UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA' AT LOS ANGELLS LIBRARY JS # y< . THE HISTORY OF THE THEATRES of LONDON, From the Year 1760 tptheprefentTime. BEING A Continuation of the ANNUAL REGISTER of all the new Tra- gedies, Comedies, Farces, Pantomimes, &c. that have been performed within that Period. WITH Occafional Notes and Anecdotes. By Mr. VICTOR, AUTHOR of the two former Volumes. LONDON: Printed for T. Becket, in the Strand. MDCCLXXI. y\ j 4895 iT,m V6fc T O M Ri BOOT H. M A D A M, TO whom can this third Volume of the Hijiory of the Theatres be addrefs'd, with more Propriety, than to one who fo early in Life (above half a Century ago) made fo agreeable a Figure there ! And yet I know you had rather pafs your remaining Days forgotten as an Acl> refs, than to have your Youth recol- lected in the moft favourable Light : But I hope you will excufe the Li- berty I take, in commemorating the Delight which the Public received A 2 from t iv ] from your Performances, while you was an Ornament to the Theatre ! for the Proof of which I can turn to Records more confiderable than my own, and find in Mr. Colley Cibber's Apology for his Life, the following remarkable Paffage, (Page 347.) " But during the Trial of Sa- " cheverel our Audiences were " extremely weakened by the " better Rank of people's at- " tending it j while, at the " fame time, the lower Sort as " eagerly crouded into Drury- " lane Theatre, to a new Co- " medy called the Fair Quaker " of Deal, This Play having " fome [ v j fome low Strokes of natural Humour, was rightly calcu- lated for the Capacity of the Actors who play'd in it ; but the moft happy Incident in its Fortune was the Charm of the Fair Quaker, which was acted by Miss S ant- low (afterwards Mrs. Booth J whofe Perfon was then in the full Bloom of what Beauty me could pretend to : Before this me had only been ad- mired as the moft excellent Dancer; which, perhaps, might not a little contribute to the favourable Reception fhe met with as an Adrefs A 3 " in [ vi ] ff in this Character, which fo f ( happily fuited her Figure and " Capacity v The gentle Soft- " nefs of her Voice the com- " pofed Innocence of her Af- " peel: the Modefty of her a Drefs the referved Decency " of her Gefture, and the Sim- " plicity of the Sentiments " that naturally fell from her * made her feem the amiable " Maid me reprefented : In a " Word, not the enthufiaftick " Maid of Orleans was more " ferviceable of old to the ** French Army, when the t* Englifi had diftrefs'd them, *' than this Fair Quaker was,. ** at the Head of that Dramatic " Attempt,, " Attempt, upon which the' ** Support of their weak So- " ciety depended." Thus, Madam, by this Account, your Powers began to break forth at firft, in no fmall Degree of Luftre as- an Actrefs ! having fome Years before charm'd the admiring Public as the mod elegant Dancer I It was there- fore no Wonder that Mr. Booth > the moft confiderable Man in the Theatre, fhould become a Lover ! which foon appear'd in the following infpired Ode written by him on your Dan-- cing. f via } " She comes! the God of Love afTerts his Reign, " Refiftlefs o'er the gazing Throng ! " Alone fhe fills the fpacious Scene \ ** The Charm of ev'ry Eye ! the Praife of ev'ry '* Tongue ! * Order and Grace together join'd, ** Sweetnefs with Majefty combin'd, " To make the beauteous Form compleat, " On ev'ry Step and Motion waft. [ ?8 I Verge of Four/core,- this Co- medy was put into his Hands for his Patronage, which touch- ing the old Caufe, and flriking hard on the String of Vanity, his Lordfhip teazed and folicited all the Men of Quality he could come at to affift him to fupport this Work of Merit. Many Lords did attend the firft Night's Performance ; the Reception the three firit Acts met with was favourable, but towards the Conclufion, a general Difappro- bation arofe which continued to the End : And. what was the Confequence ? A very thin Au- dience came to the fecond Per- formance and to the third (the Author's Night) a much worfe - under V L 39 ] under Charges! Thus fell this great Phenomenon, about which fuch Wonders were relat- ed, and our Expectations To highly raifed. [ 4o ] DRURY-LANE THEATRE. September 1762. THE WITCHES, anew Pantomime,, compofed by Mr. Love % per- formed with Succefs. THE TWO GENTLEMEN of VERO- NA, a Comedy, written by Sbake- Jpear, revifed with Alterations and Additions by Mr. Viftor. When this Comedy was adver- tized to be printed by Mr. Ton/on, with the Alterations and Addi- tions, the Public were promifed a Preface, containing critical Re- marks on the numerous Editors of Shake/pear's Works ; but, for fome private Reafons, that Pre- [ 41 ] face was fupprefled i and the following Advertifement alone was printed before the Play. Advertisement. " IT is the general Opinion that this Co- " medy abounds with Weeds , and there ** is no . one, I think, will deny who pe- " rufes it with Attention, that it is adorned " with feveral poetical Flowers, iuch as " the Hand of Shake/pear alone could raife. a The rankeft of thofe Weeds I have en- " deavoured to remove ; but was not a " little folicitous left I fhould go too far, " and, while I fancied myfelf grubbing up " a Weed, fhould heedlefsly cut the Threads cc of a Flower. The other Part of my u Defign, which was to give a greater " Uniformity to the Scenery, and a Con- " nedion and Confiftency to the Fable *' (which [ 42 ] " (which in many Places is vifibry wanted) " will be deemed of more Importance, if " it mould be found to be executed with u Succefs. " As to the two additional Scenes of " Launce and Speed in the laft Act, I mail " leave them to the candid Judges of Dra- " matic Compofition, whether they con- " tribute any thing to the Reprefentation* " or afford any Amufement to the Reader." I cannot find upon the ftricteft Enquiry, this Comedy was ever acted fince the Time of its immor- tal Author ; it is, undoubtedly, oneof the moil weak and irregular of his Plays ; which, I fuppofe, occafioned' the following fevere Sentence from one of Shake/pear's numerous Editors " That the " Two Gentlemen of Verona " was C 43 ] " was not written by him ; but ' after his Death, foijicd in by " the Bockfellers to /well the " Volume" It is clear that none of the Folio Editions of Shake/pear's Plays were printed during his Life ; and fo carelefs were the Perfons who had the Direction of the Prefs, that they printed the Prompter's Notes in the Mar- gin (where Tables and Chairs are quoted) to direct the Stage- Keepers to be in Readinefs againft the changing the Scenes* Such grofs Errors, and the Li- berties taken by the Actors of altering Paflages, agreeable to their Conceptions, called aloud for an Editor of Tafte and Judgment ? [ 44 ] Judgment ! but then that chofen one ought to have been blefled with a true Knowledge of his Author's Genius and Stile ; had he been fo qualified, he muft have feen fuch evident Marks in many Scenes in the Comedy in ques- tion, to have convinced him it was the genuine Hand of that great Mailer. I was greatly obliged to Mr. Garrick's Friendship to employ me in this arduous undertaking, as his fole Motive was to do me Service ; I had the Happinefs to fucceed fo far as to obtain his Approbation, and the fame Fa- vour from the Public , but I was forry to find after I had furmounted the Difficulties I met [ 45 ] met with in the Scenery, and had happily introduced Lamice and Speed in the laft Act, that the Fable appears rather too weak to claim the due Attention of an improved Audience. That was not in my Power to amend. It was performed five Nights with Succefs ; bus on the fixth (which according to Theatrical Cuftom belongs to the Author of the Alterations) a very extra- ordinary Event happened. A Sett of young Men, who called themfelves the Town, had con- fulted together, and determined to compel the Managers to ad- mit them, at the End of the third Act, at half Price to every Performance, except in the Run 2 c f t 46 ] of a new Pantomime! and they chofe to make that Demand on the fixth Night of the Two Gen- tlemen of Verona^ though it was printed on the Day-Bills, for the Benefit of the Author of the Alterations. It appeared after- wards a Rumour prevailed that Mr. Garrick was the Author ; for, it muft be fuppofed, they were ignorant of the Outrages they were committing on private Property ; however, the Per- formance of the Play was actu- ally forbid, and the Money (after the amount taken at the feveral Offices) returned to the Audience : My Redrefs was undoubtedly to be obtained either from the Leader of this Troop [ 47 ] Troop (who was well known) or the Managers , but as the Rio- ters did much greater Damage to Covent-Garden Theatre, on the fame Occafion, and as thofe in the Direction there, chofe to give up all manner of Redrefs ; the Managers of Drury-Lane were too wife to ftand a Profecu- tion alone, therefore they fol- lowed the bad Example ; and were fo honourable to pay me one hundred Pounds, which was about the clear Sum, above the Charge of the Houfe, on that fixth N ight. SPRING, a Paftoral, the Mufic by Mr. Handell and other emi- nent Matters. It was well per- formed, and approved by the 5 few I 48 ] few who were Judges, and lovers of Mufic : But thefe elegant . Performances appear too languid after a Play, for the Galleries. Mr. iWra, now an excellent Tenor in the Oratorios, made his firfl Appearance in the above Paftoral. THE MAGICIAN of the MOUN- TAIN, a new Pantomime, by Guerini, from Italy, who per- formed the Pantaloon, difliked the firft Night. It feems, the filly Tricks that divert an Italian are