. 

Fools. 

Tcague, 

Twin  Rivals. 

Baycs, 

Britons  Strike 

Witch, 

Macbeth. 

Home, 

Teague, 

Committee. 

1 

740. 

Slouch, 

J^obin  Good 

Fondle  wife, 

Old  Bachelor. 

Fellow. 

Drunken  Man, 

Lethe. 

Ben, 

Love  for  Love. 

Mispr, 

Miser. 

Sir  Polydore  Hog- 

Tom, 

Conscious  Lo- 

stye. 

iEsop. 

' 

vers. 

Trappanti, 

She  Would  and 

TrifDj 

Funeral. 

SbcWould  Not. 

Sir  Joliii  Linger, 

Pt#liie  Conversa- 

Foigard, 

Strata  i^ca>. 

tion, 

3 

Sir 

Digitized  by 


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4SS 


AIEVOIRS   Of 


Sir  Jasper  Fidget, 

Conntry  Wifei 

'  •       . 

1743. 

Sir  Francis  Wrongs 

Provoked  Hua- 

Kol  BlufF 

Old  Bachelor. 

head. 

band. 

Mr.  Stedfast, 

•Wedding  Day. 

Toby  GmzU^      . 

Rural  Sport9«  ^ 

Oloster, 

Jane  Shore. 

Higgin, 

Royal  Merchant 

»r44. 

Feti^  Maitre, 

Enchanted  Gar- 

Ugo, 

Othello. 

den. 

Ghost, 

Hamlet. 

1741. 

Lovelesy, 

Helapse. 

Mai  vol  io. 

Twelfth  Night. 

*745- 

Shylock, 

Merchant  of  Ve- 

Quacks. 

nice.* 

1746. 

Macahoo, 

Strollers.     .. 

Huntley, 

Henry  VII. 

Old  Woman, 

Rulea  WifeJnd  Sir  John  Brute, 

Provoked  Wife. 

Have  a  Wife. 

Brazen, 

Recruiting  Ofe. 

Toachstone, 

As  You  Like  It. 

cer. 

Dromio  of  Syracuse,  Comedy  of  Er- 

Stcphano, 

Tempest.  ' 

, 

rori. 

Sir  John  Airy, 

She  Gallants. 

Pliysician, 

Rehearsal. 

Sir  Roger, 

Scornful  Lady. 

Goaiea» 

Spanish  Fryar. 

Storm, 

Lying  Lover. 

1742. 

Capt.  Cadwallader,  Humours  of  the 

Clown, 

Alps  Well  that 

Army. 

15nds  Well. 

Sir  Gilbert  Wrangle,  Refusal. 

Corvino, 

Vol  pone. 

1,747. 

Sir  Paul  Pliant, 

Double  Dealer. 

Major  Bramble, 

,        Fine  Ladies  Airs. 

Queen  DoIlaloUa, 

Tom  Thumb. 

Gripus, 

Amphitryon. 

Rigdum  Funnidos, 

ChipnonhotOD- 

Flash, 

Miss  in  her 

thologos. 

Teens. 

Zerobabel, 

Miss  Lucy  in 

Strickland, 

Suspicious  Hus« 

Town. 

band. 

1st  Grave  Digger, 

Hamlet. 

Pandolfp, 

Albumazar. 

Sciolto, 

♦  This  Play  was  revived  the  14th  of  February  ip  this  year.  As  the  cast  of 
the  characters  may,  at  this  time,  be  an  object  of  curiosity,  we  shall  here  insert 
it.     The  19th  night  of  its  performance  was  for  Mr.  Macklin's  benefit. 


Antonio     - 

Mr.  Quin. 

Lorenzo     - 

Mr.  Havj^rd. 

lJ^s?anio     - 

Mr.  Milward. 

prince  of  Arragoii 

Mr.  Turbutt. 

Giatiano    - 

Mr.  Mills. 

Duke 

Mr.  Winstone. 

Shylock 

Mr.  Macklin, 

Tubal    •         - 

Mr.  Taswell. 

I.auncelot 

Mr.  Chi-pman. 

Solarino     - 

Mr.  Ridout. 

Cobl>o     - 

Ml,  Johnson. 

Portia 

Mrs.  Clive. 

Sabnio 

Mr.  Berry. 

Nerissa         • 

Mrs.  Pritchard. 

Morochius    •    • 

Mr.  Cashcll. 

Jessica    - 

Mis.  Woodman* 

Digitized  by  VjOOQ IC 


CHA11I.E8   MA(iKi:iN.  4^9" 


174«. 

Fluellen, 

Henry  V. 

Sciolto, 

Fair  Penitent, 

, 

Covent  Gardea 

Faddlc, 

Foundling. 

Theatre. 

Loven  Melan- 

»753. 

choly. 

Buck, 

Englishman  in 

Widow  Be- 

Paris. 

witched. 

i7S9» 

1750. 

Sir  Archy 

Mac  Sar-   Love  a  la  Mode. 

Polonius, 

Hamlet. 

casm, 

Vellum, 

■  Drummer. 

1761. 

Don  Manuel* 

She  Would  and 

Lord  Belv 

ille.            Married  Liber. 

SheWould  Not.  tine. 

Sir  Oliver  Cock-      SheWould  if  She  1767. 

wood.  Could.  Murrough  O'Dog* 

Mercutio,  Romeo  &  Juliet.       herty,  I rbh  Fine  Lady. 

1752.  _  1773- 

Bpmaby  Bridle,        Amorous  Wi-  Macbeth,                    Macbeth. 

dow*  1775- 

Lopez,                         False  Friend.  Richard  II L              Richard  III. 

Sir  Wilful  Wit-      Way  of    the  1781. 

wou'd,                       World.  Sir  Pertinax  Mac     ,    Man  of  the 

Ix)pez,                         l^listakc.  Sycophant,                  World. 


Digitized  by 


Googk 


440  M£MOIBS  b» 

APPENDIX. 


€!opy  of  an  Original  Letter  fram  Mr.  Macklin  io 
his  Daughter,  dated  Dubliny  Febrtcary9,l,  1764, 
dnd  addressed  to  Miss  Maria  Macklin^  Henrietta 
Street f  Caveni  Garden,  London. 

Dublin, '  Tuesday,  February  21,   1 764. 

Dear  Poll, 

Yours  of  the  28th  of  January  I  received 
some  tune  ago,  and  this  inst.  that  of  the  l6th 
inst.  and  I  am  glad  to  find  that  even  the  expecta- 
tion of  a  new  Farce  from  me,  or  the  hopes  of  see- 
ing me  in  London  to  play  for  your  Benefit,  has 
had  sufficient  influence  on  you  to  make  you  punc- 
tual in  answering  my  letter.  As  to  lending  you 
a  new  Farce,  I  cannot  pay  so  ill  a  compliment  to 
you,  the  public,  or  my  own  fame,  as  to  send  you 
one  that  I  had  not  been  nice  about;  nay,  rather 
more  so  than  if  it  had  been  for  my  own  benefit 
or  emolument  as  an  author.  Your  character  has 
been  nicely  conducted  hitherto,  even  in  your  pro- 
fession, as  well  as  in  that  of  real  life;  and  I  hope 
you  will  scorn  to  oflTer  the  public  a  piece  merely 

to 


Digitized  by 


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to  fill  your  Galleries,  or  your  Houses.     No,  you^ 
have  been  nicely  conducted,  I  say,  hitherto ;  con- 
tinue  it  even  about  your  Benefit     I  have  always 
loved  the  conscious  worth  of  a  good  action  more 
than  the  profit  that  would  arise  from  a  mean,  or  a 
bad  one;  and,  depend  upon  it,  there  is  a  wealth 
in  diat  way  of  thinking;  and  I  feel  the  value  of 
it  at  this  instant,  and  in  every  vicissitude  of  my 
life,  but  particularly  in  those  of  the  adverse  kind. 
Had  it  been  ii^  my  power  to  have  sent  you  a  piece 
worthy  of  your  Night  and  Fame,  be  assured  I 
would,  but  it  was  not  in  my  power.     I  have 
written  a  great  deal  this  winter;  but  I  find  the 
taore  I  write,  and  the  older  I  grow,  the  harder  I 
am  to  be  pleased.     I  do  not  know  whether  I  told 
you  in  my  last  that  I  am  reduced,  in  my  suste*; 
nance,    entirely  to  fish,    herbage,  puddings,  of 
spoon-meat,  not  being  able  to  chew  any  meat 
harder  than  a  French  botiillee.    And  now  I  have 
told  you,  what  am  I  the  better?     But  old  age, 
and  inva-lids,  think  all  their  friends  are  obliged 
to  attend  to  their  infirmities*     I  am  mightily  glad 
to  think  that  your  House  will  be  tolerable,   at 
all  events ;  for,  I  would  not  have  you  have  a  bad 
one  for  more  tlxan  the  value  of  it     Pray  send  me 
word  what  you  think  of  taking  for  your  Bene- 
fit, and  your  day,  as  soon  as  ever  it  is  fixt     Do 
not  miss  a  post,  and  send  me  an  exact  account 
of  the  fate  of  Midas.     You  are  the  worst  corres- 
pondent in  the  world.    You  sent  me  no  account 