too low and trifling, to pleafe even an Englijhman difpofed to favour the Harlequinade. January 1763. ELVIRA, a Tragedy, by Mr. Mallet, taken from the famous Ines de Cajiro* 49 ] Caftro. The Story of this Tra- gedy was originally taken from a Play in the Spanijb Language. This Tragedy was performed feveral Nights withSuccefs, Mrs. CMer, and Mr. Garrick, acting the principal Characters. THE DISCOVERY, a Comedy, by Mrs. Sheridan, performed feven- teen Nights with great Applaufe, Mr. Sheridan (though not en- gaged this Seafon at any Theatre) acted the Part of Lord Medway in his Wife*s Comedy, for which the Managers gave him the Six- teenth Night for his own Bene- fit : Mrs. Sheridan had the Merit of inventing her own Fable, and introducing two new Characters, -Sir Harry and Lady Flutter, Vol, HI. D two [ 50 ] two young married People both under Age, and both rid iculou fly unhappy : Sir Anthony Branville was a Character entirely new to Mr. Garrick ; as in his other comic Characters he is remark- able for his great Eafe, Spirit, and Expreflion, in this he feem'd utterly to have exiinguifh'd his natural Talents, and afium'd a dry, fliff, Manner, with an im- moveable Face, and thus ex- tracted from this pedantic Object (who aiTum'd every Paflion with- out mewing a Spark of any in his Action or Features) much Entertainment for the Audience, and great Credit for the Author, and Actor. [ 51 I i ' ' i i i n mumiiin H1.n i ' * ' ' ' ' '' < COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. OVE in a VILLAGE, a Ballad Opera, by Mr. Bickerftaff. The Tunes in this Opera were chofen and adapted by Doctor Arne, and the favourite Singer, Mifs Brents appeared in it td great Advantage All the other Characters were well perform'd. On which Account it was acted as many Nights as the ce- lebrated Beggar's Opera when it firft appeared, and with as gene- ral Applaufe. This Piece is taken from the Village Opera, by Mr. Charles John/on, acted at D 2 Drury- I 5* ] Drury-Lane Theatre in 1728 but greatly improved by Mr. Bkkerjlaff. THE BOARDING SCHOOL, a Farce, Author unknown. MARPLOT in LISBON, a Farce, Do. [ 53 ] i.i iii i - - ii- j D R U R Y-L A N E THEATRE. /T*^ HE 1 5th of September 1763, the Day -*- of opening the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, Mr. Garrick, by the Advice of his Phyfician, left London to take the Tour of Italy , leaving his Brother, Mr. George Garrick as his Agent, to affift the premier Patentee, James Lacy, Efq. in the Management j and Mr. Powell (who had his Inftructions the Summer before) with Mr. Holland, to act the principal Charac- ters, 'till his Return, which was in the Month of April 1 765. / Nov. 1763. PHILASTER, reviv'd, a Play of Beau- mont and Fletcher' % - y and efteem'd D 3 the [ 54 ] the beft of their ferious Produc- tions. This Play was alter'd, and adapted to the prefent, im- prov'd, Stage, by George CoU man y Efq ; for the Introduction of Mr. Powell in the Character of Philafter, a young Adven- turer and the Play, but parti- cularly the Actor, met with univerfal Applaufe. LOVE AT FIRT SIGHT, a Farce of" two Acts, by Mr. King Come- dian, acted with Succefs. THE DEUCE IS IN HIM, a Farce of two Acts, by George Colwan> Efq. an excellent petite Piece : The Hint of Colonel Tamper's Sufpicion, and the Trial of his MiftrelTe's Conftancy, by his pretended Lofs of an Eye and Leg, [ 55 ] Leg, is taken from one of the Tales of Marmontek and wellim- prov'd by Mr. Colman : This Farce was perform*d feveral Nights with great Applaufe. January 1764. THE DUPE, a Comedy. Though I delivered my Opi- nion of this Comedy, to my Friend the Authorefs in its Dif- favour, before it went to the Stage , yet the Fate it met with there furpriz'd me 1 I expected it to be, in general, difliked, but not treated with Ill-nature, as it was known to be the Work of a Lady, whofe former Comedy and other Productions had been well receiv'd by the Public. The Groupe of Characters (and D 4 whole* I 56 ] whole Bufinefs of this Comedy) are of a difagreeable Call - 9 there is, however, fome Merit in the bord Attempt at drawing a new Character, and of inventing her own Fable ; which few of our modern Authors dare truft to, but (hamefully fly to the French for Afliftance. There was one Critic (I think one of the Re- viewers) that politely conveyed his Criticifm in the following Words. " Mrs. Sheridan has M only fail'd in the drawing of " fuch Characters, which, as a ** Woman of Reputation, me *' could not be acquainted with." 1764. THE RITES of HECATE, or HAR- LEQUIN from the MOON, a Pantomime, by Mr. Love. [ 57 1 This Entertainment was like molt of thofe Exhibitions ; but as it was followed, and added to the Receipts of the Houfes, every End was anfwered, and all Parties concerned fatisfied. THE ROYAL SHEPHERD, an EngUJb Opera, compofed by Mr. Rujh. Mr. Rujh was admitted, by the Judges of Mufic, to have done his Duty, and fhewed himfelf a Mafter of Compofition. This Opera was well received, but ne- glected. N. B. This Opera was the laft of the Novelties of this Seafon ; which proved a very fuccefsful one, D$ E 58 ] DRURY-LANE THEATRE. 2d November 1764. ALMENA, a ferious Opera, written by Mr. Rolt, and fet to Mufic by Mr. Michael Arne, and Mr. Battijhall. This Opera, though it met with a favourable Recep- tion, was performed but fix Nights, to thin Audiences. 28 th. CAPRICIOUS LOVERS, a comic Ope- ra, written by the late Mr. Ro- bert Lloyd, and fet to Mufic by Mr. Rujh. The Plot was taken from the French, moft of the Songs were [ 59 J were v/ell written, but the Fable in the laftAdt, too much neglect ed. This Opera was perform'd nine Nights, and the Mufic, in general, well approv'd. 24th January 1765. THE PLATONIC WIFE, a Comedy This Piece was written by Mrs. Griffith^ a Lady well known and admired in the literary World, on Account of the Part fh bore in the ingenious Corres- pondence between Henry and Frances* in two Volumes, which had been pubjifh'd fame Time before the acting this Play. The Account fhe gives of her Comedy, in her Preface, is in the following Words. " The Hint of this Piece was taken from ' one of the Conies Moraux of Marmcnteiy { T> 6 * ftiled [ fr> J f ' ftil'd VHeureux Divorce, the Foible ridi-i c culed in the Tale is, perhaps, the only ft one imputed to our Sex, which has never I* yet been expofed by a theatrical Repre- c fentation ; it is a Simplicity, not a Co- * quetry it is the Error of a delicate and p. elevated Mind, unacquainted with the f Manners of real Life, or the general *' Frame of the human Heart. " The Novel was too barren of Incident f c to furnifli out an Entertainment for the ' Stage ; which obliged me to contrive an * entire Under-plot, and introduce feveral *' new Characters into the Comedy, which " I (hall not take up the Reader's Time to point out here, but fubmit this Perform- f* ance to the Candor and Clemency of the c Public, after having, perhaps, too ao> ** venturoufly hazarded their Criticilm and . Cenfure.'; i Thi^ t ] This Comedy was too feverely treated by the Audience the firft Night of its .Reprefentation, owing to the following Circurh- ftances and Accidents. The Character of the Heroine, and the Title of the Play did not perfectly agree fhe was not a Platonic but a Romantic Wife, who had taken a Difguft at her Hufband for having abated of the Attention, and Gallantries of the Lqyer after Marriage ! The low Characters introduced into the Drama, was a forced Stile of Writing in the Author, who appears to have been wholly unacquainted with vulgar Life. But the principal Misfortune i j was occafioned by the Accident , *t of of two Portraits, upon which the interefting Part of the Fable was to turn; having been got up rather in too much Hafte, they . failed of their intended Effect r however, every Objection" that had been hinted at by the Au- dience was obviated, as far as poflible, againft the fecond Re- prefentation ; and as the Comedy is not without Merit in the Stile, Sentiment, and Moral, it re- ceived the Approbation of five fuccefllve Audiences. THE TUTOR, a Farce of two Acts, the Author unknown. This Performance was treated as it deferved : the firft Night's ' Au- dience gave it ftrong Marks of Disfavour but the fecond feem'd to [ H I to repeat it with fuch Violence, that nothing but a Promife from the Stage, that it Ihould be acted no more after that Night, could procure it a Hearing. PHARNACES, a ferious Opera, written by Mr. Hulk and fet to Mufic by Mr. Bates j well receiv'd, but neglected and performed fix Nights to thin Audiences. I will venture to make this Obfervation upon ferious Operas that notwithflanding the great Succefs fome have met with, and the Encouragement given by People of Fafhion to that exotic Entertainment (whe- ther exhibited in Italian or Englijh) they are not, or ever can be adapted to the Englijh Tafte, in general. THE CHOICE, a Farce of two Ads, got up for the Benefit of Mrs. Tates* Yates. This little Comedy (for it could with no Degree of Pro- priety be call'd a Farce) was well acted, and well received -, and as it has never fince appear'd, either on the Stage, or in Print, it was fuppofed to be fent forth, at that Time, to ferve Mrs. Yates* and try its Worth. [ 6 5 J COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE APPEARS to be, at this Juncture, the Seat of Mufic and Englijh Operas : under the Management of the late Mr. Ricb> it was juflly diftinguilhed for Pantomimes and now, under the Direction of his Son-in-Law, Mr. Beard, Mufic muft have its Reign, and be properly fupported by the beft Englijh Singers ; the firft new mufical Performance