Gg  of 


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44$  MEMOIRS  or 

of  Miss  Davis's  illness,  and  Miss  Brent's,  nor  thd 
causes,  gr  theatrical  consequences ;  nor  of  Mis5 
Poitier's  engagement,  Miss  Houghton's  leaving 
the  Stage,  Miss  B— 's  promotion  to  infamy  with 
Calcraft.     All  this  is  news,  and  suchlike;  and 
all  the  theatrical  tittle-tattle  and  squibble-squabble. 
With  us,  Miss  Catley  is  with  child ;  is  in  grpat 
vogue  for  her  singing,  and  draws  houses;  has 
been  of  great  service  to  Mossop.     My  **  True-? 
bom  Scotchman"  is  not  yet  come  out:  but  it  i3 
highly  admired,  both  by  the  actors  and  some  la^r 
dies  and  gentlemen  of  the  first  taste  and  fashion, 
to  whom  I  have  read  it,  both  for  its  satire,  cha- 
racters, writing,  moral,  and  fable;  and,  indeed, 
I  think  well  of  it  myself,  but  not  so  well  as  they 
do.     On  Monday,   the  5th  of  March,  I  think,  it 
will  be  out.     I  have  just  read  the  Philaster  that 
was  done  at  Drury  Lane;  it  is  a  lamentable  thing* 
O,  I  had  like  to  have  forgotr— the  ship  by  which 
you  sent  the '  box  is  not  yet  come  in.     Pray  in 
your  writing  never  write  coul<rnf,  shan'tj  woulSnf^ 
nor  any  abbreviation  whatever.  It  is  vulgar,  rude, 
ignorant,   jmlettered,    and  disrespectful;   should 
W>ty  shall  not,  S^c.  Sfc.  is  the  true  writing.     Nor 
never  write  M.   Macklin:  pray  who  is  M?  it  is 
the  highest  ill-breeding  ever  to  abbreviate  any 
word ;  but  particularly  a  name,  besides  the  un^ 
Intelligibility  of  it.     Pray  bow  does  this  look  ? 
ff  I  am,  Sr, 

f^Vrmtobtbu'W^Sert/^ 

Mind 


Digitized  by 


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tnARZti  MACKLIK.  443 

'  Mind— always  write  your  words  at  length,  and 
liever  make  the  vile  apologies  in  your  letters  of 
he'mg  greatly  hurriisd  wit k  business;  or,  and  must 
now  conclude^  as  the  Post  is  this  instant  gtnng  out. 
Hien,  why  did  you  not  begin  sooner?  You  see 
I  am  nothing  with  you,  if  not  critical;  andso^^ 
ftt  fulljength,  I  am,  my  dear,  your  most  affec- 
tipQ^e  awd  ap^dous  Father, 

CHARLES   MaC^UN.  . 

P/^.  your  account  that  you  are  in  health  and 
spirits  rejoices  me.     I  never  was  better  \xl  health, 
or  content.     If  I  can  contrive  it,  I  mil  be  over, 
with  you;  but  do  npt  depei^d  on  any  body  buj; 
yourselft  Q.  I^ 


The  letters  of  MacWin  to  his  Son,  whilst  \x% 
Indi^  we  have  seen,  and  they  contain  not  only 
the  most  affectionate  regards  of  a  father,  but 
some  of  the  most  excellent  precepts  for  the  go- 
vernment of  human  life.  What  still  render  these 
letters  more  creditable  to  Macklin,  is,  his  noble 
contempt  for  money,  when  necessary  to  the  ho- 
poiir  and  interest  of  his  son,  and  his  never-failing 
^dyice  to  him  for  attaining  and  preserving  the 
character  of  i>f tegrity. 

In 


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444;  MEMOIRS   OF    ClfA^^BS  Ji^AiCKLIK. 

In  one  o£  these  letters  he  says,  *^  Tlieie  is  no 
quality  that  commands  more  respect  than  inte^ 
grity;  ncfat freedom  and  mdependencCy  more  than 
eco^qmy^.  They  are  all  I  have,  with  industry,  to 
depeiid  upon;  and  should  you  make  th^m  the 
rulers  of  your  conduct,  you  must  hp  happy; 
\t^ithoufe  them,  you  never  can." 

And  in  another  letter  he  says,  "  Let  me  repeat 
this  doctrine  to  you,  that  he  who  depends  upon 
continued  industry  and  integrity^  depends  upon 
patrons  of  the  noblest,  the  most  exalted  kind; 
they  more  than  supply  the  place  of  birth  and  an- 
cestry, or  even  of  Royal  patronage:  they  are  the 
creators  of  fortune  and  fame^  the  fbundert  of  fa* 
jnilies,  and  never  can  disappoint  or  desert  you." 


'rlattd  by  T.  M»<<Ien,  Sheitionie  I 
Lombard  (u-ect* 


!  ^ 


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^' 


«At*^*tXttAi«A««^*^*^Ai*A»«A»«A»*^^t>^ 


.CAS      E, 


M  R.  -  M  A  C  K  L  I  ;Ni 


l4rit^W:^iV^V«^il^W>^^*y^^!^;^^^^yj)5 


Digitized  by  VjOOQ IC 


M.   '^^ 


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C      AS      E, 
MR.     M  A   C   K  L   I   N 

LATE  OF  COVENT-GARDEN  THEATRE, 


AGAINST 


Mejf.  Clarke^  Aldys^  Lee^  James ^  and  Miles. 


EDINBURGH: 

PRINTED  FOR    AND  SOLD  BY    JOHN  AND  JAMES  AINSLIES 
Bookfcllcri,  NS  4,  St  Andrew's  Street,  New  Town. 


Pkick  TiiRtspeHCC* 


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es± 


<■     I       I    \ 


CASE. 


J773- 


Kot!  18.  ]V/I"R  MACKLIN,  who  had  attempt* 
XTX  ed  the  charadler  of  Macbeth  at 
the  Theatre  in  Covent  Garden,  having 
given  offence  to  the  Town,  by  fome 
hafty  accufations,  without  fufficient 
proof,  againft  two  or  three  brother 
players,  for  interrupting  him  in  his 
performance,  was  dlfcharged  from  that 
Theajtre,  by  order  of  a  numerous  Au- 
dience, affembled,  as  it  Ihould  feem, 
for  that  purpofe.  On  the  curtain  being 
drawn  up,  the  cry  was,  No  Ivlacklin  ! 
and  it  increafed  fo  much,  that,  to 
prevent  the  houfe  from  being  pulled  to 
A  3  pieces, 


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(    6    ) 

pieces,  the  Managers  complied  with 
their  defires,  and  publicly  difcharged 
him:  after  which,  there  being  no  play 
ready,  the  money  was  returned,  and 
the  people  difperfed. 

1774.        jvIr  Macklin  moved  the  Court  of 

Feb.  IX. 