this Year was, Nov. 1764. THE GUARDIAN OUTWITTED, a Comedy of five Ads, inter- fperfed with Songs for all the Characters. Dottor [ 66 ] Dofler Artie, (who is undoubtedly one of our firft Geniufes in Mufic) was the Compofer of the Songs, but denies being the Author of this ftrange, medley Per- formance: His appearing the firft- Night at the Harpficord, to attend his Mufic, as- ufual, brought this Difgrace upon him, and the Minor Critics, upon this Informa- tion alone, abufed him unmercifully in Epiftles, Epigrams, Songs, and Pam- phlets. NO ONE's ENEMY but his OWN, a Comedy of three Acts, and, WHAT WE MUST ALL COME TO, a Comedy of two Acts ; it was faid, that Party interfered to condemn thefe two Pieces very undefervedly. MIDAS, a Burlefque Opera. This Opera was written, and the Mu- fic [ 67 ] fic for the Songs chofen and adapted by Mr. O'Hara, a Gen- tleman of Ireland, of great Tafte and Knowledge in Mufic : It was firft performed at the Theatre Royal in Dublin, with Applaufe ; which has been con- firmed by the Audiences of London. ABSENT MAN, a Farce, by Mr. Bicker- Jlaff. This little Piece met with a favourable Reception. SHEPHERD'S ARTIFICE, a Paftoral. ALEXANDER THE LITTLE, a Farce. Very little known. SPANISH LADY, a Ballad Farce. This little Piece was written by Mr. Hull, and perform'd on his own Benefit Night and (as a Proof f 68 ] Proof it has Merit) feveral Times fince with Succefs. SUMMER'S TALE, a Comedy of three Ads. The Story, or Fable of this little Comedy is pleafing, and the Songs well written j which was the general Opinion of the Audience, who gave it a favourable Reception : And furely the Author's modeft Mot- toj Vox ef prxterea nihil muft difarm the critical Reader from exercifing his Severity in the - Clofet. THE MAID OF THE MILL, a Dra- . matic Opera, by Mr. Bickerftaff* This Gentleman chofe and adapted the Mufic to his Songs, and chiefly from Italian Bur- lettas. The Parts were all ex- tremely [ 69 ] tremely well perform'd, and prov'd an agreeable Entertain- ment: It was receiv'd by the Audience with univerfal Ap- plaufe, and had a Run of Thirty-five Nights to crowded Houfes. [ 7 3 DRUR Y-L AN E THEATRE. kthOclober 1765. DAPHNE AND AMINTOR, a Dramatic Paftoral. This was the Oracle, brought on the Stage by Mrs. Cibber, about fifteen Years ago, and tranflated by her from the French. As me per- formed this little elegant Piece, it was acted feveral Times at both Theatres, and at the Theatre Royal in Dublin, with great Suc- cefs. Mr. Bickerftaff fiw it lately on the French Stage at Paris, and was charm'd with it 1 there : Says in his Preface, that he [ 7i ] he has tranflated and enriched it with ieveral Songs for all the Characters, adapted to Italian Mufic and by the happy Fi- gure and excellent Performance of Mifs Wright (now Mrs. Arne) this Piece was exhibited Twenty- three Nights with great Succefs. 7th December. THE PLAIN DEALER, a Comedy alter'd from Wycloerly -by Mr. Bickerjlaff, The Plain Dealer of Wycherly was efteem'd the Chef cTceuvre of all his Works, and a conftant Stock Play 'till thefe laft Thirty Years : But, to the Honour of the prefent Age, no fuch grofs Scenes as are in the Old Play will be endured : Mr. Bickerjlaff has not only made this 1 Comedy I 7* ] Comedy decent, but entertain* ing : Yet the feverer Critics fay (but unjuftly) it is like reform- ing an old Libertine, and leaving him dull and infipid ; yet, furely, it is a public Benefit to correct the Vices of an agreeable Libertine, though the Operation in fome Meafure might lower hia Spirits. 6th Jan. 1766. THE HERMIT, or HARLEQUIN at RHODES, a new Panto- mime compofed by Mr. Love, &c. This Exhibition was much followed, and brought feveral crowded Houfes, and the Succefs chiefly owing to the Reports our News-papers were, at that Time, daily filled with, of the French wild [ 73 ] wild Beaft, that was devouring (and yet purfued by) Children. This wild Beaft was happily introduced in this Pantomime, purfued by Boys, led on by a Frenchman. At laft the Beaft made his Re-entry, and ran a- crofs the Stage with the poor Frenchman in his Mouth, to the great Joy of the Pit, Box, and Galleries. 20th Feb. THE CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE, a Comedy, by George Colman y and David Garrick, Efqrs ; per- formed with great Applaufe, and continues to this Day a favourite Comedy. What lefs can be ex- pected from the Dramatic part- nerfhip of two fuch Geftiufes ? - Vol. III. E The ; [ 74 ] The Part, of Lord Ogleby was plan'd and written by Mr. Garriek, and intended to be perform'd by himfelf.-- But after his Travels into Italy for his Health, and his Return after two Years to the Stage, having determined to -perform in no ' New Play, becaufe the Run might: be attended with Fatigue and Inconvenience to him Pie very v/iiely gave up this capital Part to Mr. King a Comedian of rifing Merit , who, by his excellent Performance of Lord Ogleby, eftablifhed his Reputation. FALSTAFFs WEDDING, a Comedy, by Mr. Kemick, brought on the Stage by Mr. Love, on his cwn Benefit Night, and well receive/! [ 75 ] received by the Audience. The Critics allowed the Character of Sir John Falftaff was well imi- tated , and the Stile and Manner of Sbakefpeare, better fupport- ed in feveral Scenes, than by any Author that has . made the fame Attempt. THE HOBBY HORSE, a Farce of two Acts. This Hobby Horfe, not proving the Hobby Horie of the Audience, it was a&ed that Night only. E2 76 1 COVEN T-G A R D E N THE AT R E. Feb* i j 66. THE DOUBLE MISTAKE, a Co- medy, by Mrs. Griffith. This Play, met with a reverfed Fate of her Platonic Wife : Her private Friends advifed her very prudently to conceal herfelf. And though it was favourably received by thofe who prefided at that Theatre as Managers, the Actors who were caft into the Parts, gave it an unfavour- able Report, a Fault they ought never to commit , however, the firft [ 77 ] firft Night's Audience differed with them in Opinion, and gave it great Applaufe ! The Story is pleafing, and the Ex- pectation, by- two or three lucky Incidents, kept up to the Ca- taftrophe: -It was performed Twelve Nights, with general Approbation. THE ACCOMPLISHED MAID. This mufical Performance is a Tranilation of the celebrated Burletta, performed with great Succefs at the Opera Houfe called la Buona-Fvdiuola which this Tranflator has transformed into the Acccrrplifoed Maid, but this Alteration in Title and Stile of Mufic, &c. foon procured a colder Reception from the Pub- E 3 lie [ 7 ] He in Covert-Garden, than the Good Girl met with in the Hay- Market. THE SCHOOL FOR GUARDIANS, a Comedy. This Comedy is taken from" two French Plays, by a Gen- tleman who has written feveral fuccefsful Pieces : But this Performance met with a cool Reception. THE PERPLEXITIES, a Comedy, and FAIRY FAVOUR, both by Mr. Hull. The Fairy Favour is a little mufical Paftoral, taken from Shakefpeare's Fairies, and intend- ed as a Compliment to the young Prince of Wales, at his firft go- ing to Covent-Garden Theatre. L 79 ] LOVE IN THE CITY, a Dramatic Opera. This Performance met with an unfavourable Reception. The Audience expected better Enter- tainment from trie Author of the Maid of the Mill. N. B. The Entrance of this Year 1766", was made remarkable by the Death of two illuflrious Pcfonages in the Drama, Mrs. Cither, and Mr. Quin. On the 30th of January, Mrs. Cibber departed this Life. She was born in the Year 1715. Every Age, or Half Century, has their favourite, celebrated A<5lor, or Actrefs : Mrs. Cibber very juftly enjoyed that Hap- pinefs for more than twenty Years ; the firft Part this Actrefs appeared in was Zara, then tranflated from Voltaire, by E 4 Aaron [ So ] Aaron Hill, Efq , in the Year 1734 and at her firft Appearance became a favourite with the Public. As I had been very early acquainted with the Famines of the Ames and the Cibbers I knew her Marriage with Mr. Thecphilus Cibber was very much againft her Inclina- tion ; and the. Misfortunes that attended it (of which the Public were at the Time fully informed) interrupted her Progrefs in the Bufinefs of the Stage for many Years : But for the lafl Twenty, fhe remained in the quiet Poffeffion of all the capital Characters, and in the Hearts of the enamoured Pub- lic ! Her Voice was mufically plaintive in Parts of Softnefs and Diftrefs, fhe ap- peared truly amiable r without being re- markable for Beauty, Gentility, 0? Elegance ef Drefs. In C 8' ] In the School for Lovers, fhe performed the Part of C % mull die with him ! This Truth is feelingly convey'd in the following Lines, which were introduced E 6 in [ 4 ] in the Prologue, written by Mr. Garrick, to the Comedy of the Clandeftine Marriage, which, at the fame Time, bears the bell: Teftimony to the Merits of his Contem- poraries, Mr. Quin and Mrs. Cibber The Painter f dead, yet ftill he charms the Eye ; While England lives, his Fame can never die : But He, who ftruts his Hour upon the Stage, Can fcarce extend his Fame to half an Age ; Nor Pen, nor Pencil, can the Aftor fave, The Art, and Artift, mare one common Grave. O let me drop, one tributary Tear, On poor Jack Falstaff's Grave, and Juliet's Bier! You, to their Worth, muft Teftimony give ; 'Tis in your Hearts alone their Fame can li\e. Still as the Scenes of Life will fhift away, The ftrongTmpreflions of their Art decay : f Hogarth whofe excellent Paintings of Marriage a la -Mode, gave the Hint to the Authors of the CJandeJliet Marriage, [ 85 ] Your Children cannot feel what you have known ; They'll boaft of Quins and Cibbers of their own. The greateft Glory of our happy Few, Is to be felt, and be approv'd by Ton. Mrs. Cibber was privately buried in Weji- minfier Abbey, and her Pall fupported by Ferfons of great Diftinction. In the March following died at Bath (to which Place he had wifely retired for many Years,) the celebrated Mr. James Quin, in the Seventy-third Year of his Age. If the complete Performance of one fingle Part in the long Lift of the Drama, can give an Actor a juft Title to that Epithet, he enjoyed it with great Truth, for he was inimitable in the Character of Falftaff. After Mr. Booth left the Stage in the Year 1728, Mr. Quin became the principal Actor in Tragedy ; and a few Years bring- ing a new Set of Auditors to the Theatre, 5 who t 86 I who never faw a better, he was foon efta- blifhed.the moft eminent of his Profeffion : But I muft here obferve, though I have only mentioned his Falstaff as inimit- able, that he had great Merit in the Spanijh Fryer Comus the Duke in Meafure for Meafure Mfop^ and fome other Parts- of that Cad. Thus he. remained 'till the Appearance of Mr. Garrick !. When that , Star fhone forth in the Theatrical Hcmif- phere, Mr. Ruin's Luftre, as a Tragedian, foon began to diminifh y and his Manner to be called antiquated though he was net above the Age of Fifty ! And thus by him the Old Stile of Acting (as die Phrafe is) came into Dilrepute. Mr. Quin, who was famous for Bons Mots when he found Mr. Garrick was fol- lowed, and brought crouded Houfes, faid, That Garrick was a new Religion; Whit- field [ 87 1 field was followed for a Time, but they would all come to Church again. Mr. Garrick gave him the Retort cour- teous, in the following Reply : '* Tope->uin, who damns all Churches but his own, " Complains that Herefy, corrupts the Town f " That Whitfield-Garrick has mifled the Age, " And taints the found Religion ofthe Stage; " Schifm, he cries, has turn'd the Nation's Brain, " But, Eyes will open, and to Church again !" Thou great Infallible ! forbear to roar, Thy Bulls, and Errors, are rever'd no more ; When Doftrines meet with general Approbation, It is not Herefy , but Reformation. I was feldom abfent from Mr. Ruin's principal Performances in the prime Part of his Life from Thirty to Forty. At that Age whatever Genius the Aftor is blefs'd with, muft be fully brought forth. He was then at the Head of the Lincoln's Inn Fields Company, where he generally per- [ 88 J perform'd his principal Characters to in- different Houfes. And indeed when he appeared in the fame Parts that were then acted at Drury-Lane Theatre, by Mr. Booth* it ceafed to be a Wonder ! Now, if Mr. >uin flood thus with the Town when in his prime of Life, I fhall leave my Reader to judge how capable he was in his Decline, of conveying a Sample of any old Manner of Acting, but his own ! If Mr. Booth was unable to defcribe Mr. Betterton\ Excellence (as I have heard him fay) I am fure Mr. >uin was in no Degree able to give the leaft Shadow of Mr. Booth's I Some of Mr. Ruin's Friends with whom he fometimes correfponded, have afTured me, he was deficient in Literature, and laugh'd at thofe who read Books, by way of Enquiry after Knowledge, faying, He read Men f[ 9 :] .Men-r-that the World was the beft Book. If this was true, what an amazing Strength of natural Parts mult he have been blefs'd .with, to be able to make the Figure he did as a Man of Senfe and Genius ! From the Death of Mr. Booth, in the Year 1733, to the powerful Appearance of Mr. Qarrkk (a Period. of ten or twelve Years) Mr. Quin was the firft in the Pro- feflion, and then began to make his.For-^ tune; I am well informed his Power was fo great as to demand 800 Pounds a- Year Salary ; which Mr. Rich was then obliged to comply with ! No wonder that ,at fuch a fortunate Juncture, he collected # Sumfufncient to enable him to retire to the full Enjoyment of all the Comforts and Bleflings of this Life, for which no Man had an higher ;Reli(h. ;He was an excellent [ 9 1 excellent Companion, when kept within proper Bounds and died with the Cha- racter of a fenfible, witty, honed Man. Though it is foreign to the Defign of this Work to have any Thing to do with Biography, yet I am tempted to introduce the following very remarkable Anecdote, relating to this great Actor, which has been lately fent me, attefted by two worthy Gentlemen, to whom Mr. Quin related if fome Time before his Death. His Mother was a reputed Widow, w i had been married to a Perfon in the me cantile Way, and who left her in Irelan to purfue fome Traffick, or particular Bu- finels in the Weft Indies. He had been abfent from her near feven Years, without having received any Letter, or the leait Information about him. He was given out to be dead, which Report was univer- fally [ 9' ] Tally credited j fhe went into Mourning for him; and fome Time after a Gentleman whole Name was htm, who had an Eftate of a Thoufand Pounds a- Year, paid his AddrefTes to her, and married her. She bore him a Son and no Couple appeared more happy .but in the midft of their Happinefs the firft Hufband returned claim'd his Wife and had her. Mr. uin retired with his Son and at his Death left him his Eftate: But the Heir at Lav/, hearing the Story of our Hero foon recovered the Eftate, and left young Quin to fhift for himfelf, in what Manner his Wit and Genius would fuggeft to him ; he foon took to the Stage, where he got both Fame and Fortune -, and counterba- lance by his Talents, the untoward Ac- cidents of his Birth. Before I quit this Subject, I mult infert in [ 92 i] in this Place, that excellent Epigram of Mr. Garrick's, written about a Year before Mr. Quin died ; which, as a true Lover of Wit and Humor, no one admired more, than himfelf. A Soliloquy by Mr. Quin, upon feeing the Body of Duke Humphry, at the Cathedral of St. Albans. A Plague of Egypt's Arts I fay ; Embalm the Dead ! on fenfelefs Clay, Rich Wines and Spices wafte; Like Sturgeon, or like Brawn, ihall I .Bound in a precious Pickle Ke,. Which I caD never tafte ? ( n. ) Let me embalm this Flelh of mine, With Turtle fat', and BourdeauxWine, And fpoil' the Egyptian Trade ! Than good Duke Humphry, happier f> Embalm'd alive ; Old >uuin deign Reader, to be taught, Whate'erthy Strength of Body, Force of Thought, In Nature's happieft Mould, however caft, *' To this Complexion Thou mult come at laft." I hope the Reader will excufe me for dwelling thus long on the Characters of Perfons fo eminent in their Profefiion ; and who, when living, were fo great an Orna- ment to the Stage. [ 94 ] THEATRE ROYAL D R U R Y-L A N E. 25th 08. 1766. THE COUNTRY GIRL, a Co- medy almoft new written by Mr. Garrick, on the Plan of the Country Wife, by Wycherly, and for the fame Reafon al- ready afiigned for altering his Plain Dealer-, though I think in the Country Wife he was Hill a greater Offender ; but it mud be admitted that the Libertines in Wycherlfs Time were allowed greater Latitude than thofe of our Days. 1 believe there are few [ 95 ] few greater Alterations in London^ than thofe which have been made in our Theatres : After the total Demolition of Plays, and Actors, in the Reign of Fanaticifm, and the happy Reftoration, to Mo- narchy and Pleafures, it was no Wonder they changed from the hateful Mode of Oliver's Days, into a contrary Extream. Their Theatres were much fmaller than ours, and proportion'd to their Audiences, which fcldom ex- ceeded feventy Pounds j very few went thither but the young and gay of both Sexes, and the Ladies in Ma/ks, which feemed to be a tacit Confeflion that the Entertainment they expected to meet with was not of the moft modeft [ 9 r modefl Kind. This new written Comedy was well received by the Audience. 1 8 th Nov. NECK or NOTHING, partly from the French^ a. Farce of two Ads, Author unknown. This Piece was performed feven or eight Nights with to- lerable Succefs. The Characters are truly Farcical, and were well performed and yet as the Pub- lic have of late been fo much entertained with intriguing Ser- - vants this Farce did not meet with the Reception it deferved. 2ffl NOV. THE CUNNING MAN, a mufical Paftoral, from the Devin de Village of Roufeau, who alio com- pofed [ 97 ] pofed the Mufic, to attempt at giving the French a better Tafle by uniting Senfe with , ound.~ This Performance was 'acted feven or eight Nights, and met with a cold Reception: But feveral Englijh Gentlemen who faw it in the French Theatre* told me, It was with fome Dif- ficulty they could difcover it to be the fame Piece, that gave them fo much Pleafure at Paris. 13 th Decemb. THE EARL of WARWICK, a Tra- gedy, imitated from the French of Monfieur de le Harpe. The Reverend Gentleman who is the Author of this Play, has given feveral Inflances of his Abilities as an Author ; and in Vol. III. F this [ 9 1 this Tragedy there are many spi- rited Scenes, and popular Strokes of Art, Sufficient to Support it Moil of the capital Characters were well performed particu- larly Margaret of Anjou by Mrs. Fates, who did that Part, and coniequently herfelf eminent- Service. I heard fome of the graver Critics not a little difguit- ed with the Author, for chufing a noted historical Story and va- rying fo much from the Fact: It was indeed great Pity that he found himfelf obliged to alter the Conduct of his Hero in the laft Act, ib much to his Difad- vantage, However, this Tra- gedy was performed ten Nights, and very juitly applauded. [ 99 1 2d Jan. 1767. CYMON, a Dramatic Romance. The Author of Cymon, who has not thought proper to affix his Name to the printed Copy, is well known to be as happy in all hisf Theatrical Corrspofitions, as in his perfonal Performances 011 the Stage ; where he remains to this Day the Nonpareil. This Dramatic Romance gave great Scope to his fruitful Ima- gination* as every Thing within the Powers of Machinery are to" be, done by MagicThe Scene* are extremely fine, fome of them were defigned by a Matter brought from Italy ! But the greateft Scene of all at the End, with its Preparation, was Englifo Fz In. [ 100 ] Invention, and EngUJh Execu- tion : The ConnohTeurs and Critics in Mufic lamented, that, to the great Expence of Scenery, this Author had not added that of employing the beft Compofer for the Songs. This Piece was well performed in all its Parts, and brought feveral crouded Audiences. 