King's  Bench,  againft  feveral  perfons, 
for  hiffing  and  otherwife  infulting 
him,  the  laft  night  he  appeared .  in 
Co  vent  Garden  Theatre,  to  perform 
the  part  of  Shylock ;  for  preventing 
his  going  through  the  character ;  and 
likewife  for  the  lofs  of  his  bread* 
The  motion  was  rejedled,  it  being  ob- 
ferved,  that  as  the  Theatres  were  opea 
for  the  reception  and  entertainment 
of  that  part  of  the  Public  who  paid 
for  their  admiffion,  the  Audience  had 
a  right  to  applaud,  condemn,  nay  re- 
jed  what  Performer?  they  thought 
proper;  but  if  any  unjuft  combinatioa 
was  formed  previous  to  the  opening  of^ 

the 


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1774. 
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(    7    ) 

the  houfe,  an  aiSion  at  Common  Law 
might  be  grounded:  But  in  the  in- 
ftance  then  before  the  Court,  there 
did  nqt  appear  any  room  for  fuch 
pica;  and  therefore,  he  was  advifed  to 
make  his  peace  with  the  Town  as 
fpeedily  as  poflible.  Mr  Macklin  had 
retained  the  Attorney  and  Solicitor- 
General,  bcfides  MefT  Dunning,  Wal- 
lace, 8cc.— ^It  is  faid,  Mr  Macklin  had 
74  affidavits  ready  to  produce. 

The  Court  of  King^s  Bench  was 
moved  by  Mr  Dunning  on  behalf  of 
Mr  Macklin,  for  a  Rule  on  fix  Gen- 
tlemen, to  fliew  caufe  why  an  inform- 
ation fhould  not  be  filed  againft  them 
for  a  riotous  confpiracy  to  deprive 
Mr  Macklin  of  his  livelihood,  by 
forcing  the  Managers  of  Covent  Gar- 
den Theatre  to  difcharge  Mr  Macklin 
therefrom  on  the  1 8th  November  lafl:; 
which  Rule  the  Court  was  pleafed  tq 

grant  accordingly. 

Came. 


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(    8    ) 

, '''^'*'        Came  on  before  the  Court  of  King^s 

June  II.  o 

Bench  at  Weftminfter,  the  Complaint 
of  Mr  'Macklin  againft  fix  perfons 
for  a  riotous  confpiracy,  founded  on 
private  premeditated  malice,  to  de- 
prive the  faid  Mr  Macklin  of  his 
bread,  by  caufing  him  to  be  expelled 
the  Theatre  laft  Winter.  The  Court 
was  pleafed  to  grant  an  information 
againft  all  but  Mr  Sparks.  The  Bench 
recommended  it  to  the  Gentlemen  tcj 
make  reftitution  to  Mr  Macklin,  and 
to  compromise  the  matter^  without 
bringing  the  caufe  to  trial, 

1775^  • 

Feb, 44.       Cause  of  Macklin  againft  Clarke^^ 

Aldys,  Le^,  James,  and  Miles,  came  on 

to  be  trie4  by  way  of  indidlment,  in 

the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  before  Mr 

Juftice  Afton  and  a  fpecial  Jury.    The 

indidlment  confifted  of  two  counts  j 

the  firft  fpecifying.  That  on  the  i8th 

November  1773,  the  defendants  had 

been 


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(    9    ) 

been  guilty  of  a  riot;— the  other,  that 
they  had  been  guilty  of  a  confpiracy  ; 
both  in  order  to  caufe  Mr  Macklin  to 
be  difmifled  from  their  Stage  by  the 
Patentees  of  Covent  Garden  Theatre. 
The  Judge,  after  hearing  the  evidence, 
and  fumming  it  up  with  accuracy  and 
impartiality,  defired  the  Jury  to  ex- 
ercife  their  judgement :  And  if  they 
thought  the  defendants  guilty  of  both 
counts,  they  were  to  find  a  verdidl 
generally  ;  if  only  of  one  count,  th?y 
fhould  find  accordingly.  The  Jury 
then  withdrew  ;  and^  in  about  twenty 
minutes,  brought  Clarke  in  guilty  of 
the  riot,  and  the  others  of  the  confpi* 
racy.  —  But  judgement  was  deferred 
till  next  term. 