21ft Feb. THE ENGLISH MERCHANT, a Comedy, by George Colman, Efq. This Gentleman has given manifeft Proof of his Genius for Theatrical Writings. This Play was performed feveral Nights with great Applaufe. But many Admirers of Mr. Colman as a Dramatic Writer, were forry he adhered [ 101 ] adhered fo clofely to Voltaire-, and wiihed he had done more from himfelf, which would, un- doubtedly, have been better for the Play, the Author, and the Public. 24th March. MEDEA, a Tragedy, by Richard Glover, Efq. This Tragedy was written near forty Years ago , about that Period' I had the Pleafure ,of being introduced to the Ac- quaintance of the ingenious and worthy Author i and then among other of his poetical Pieces, en- joyed the Medea. In the Year 1732, I introduced the Author to the late Mr. Booth to read this Tragedy to him ; who was very F 3 much [ 102 } much charmed with the Senti- ments and the poetical Part but gave his Opinion, that it was an unfit Subject for an Eng- lijh Audience : However Mrs. Porter was applied to, being the only Actrefs then living, that could appear in that capital Cha- racter. But the Accident me met with of breaking her Thigh, by an Overturn in her Chaife, put an End to the Attempt : The Author fome few Years, ago gave this Tragedy to the Prefs ; and Mrs. Tates was en- couraged by fome of he judici- ous Friends to get it up this Year for her Benefit Play : She acquitted herfelf in that difficult Character to Admiration: I know t *3 3 I know feveral Gentlemen of Learning and Genius, that wiih to have the Medea one Night an- nually performed, to fhevv how- well an Englijh Genius can imi- tate, and rival the ancient, Creek Tragedy. DIDO, a Tragedy. A manufcript Copy of this Tragedy was put into my Hands one Day at a Vifit five or fix Years ago, to my late noble Friend Lord Southwell, who mr.de it his Requefl, that I would not only read it with Attention, but return it to his Lordfhip, with my Opinion in Writing. I did not like the Office, but found myfelf obliged to accept it. I foon returned the Copy with a F 4 %ort t 104 ] fhort Letter, as defired, which I remember was to this Effect ; " 'That 1 thought the Author very ' unhappy in the Choice of his ? Fable as every School-Boy was " acquainted with the Fate of " Dido and iEneas ; that there 4t was Merit in the Stile and Sen- " timent, which would have ferved " a better Subjeft" Mr. Holland, fome Time after, employed his Influence with the Managers, to confent to his getting up this Tragedy for his annual Benefit Play; The Favour was great; and none but a capital Performer could afk it, or expect to fucceed ; the Play was well acted Mrs. Tates and Mr. Powell were the Vide [ *5 ] Dido and Mneas. Mr. Holland (as the Profits of the Night were for himfelf ) took a fecond Cha- racter ; and (as I have already obferved) the Tragedy having fome Merit, the Audience gave it a favourable Reception ; it was performed once or twice, foon after, for the mutual Be- nefit of the Managers and the Author : But the Seafon was too far advanced for any fuccefs- ful Confequences. N. B. The ingenious Author of this Tragedy and the Regifter Office, being by Profeflion a Rope Maker I fhall clofe this Subject (and the Seafon) with the following Witty Prologue, which was fpoken by Mr. King, and received with very great Applaufc . F 5 ! . ) i will fay ; I I pray. J PROLOGUE to DIDO, (Written by Mr. Garrick.) A Rope Maker a Poet ! write a Play ! O hang the Blockhead wicked Wits Before you turn him off" a "Word Genius is not to Place, or State fix'd down, But flies at Random, all about the Town ; Now at Whitehall, now at St. James's fmiles j Then whiflcs to Wapping, or to Broad St. Giles : let not Prejudice, rank Weed, take Root; Which may of Genius, choak the faireft Fruit j If none but Gentlemen high-born muft write, 1 fear we foon fhould wim you all good Night : Shake/pear, and John/on, our Dramatic Lords, Did they amufe themfelves with twilling Cords ? Were they fine Gentlemen? O no Old Ben Was famous for his Trowell, and his Fen ; With Mortar, and the Mufe, he pafs'd his Days, And built good Walls, before he built good Plays.. Shake/pear, a Genius born ! his Taile was fuch, Too exquifite ! -He lov'd fat Buck too much ! And he whofe matchlefs Mufe can foften Rocks, Fled to Parnaflus to avoid the Stocks. Now [ 'o; ] Now to the Rope Maker I come again Who having fpun much Hemp, now fpins his Brain j Thi* Hmfen Produce any Teft will fland ; This, of his Brain, may prove a Rope of Sand; But fhould this Spinning of his Head deceive him, This Hempen Manufacture may relieve him ! Had I but Time to give my, Fancy fcope, I'd fhew, h w tragedy was like a Rope, How feveral Parts well twilled, make a Whole To curb the Paffions, and to melt the Soul. The Cattfe of Juftiee each alike befriends, Both falutary Means for moral Ends ; Thus the moil crabbed Cfytit plainly fees, That making Rofesy is writing Tragedies. And mould he fail to pleafe ppor, fcribbling Elf O then he makes a Rope to hang himfelf. F6 [ io8 ] DRUR Y-L A N E THEATRE. 23d Oftober 1767. PEEP behind the CURTAIN, or NEW REHEARSAL, a Co- medy of two Acts performed feveral Nights with great Ap- . plaufe. The ingenious Author had certainly done fomething more than Peep behind the Cur- tain, for Nobody feems to be better acquainted with the Hu- mours that pafs there than him- fdf. 5th Decern. THE WIDOW WIFE, a Comedy, by Mr. Kenrick^ performed fourteen [ i9 3 fourteen Nights, and well re-? ceived. THE ELOPEMENT. The machinery Part of this Pantomime was in- vented by Mr. Majfink from the Theatre Royal in Dublin : Thefe Scenes were fhowy, and well ex- ecuted ; and the comic Part con- dueled with more Humor than we generally fee in thofe En- tertainments. Jan. 6th 1768. THE COUNTESS of SALISBURY, a Tragedy, by Hall Hartjlone, Efq. a Student of Trinity Col- lege Dublin^ and was acted fe- veral Nights at the Theatre Royal in that City with Ap- plaufe. When the Manager of that Theatre appeared the fecond 1 Summer < .[ ] Summer in Connection with Mr. Foote (who had then new-built his Theatre under a Royal Pa- tent) he perform'd this Tragedy with repeated Succefs Mr. Barry and Mrs. Dancer being en- gaged the following Seafon at Drury-Lane Theatre, they per- formed the Countefs of Sali/bury there ; but the more critical Winter-Audiences received it with lefs Warmth. 23d. FALSE DELICACY, a Comedy, by Mr. Hugh Kelly. This is anotheT of the grave fentimental Plays called a Co- medy, which is very properly, as . well as humouroufly, banter'd in the Prologue the Author . (there) (there) calls it fupporting the Dig- nity of Writing, and the Chaftity of the Stage which ought to be the Province and Duty of the Tragic Mufe but furely the Comic Lady mould ridicule the Foibles of Mankind, and make us laugh at thtir pleafant Situations. This Play was well performed, and received with univerfal Applaufe. The Fable is interefting : The Character of Cecil is well drawn, and has an Air of Originality that does Cre- dit to the Author ; Mrs. Harley was well fupported by Mrs. Dancer and the happy Vein of Humour thrown into the Epi- logue, was fo well executed by this Actrefs that even a weak Play I "2 ] Play would have been ftrength- ened by it. 27th Felt. ZEN OBI A, a Tragedy, by Arthur Mur- phy, Efq. This Tragedy had very great Succefs, and is allow'd to have many true Dramatic Requifites ; the Story is in 'Tacitus^ and the celebrated Crebitton has wrote a French Tragedy on this Subject, of which our Author owns in his Prologue, he has availed himfelf. [ "3 ] COVE NT-GARDEN THEATRE. 14th September 1767. FROM the Death of Mr. Rich in De- cember 1762, to the above G Period, this Theatre was under the Direction of Mr. Beard, his Son-in-law, by the Ap- pointment of the Widow, and the reft of the Parties concerned (Mr. Rich leaving (befides his Widow) four Daughters all then living and married, and an equal Dividend to be made amongft them) Mr. Beard being a Man of a refpectable Cha- racter, and bred to Mufic he very na- turally and judicioufly exerted his Powers to diftinguiih that Theatre by mufical Performances, as his PredeceiTor had done by { "4 ] by Pantomime : In fhort, as he had no eminent Actors, and Mr. Garrick in his Zenith at Drury-Lane Theatre, there was no other, or wifer Ccurfe to take, and therefore the bell Singers and mufical Performers were engaged :- Mr. Rich left them the Coronation t<> begin with, which brought feveral crouded Houfes : then ap- peared Love in a Village Artaxerws the MaidtftbeMill) &c, the great Succefs that attended all thefe mufical Performances, fuificicntly juftified the Conduct of the Manager \ and thus it continued for four very profperous Years I believe the fifth began to abate : That Hint, and another (more fenfibly felt) Mr. Beard's deaf>iefs> with which he was then troubled to a mor- tifying Degree, for a mufical Performer, brought the Sale of the Patent once more forward, which Purchafe was completed, and [ "5 ] and Sixty thousand Pounds paid down in Augufi 1767 by four very enterprifing young Men, efpecially as three of them were to be Gentlemen at large and two unacquainted with the Bufinefs and Con- duel: of a Theatre. Thus general' d was this Theatre opened on the above Day with the Comedy of the Rehear/alt under the Management of Mr. Colman, Mr. Harris, Mr. Rutherford, and Mr. Powell. But the three laft Gentlemen had the Prudence to aflign over the Con- duct of the Stage to Mr. Colman, who, as a Scholar, and a fuccefsful Dramatic Au- thor, had the beft Right to it. The firft new Performance exhibited this Seafon, was, Nov. LYCIDAS, an Elegy, fet to Mufic by Mr, Jackfon of Exeter well executed, [ n6 ] executed, and well intended by him, as a Condolance on the much-lamented Death of the Duke of York it was per- formed the Night after his Fu- neral and that Night only. This fine Poem was wrote by Milton^ in his Bloom of Youth and Genius, occafioned by the Death of a Companion of great Worth and Merit, who was drowned in his Pafiage to Ire- land. But any mournful Ditty mull be unfit for a Theatrical Enter- tainment to follow a Play ; where no Subject but Mirth of Shew ! and no Mufic but the Ballad or facetious Burletta, can ftand any Chance for Succefs. [ "7 ] THE IRISH FINE LADY, a Farce, by Mr. Maclin. This fine Lady was fo ill ufed by the Audience the firft Night, that fhe never appeared after- wards. THE OXONIAN in TOWN, a Co- medy of two Acts, by George Colman, Efq. This little Comedy was vio- lently oppofed by a Party, at whom the Satire of this Piece was fuppofed to be levelled : But as they were not well fup- ported, and too well known, they failed in their Attempt , it was then perform'd fe veral Nights with Succefs. THE ROYAL MERCHANT, an Opera. It [ "8 J It was faid in the Bills, and Title Page of the printed Copy, founded on Beaumont and Fletcher. It was founded indeed as every Scene was taken (with fome little Alteration) from their Beggar's Bufh -, and occafional Songs added where the Editor thought proper. As much Merit as can be claimed for fome very pretty Sonnets is due to the Author of them. 25th Jan. 1768. THE GOOD NATUR'D MAN, a Comedy, by Dotlor Goldfmitb. The low Scenes in this Co- medy, though naturally (perhaps too naturally) written, were dif- lik'd by the Audience the firft Night, and after that omitted in 3 the [ "9 } the Performance j fbme of the Characters are well drawn, par- ticularly that of Croker (an Ori- ginal) and happily fuked to the Powers of the Actor. Some of the Incidents are truly Comic, which fecured deferved Succefs to this Comedy ; with all its Errors it appeared to be written by a Man of Genius, not fuffici- ently pratifed in Dramatic Writ- ing j the Public is therefore in great Expectation of having a complete Comedy from this Author. KING LEAR, altered by George Caiman, Efq. The Intent of this Alteration was, to clear this celebrated Tragedy from the Love Scenes of Edgar [ 120 J Edgar and Cordelia, which were introduced into this Play by the Poet Laureat Mr. Tate. This Love Bufinefs has been ever ridi- culed by the Connoifleurs and Admirers of Shake/pear ; and yet when the above Alteration was performed, the Play-going Peo- ple, in general, feemed to lament the Lofs of thofe Lovers in the Reprefentation. LIONEL and CLARISSA, a Dramatic, Comic Opera, by Mr. Bickerjiaff. This Performance met with a favourable Reception from the Public, but in a much inferior Degree than the Love in a Vil- lage, or Maid of the Mill, of this Author. On the 23d of May 1768, died Mr. Palmer, in the Fortieth Year of his Age. [ 121 ] Since the Days of the celebrated Mr. IVilks, mod of our genteel Comedies have fufFered by the bofs of Actors, to fupply the Characters of well-bred Gentlemen : And as fo few well-fafhion'd, accompliuYd, young Men have offered themfelves to the Stage fince that Period, the Lofs even of Mr. Palmer was not eafily fupplied. The Mention of Mr. Wtlks in the fine Gentlemen, reminds me of a Criticifm I have lately heard, viz. A certain Minutiae in his Action, that he was guilty of inmoft of his principal Characters as his Sir Charles Eajy, in the Scene where he is fitting with his Wife, in a Converfation not very agreeable to him and to fhew his Nesli- gence, he always in one particular Speech was altering the Role of his Stocking ; " The Man (fays the Critic) who could Vol. III. G at C 122 J " act fo mechanically, mult certainly want " Genius." The Charge, I believe, is true-^He did fo and it might be a Proof of his real Want of Genius but he had an agreeable Form, and by Nature (improved by Art) the moll eafy, elegant, Deportment that ever Actor appeared with ! He played feveral of the tender Parts of Tragedy with Succefs, though with great Singularity ; but from his Energy, and exquifite Feelings, he never failed to make his Audience feel him, effectually. I cannot help, in this Place, and on this Occafion, reflecting on the Lofs the Stage had the Misfortune to fuflain by the Ab- fence of Mr. O'Brien ! who was the neareil the Mark I have feen (or ever expect to fee) in his eaiy, elegant Deportment in genteel Comedy. In [ m ] In the Month of Auguft following, the Stage fuffered an almoft irreparable Lofs, by the Death of that excellent Aclrefs, Mrs. Pritchard, at the Age of Fifty- feven. She was engaged by the Managers of Drury-Lane Theatre in the Year 1732 : but very foon after that Theatre (by Pur- chafe) falling into other Hands, great Re- volutions and Diftrefs enfued, and remained fo fome Time :~When the Patent (by a fecond Purchafe) came into the Hands of Charles Fleetwood, Efq- fomething like Regularity and Decorum was reftored to the Stage, and Performers of Merit began to come forward j in that Lift Mrs. Prit- thard appeared in the Character of Rofalind> and gave univerfal Satisfaction to many delighted Audiences. Soon after fhe re- vived and exhibited the Charms of the G 2 departed [ i2 4 ] departed Qldfield, in the Maria, in Gibber's Nonjuror Her excellent Performance of that Character gave her the full PorTefiion of all the capital Parts in our genteel Co- medies. And though (he was well received, and juftly applauded in all, yet her chief Excellence certainly lay in the natural, fprightly, and what are called the higher Characters in Comedy : They who have feen her in Rofalind, Mrs. Sullen, Lady Brute, Efiifania, Clarinda, and Beatrice, &c. will bear Teflimony to what I fay : In the laft Part particularly, and in Clarinda, I have feen her Ranger and Benedict hard put to it (and they were thought not to want Spirit) to return the Ball of Repartee to her. It may perhaps- be faid to the Praife of Mrs. Pritchard, that me could not enter into the Characters of Affectation with the fame Degree of Excellence, as me did thole [ "5 J thofe of genuine, fprightly, unaffected Na- ture. Though fhe could do nothing ill, yet there always feemed a Reftraint upon her Genius, when fhe appeared in fuch Parts as Clarijfa in the Confederacy^ and Lady Dainty in the Double Gallant. In them fhe only fhewed her great Knowledge in her Bufi- nefs, but in the others I have mentioned, her Genius fhone out in the greateft Splendor. I am now to fpeak of Mrs. Pritcbard's Abilities in Tragedy , and as my Defign through this whole Work, is to be impar- tial, I will not fcruple to declare, that though fhe was always defervedly applauded in Fragedyy and has performed in all the principal Characters with great Reputation, yet her Merit there was only not equal to the Powers fhe exhibited in Comedy : In G 3 this [ "6 ] this fhe never had, in the other fhe might have, a Superior , and yet, in the laft Cha- racter fhe play'd, Lady Macbeth, and many others, we may long wilh before we mall fee her outdone. Mrs. Pritcbard was Thirty-feven Years on the Stage-, and though for the laft Twenty, me has been in Figure more than what the French call en bon point, yet md never loft her Eafe and Vivacity. When young, fhe was of a Aim Make, and though not a Beauty, fhe had a moft agreeable Face, with very expreffive Eyes ! and the moft articulate harmonious Voice that ever Woman was bleft with. Her Conducl and Movement on the Stage was eafy, and ele- gant ! in private Life it was exemplary ! and worthy Imitation ! She came to the Stage a married Woman young and handfome ! and very foon had a large Fa- mily C "7 ] mily of Children, whom me brought up with the utmoft Care and Attention ; and to the great Honour of the Theatre, and the Profeflion of an Actrefs, me went to the Grave, with an irreproachable, unble- mifhed Character. I cannot quit this Subject without pre- fenting my Reader, with the laft Lines me fpoke on the Stage on her Benefit Night; Jvlacbeth^ which Mr. Garrick performed out of Refpect to her, and was crouded with the firft People of Diftinction, at ad- vanced Prices and calPd her farewel Epilogue. " The Curtain dropt my mimic Life is paft " That Scene of f Sleep and Terror was my laft. " Could I in fuch a Scene my Exit make, " When ev'ry real Feeling was awake I " Which beating here, fuperior to all Art, " Burfts in full Tides from a moll grateful Heart. \ The laft Scene of Lady Macbeth. G 4. " I now [ 8 ] ' I now appear myfelf diftrefs'd, difmay'd,. " More than in all the Characters I've play'd ; " In acted Paflion, Tears muftfeem to flow ; " But I have that within that pajjeth Show. " Before I go, and this lov'd Spot forfake, *' What Gratitude can give, my Wifbes take; " Upon your Hearts may no Affliction prey, ** Which cannot by the Stage be chas'd away j ** And may the Stage to pleafe each virtuous Mind, " Grow ev'ry Day more moral, more refin'd : " Refin'd from Grofihefs not by foreign Skill ; " Weed out the Poifon but be English dill ! f* To all my Brethren whom I leave behind, " Still may your Bounty as to me be kind ; " To me, for many Years your Favours flow'd ; " Humbly receiv'd on fmall Defert beftow'd } " For which I feel what cannot be expreft " Words are too weak, my Tears muft fpeak the reft." [ i2 9 I D R U R Y-L A N E THEATRE. 