!^^^'       Mr  Justice  Aston  reported  to  the 

Court  of  King's  Bench,  his  minutes 

of  the  evidence  on  the  trial  of  Meflrs 

,    Leigh,  Miles,  James,  Adys,  and  Clarke, 

'  on 


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(       10      ) 

on  the  24th  February  laft  j  the  four  firft 
of  whom  were  convided  of  aconfpiracy 
and  riot,  and  the  latter  of  a  riot  only, 
in  Co  vent  harden  Theatre,  on  the  1 8th 
November  1773,  with  intent  to  drive 
Mr  Macklin  from  the  Stage*— —Lord 
Mansfield  obferved  on  the  nature  of 
the  offence,  —  called  it  a  national  dif- 
grace,  —  and,  in  very  fevere  terms, 
reprobated  the  condu(5l  6f  the  parties 
concerned  in  it.  He  faid.  In  the  firfk 
ftage  of  the  bufinefs,  he  had  urgently 
advifed  the  defendants  to  make  Mr 
Macklin  an  adequate  compenfation  for 
the  great  damage  he  had  fuftained  j — 
that  he  then  particularly  pointed  out 
as  an  advifeable  meafure,  the  faving 
of  the  cofts,  by  putting,  an  .end  to  the 
matter  at  once  j— that  the  law-expences 
were  now  fwellcd  to  an  enormous  fttm, 
which  fuih  the  defendants  themfelves 
had  given  rife  to,  by  their  obftinacy 
and  want  of  prudence,— —Some  time 

W4S 


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(  ••  ) 

was  fpcnt  in  the  Courts,  endeaTpuring 
to  make  an  amicable  adjuflment  of  the 
matter,  and  a  final  conclufion  of  it. 
Mr  Colman  was  propofed  as  arbiter-* 
general,  which  the  defendants  unani- 
monfly  agreed  to;   but  Mr  Colman 

declined  the  office. ^At  length  Mr 

Macklin,  after  recapitulating  his  griev- 
ances, informed  the  Court,  that  to  (hew 
he  was  no  Way  revengeful,  with  which 
he  had  been  charged,  he  would  be  fa- 
tisfied  with  the  defendants  paying  his 
law  -  expences,  taking  one  hundred 
|K)UQds  worth  of  tickets  on  the  night 
of  his  daughter*s  benefit,  a  fecond 
hundred  pounds  worth  on  the  night 
of  his  own  benefit,  and  a  third  on  one 
of  the  managers  nights  when  beihould 
play.  This  plan,  he  obferved,  was  not 
formed  on  mercenary  views :  Its  bafis 
was  to  give  the  defendants  popularity, 

and  reftore  mutual  amity. Lord 

Mansfield  paid  Mr  Macklin  very  high 

compliments 


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(   lO 

Gompliments  on  the  honourable  com- 
plexion and  lingular  moderation  of  this 
propofal.  His  Lordfhip  declared  it  did 
him  the  higheft  credit;— that  generofity 
was  univerfally  admired  in  this  coun- 
try, and  there  was  n6  manner  of  doubt 
but  the  Public  at  large  would  honour 
and  applaud  him  for  his  lenity.  His 
Lordfliip  added  further,  that  notwith- 
ftanding  his  acknowledged  abilities  as 
an  Adlor,  he  never  adled  better  in  his 
life  than  he  had  that  day.  The  pro- 
pofal was  accepted  by  the  jiarties,  and 
the  matter  was  thus  ended. — During 
the  courfe  of  the  bufinefs,  Lord  ManC- 
field  took  occafion  to  obferve;  that  the 
right  of  hifling  and  applauding  in  a 
Theatre,  was  an  unalterable  right;  but 
that  there  was  a  wide  diftindion  be- 
tween expreffing  the  natural  fenfations 
of  the  mind  as  they  arofe  on  what  was 
feen  and  heard,  and  executing  a  pre- 
concerted defign,  not  only  to  hifs  an 

Ador 


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(    13    ) 

Adlor  when  he  was  playing  a  part  in 
w^ich  he  was  univerfally  allowed  to 
be  excellent,  but  alfo  to  drive  him 
from  the  Theatre,  and  promote  his 
litter  ruin. 

Soon  after  the  above  decifion,  the 
Managers  of  Covent  Garden  Theatre 
met,  and  generoufly  agreed  to  give  up 
their  claim  to  the  hundred  pounds 
worth  of  tickets. 


FINIS. 


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Full text of "Memoirs of Charles Macklin, comedian : with the dramatic characters, manners, anecdotes, &c. of the age in which he lived : forming an history of the stage during almost the whole of the last century, and a chronological list of all the parts played by him"

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