3d OR. 1768. THE PADLOCK, a Dramatic Opera, of two Acts, by Mr. Bicker- staff. This Author in his Advertife- ment printed before the Opera, tells the Reader, he took the Fable, with all the Characters, unaltered, from a Spanijh Novel, wrote by the celebrated Cer- vantes^ Author of Don Quixote: This little Opera was received with general Applaufe, and per- formed Fifty-three Nights to G 5 crouded crouded Houfes. It was well acted ; and without the Aid of Mufic, would have been an agreeable petite Piece but with the Mufic (which was happily adapted, and well executed) it proved the moft pleafing Enter- tainment. Mrs. Arne's Youth, and innocent Appearance, added to her powerful Voice, and en- gaging manner of Singing, gave nniverfal Delight and the Part of Mungo by Mr. Dibdin, is as complete a low Character as ever was exhibited. It would be doing Injuftice to this Genius, not to obferve, that he was alfo the Compofer of the well-adapt- ed Mufic, to this very fuccefsful Performance. C 131 ] xyxh. November. THE HYPOCRITE, a Comedy, taken from Mo Here and Cibber, by the fame Author. Mr. Cibber * about the Year 17 17, brought his Comedy of the Nonjuror on the Stage, taken from the Tartuffe of Moliere which the Editor fays in his Preface to the Hypocrite, " Being written to expofe a Party, " it was no longer interejling, be- " caufe the Folly, and Roguery it " defigned to ridicule no longer " exifted" The Nonjuror was an acknowledged Government Play, written to expofe that particular Set of Men, who called them- felves Protestants, and yet refufed to take the Oaths of Allegiance to George the G6 Firftl [ *3 2 1 Firjl ! upon the Eftabliihment of the Hanover Family on the Englift Throne ! The formidable Rebellion in Scotland, in the firft Year of the Reign of that King, by the Papijis, Jacobites, Nonjurors, and Tories of thofe Days, gave a Fable to Cibber, and a future Fortune, by the Suc- cefs of this Comedy; which was greatly fupported by the Whigs, xhtfirm Friends to the Protejiant Succejfwn ! That Author obferves, in his excellent Apology for his Life, printed in the Year 1 740, " That the Bread he then eat as Poet Laureat, was owing to his writing the Nonjuror ! But as thofe abfurd People are no more and as the Defcendants of thofe Tories, who drew the Sword againft the firft King of this Family, are now become great Loyalists ! I agree with my [Friend Mr. Bickerstaff, that the evil [ J 33 I evil Deeds of thofe Days fhould be for- gotten \ and all Party-Plays (except in an Exigence like that) fhould be exploded, and for ever banifhed from the Stage. Mr. Bickerjiaff 'has preferved the Maria of Cibber (which is certainly one of the moft agreeable Coquets that ever was drawn) and two or three other Characters entire : As for thofe he has added, as they are meant to expofe the prefent Race of Hypocrites, they deferved the Succefs they met with, as they were well acted, and well received by many Audiences this Seafon. This Author has thought proper in his Preface, to pay a particular Compliment to Mrs. Abington, and Mr. King, for their excellent Performances. I remember the original Mrs. Oldfield in the Maria, and twenty-four Years ago the s [ '34 I the Nonjuror was revived at both Theatres at the fame Time, for the late Mrs. Prit- cbard, and Mrs. Woffington and the Critics were greatly divided in their Opinion of the Maria ! They had both their different Degrees of Excellence. Mrs. Abington has proved herfelf in that difficult Stile of Acting a Genius. And, what is fortunate for her, me had no one to imitate and has no Rival. Decemb. 17th. ZINGIS, a Tragedy, by Alexander Dow, Efq. This Author is a Soldier, as we are told by the following Couplet in the Prologue, written by his Friend Mr. Home. '* But though he liv'd amidft the Cannons Roar, ' Thunder, like yours, he never fac'd before !" From his Station as an Officer in [ 'M ] in the Eafi Indies, he had. an Opportunity to entertain the Public with the agreeable Ac- counts of that Part of the Globe, under the Title of the Hiftory of Hindoftan 5 he alfo employed himfelf in collecting Materials there for this Tragedy of Zingis, which, he fays, is taken from the Taricb Moguliftan, or Hiftory of the Mogul 'Tartars, written in the Perfmn Language. Though in the Sentiment and Diction of this Tragedy, there are many Beauties, yet the Au- dience laboured under fome Perplexities, from the many hard Names, and technical Terms of the Tribes, and the Manners of the People, and Scene of Action were [ '36 ] r were removed too far from us, to be much interefted in their Difaftersj yet under thefe Dis- advantages, this Tragedy met with a favourable Reception, and was performed Twelve Nights, 20th Jan. 1769. WIT's LAST STAKE, a Farce of two Acts, taken from the French, by Mr. King, Comedian, and per- formed feveral Nights with Suc- cefs. Many of the French Comedies (from one of which this Farce is taken) are founded on that me- lancholy Abfurdity, of infirm, dying, old Men, defigning to marry young Women of Fortune but the Incidents in this Piece are [ m 1 are. truly farcical, and greatly- heightened, by this Author's agreeable Performance in it. o Feb. 4th. THE SCHOOL for RAKES, a Co- medy, by Mrs. Griffith. My agreeable Friend has de- dicated this Play to Mr. Garirick r from the beft of Motives, Gra- titude, for the great Services he did her, in furmounting thofe Difficulties Ihe met with in her Fable ! The French Author, Monfieur Beaumarchais> in his Comedy of Eugenie was too nati- onal, and confufed in the Conduit of his Characters, to fland the lead Chance for Succefs on the Englijh Stage and though there may yet remain too much for the morofe .[ >3 ] morofe Critic to employ his fe- verer Talents ; yet the Story is interefting the Dialogue eaiy and the Sentiments elegant and natural. It was performed only thirteen Nights, on Ac- count of the approaching Be- nefits, and every Audience ex- prefied their Approbation a fure Prognoftic of its being (in the Stage Phrafe) a Stock Play. Feb. 23d. THE FATAL DISCOVERY, a Tra- gedy, performed feveral Nights with Succefs greatly owing to the Perfons who acted in it, particularly Mr. and Mrs. Barry , late Mrs. Dancer. The Author of this Tragedy thought proper to con- [ *39 3 conceal himfeJf ; but thofe who are Admirers of Douglas, may eafily find fimilar Strokes of i Nature break out in the Stile and Sentiment. Mrs. Clive, long the Darling of the Public, gave Notice to the Managers of her Defign of quitting the Stage, and taking her Leave of the Town on her ap- proaching Benefit Night which was the 24th of Jpril 1769. Mr. Garrick, on this Occafion, politely offered the Service of his performing that Night, to mew his RefpecT: to fo capital a Performer. The Play was the Wonder, and Lethe. All the Pit was taken into the Boxes, and not half large enough to anfwer the Demand for Places fo numerous, and fo brilliant, was the Audience on that fingular Occafion.- After the Play was over, Mrs. Clive ad- drelfed [ HO J drefied the Audience with the following Epilogue, written by her honourable Friend and Neighbour Mr. Walpole. With Glory fatiate, from the buttling Stage, Still in his Prime and much about my Age, Imperial Charles (if Robertson fays true) Retiring, bade the jarring World adieu ! , Thus I, long honoured with your partial Praife, (A Debt my fwelling Heart with Tears repays ! Scarce can I fpeak forgive the grateful Paufe) Refign the nobleft Triumph, your Applaufe. Content with humble Means, yet proud to own* I owe my Pittance to your Smiles alone ; To private Shades I bear the golden Prize, The Meed of Favour in a Nation's Eyes ; A Nation brave, and fenfible, and free Poor Charles ! how little whencompar'd to me! His mad Ambition had difturb'd the Globe, And fanguine which he quitted was the Robe. Too bleft, cou'd he have dar'd to tell Mankind, When Pow'r's full goblet he forbore to quaff, That confcious of Benevolence of Mind, For thirty Years he had but made them laugh. Ill [ '4' ] 111 was that Mind with fweet Retirement pleas'd, The very Cloifter that he fought he teaz'd ; And fick, at once, both of himfelf and Peace, He died a Martyr to unwelcome Eafe. Here ends the Parallel my generous Friends, My Exit no fuch tragic Fate attends ; I will not die let no vain Panic feize you If I repent I'll come again and pleafe you. Though it was my Intention through this Work, to avoid attempting to draw the Characters of Theatrical Performers, 'till they were in their Graves yet, as I am advancing fo near the End of my own Life, and having no fmall Reafon to fear my old Theatrical Acquaintance may outlive me I am tempted to indulge myfelf in the following Sketch of Mrs. dive's Character, which I hope will not be unacceptable to my Readers, at leaf! to thofe who had not the Delight of feeing her excellent Performances. 1 cannot better C 142 ] better introduce this Lady, than by the following Lines from Milton. ** Hafte thee, Nymph, and bring with thee? " Jeft, and youthful Jollity " Quips, and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, " Nods, and Becks, and wreathed Smiles >m '* Sports, that wrinkled Care derides, '* And Laughter, holding both his Sides." If ever there were a true Comic Genius, Mrs. Clive was one ! She, perhaps, never was equalled in her Walk (as the Stage Term is) we are convinced, never excelled ! She was always inimitable whenever fhe appeared in ftrong mark'd Characters of middle, or low Life her Nell in the Devil to pay was Nature itfelf ! And the Spirit, Roguery, and fpeaking Looks of her Chamber-maids, accompanied with the molt expreflive Voice that ever fatisfied the Ears of an Audience, has made her Lofs irreparable ! 5 As [ H3 ] As ftrong Humour is the great charac- teriltic Mark of an Englijh Comedy, fo was it of this Laughter-loving, Joy-excit- ing Actrefs ! To enumerate the different Parts in which ihe excelled, would be feebly defcribing, what the Audiences have felt fo powerfully her extraordinary Ta- lents could even raife a Dramatic Trifle? provided there was Nature in it, to a Cha- racter of Importance Witnefs the fine Lady in Lethe, and the yet fmaller Part of Lady Fuz, in the Peep behind the Curtain fuch Sketches in her Hands became high finifhed Pictures ! But that I may not be thought too partial to this fa- vourite Comedian, I will venture to afTert, fhe could not reach the higher Characters in Comedy, though fhe was ever excellent in the Affectation of them : When the High-life polifh of Elegance was to appear in [ H4 ] m all the confcious Superiority of a Lady 'fownly, I cannot fay that Mrs. Give would have done Juftice to herfelf, or the Cha- racter but had the leaft affected Imitation of that Character appeared upon the Stage, her Merit would, in Proportion, have been equal to that of Mrs. Oldfield's ! To fhew the great Power of the Actrefs in queftion I fhall give an Inftance of it, where fhe forced the whole Town to follow, and applaud her in a Character, which Hie certainly did not perform as the Author intended it but which could not be re- filled, and gave high Entertainment to thofe Critics, who frankly acknowledged, they were mi fled by the Talents of the Actrefs. The Part I mean is Portia in the Merchant of Venice. In the firfl Place blank Verfe as it wants the Truth and Elegance of Nature, was not uttered by Mrs. [ 45 ] - Mrs. Clive with that delightful Spirit which Hie always gave to Profe ; the Lawyer's Scene of Portia (as it is called) in the fourth Act, was certainly meant by Shake/pear, to be folemn, -pathetic^ and offering the Circumftances mud make it fo and therefore the Comic Finifhing which Mrs. Clive gave to the different Parts of the Pleadings (though greatly- Comic) was not in Character. If therefore this Theatrical Genius was able to entertain, contrary to the Intention of the Author what muft we fay of her, or what Words can defcribe her Merits, when fhe appeared in the Fulnefs of her Powers, and was die very Perfon fhc reprefented ? Vol. HI. H [ 4 6 1 THEATRE ROYAL COVEN T-G ARDEN. 3d Decemb. 1768. CYRUS, a Tragedy, by Mr. Hoole, taken from Metajlafio. This Tragedy was performed feveral Nights with Applaufe ; being greatly fupported by the judicious and fpirited Perform- ances of Mrs. Tales, and Mr. Powell, 'Jan. 14th 1769, TOM JONES, a Dramatic Opera, by Mr. Reed, taken from the cele- brated Novel of that Name, written by the late Henry Field- 5 ' in Z> [ H7 1 ingy Efq. This , Performance met with a favourable Reception. February, THE SISTER, a Comedy, by Mrs: Lennox. This Comedy was fb ill treated by the Audience the firft Night, that the Authorefs had Spirit enough to withdraw it from the Theatre. This Lady has written feveral Pieces that have acknowledged Merit and her own Novel called Henrietta, which was well received by the Public in that Form, was too clofely copied in this Dramatic Performance. I have known feveral of thele Attempts, and mod of them have failed of Succefs : And I will venture to fay, the Marianne H 2 and t 143 ] and Paifan Parvenu of Mari- when he was in London^ about thirty Years ago : The late Mr. Rich (having eftablifhed his Fame and Fortune by Pan- tomime) was at all Times ready to embrace every Opportunity (at any Expence) that offered to ;the Ornament and Advantage of the Harlequinade I He therefore employed this celebrated Italian to paint this expenfive Set of. Scenes but having at that Time no Plan to exhibit them he laid them by, like a wife Ge- neral, as a Corps de referve. The new Manager thought this a proper Time to introduce them, to oppofe the ftrong Cur- rent rent of the Jubilee at the other Houfe. The judicious Public gave them due Praife: The Defign was indeed a noble one but furely the brilliancy of the Colours muft have differed by the Length of Time. 2d December. THE BROTHERS, a Comedy. It muft be confefled the Au- thor of this Comedy, who alfo wrote the Prologue, fet out ra- ther injudicioufly, by a general Attack on all his Brethren of the Sock, as Pirates on the old Englijh Authors, or Dependants on the French Comedies ; and, lit the fame Time, promifed a little too much for himfelf: This, of courfe, brought on the heavieft [ m ] sheavieft Cenfures from his in- cenfed Brethren, who were furc to give him no Quarter. As to the Merits of the Co- medy, I (null only obferve it was performed feveral Nights, and met with. a very favourable Re- ception from the Public. As it is printed, every Reader has a Right 10 judge for himfelf ; tho* there were many Critieifms upon this Comedy, yet the impartial Public had great Hopes of the Author, from the Variety, of Characters in this Play. 15th. AMYNTAS, an Englijh Opera, collected and compiled from the Italian of MetaftaJtO) and the Englijh Tranflation called the Royal Sbep- [ i68 ] Shepherd the Mufic compofed by Mr. Ru/h, from whom feveral Airs are taken; and the reft from the Works of different Mafters : This occafional Medley was ferved up by Signior Tenducci, for his own Benefit Night. 5th Jan. 1770. JHE COURT of ALEXANDER, a Burlefque Opera, of two Acts, by George Alexander Stevens^ the ingenious Author of the cele- brated Lecture upon Heads. The Humour of this Burlef- que was, in general, thought too vulgar and low to be exhibited at a Theatre - Royal in Lon- don* I 169 ] 27th. HARLEQUIN'S JUBILEE, a Panto- mime, by Mr. Woodward. This Entertainment flood very little Chance for Succefs, coming juft after two Exhibi- tions on the Subject of the Ju- bilee, at each Theatre, both of which depended rather too much on Pantomime. Vol. III. [ 170 ] DRURY-L ANE THEATRE. TT's WELL IT's NO WORSE, a X Comedy, by Mr. Bickerftaff. The Author of this Comedy informs us in his Preface, that it was written by Don Pedro Calderon de la Barca and that this very venerable Dramatic Writer was the Grand- father of mod of our Englijh Comedies as the beft French Authors tranflated and pirated from him, and our Englijh Dra- matic Writers from the French ! As to the Comedy before us, it is (I prefume) as well tranf- i lated, t m i lated, improved, and adapted to the Manners of our Stage, as any of thofe Productions it was alfo well acted in all its Parts the Scenes and Decorations complete. And, from the Spi- rit of the Intrigue, and Variety of Comic Incidents, the Atten- tion of the Audience was well kept up to the End i and tho' this Comedy was not as well approved, and fiipported, as many Pieces have been from this Author, it was performed Eleven Nights. To account for the Coldnefs of the Reception it met with from the Public I fhould fay it was occafioned by the Want of due Diftin&ion in the Cha~ I 2 raclers [ ** 1 rafters becaufe as it now (lands, though there is Intrigue in its full Extent, and Variety of Co- mic Incidents, yet the Spectators were not fufficiently interefied in the Confequences that attend any of the Characters ! And a capita], ftriking Scene or two (as in the Wonder^ which is alfo taken from a Spanijh Novel) is wanting in this Comedy. 13 th December. KING ARTHUR, a Dramatic Opera. This celebrated Performance was written by Dryden, and theMufic compofedbyPuRCELL two eminent Geniufes ! And yet, in this improved, enlightened Age, we are apt to laugh at feveral . bombaftical Strokes, [ m \ Strokes, which I prefume were received with great Gravity by the firft Audience to King Ar- thur. The following Couplet is one Inftance. o/waid. (p. 21.) a a II. .' Or if 1 fall, make room, ye Bleft above! " For one who was undone and died for Love. PurceWs Mufic retains its due Force and Merit, becaufe found- ed on Nature. However the Revival of this Dramatic Opera has always anfwered the Expec- tations of every Adventurer and the Managers who have Singers, are always right to have King Arthur in their Stock. This Revival at Drury-Lane Theatre was fure to anfwer the warmeft Expectations, as the Managers were determined to I 3 fpare I 174 ] fpare no Expence in the Scenery, and Decorations, to make it a fuperb Entertainment. 12th Jan. 1771. ALMIDA, a Tragedy, written by a Lady. This Tragedy has great Dra- matic ' Reqnifites and was re- ceived by the Audience with uni- verfal Applaufe, and has efcaped the Cchfnre of the Critic, per- haps, as the Performance of a Lady. It was well acted in all its Parts but, particularly, by Mrs. Barry in Almida, who (it was generally thought) excelled every Female that has appeared in that Theatre for many Years. 19 th January. THE WEST INDIAN, a Comedy, by Richard Cumberland, Efq. Author of L 175 } of the Summer'' s 'Tale, and the Brothers, This Comedy has fully an- fwered the Expectations of the Public, from this improving, Dramatic Author. It has un- queflioned Merit : and though when critically compared, not quite equal to fome few of our beft Comedies, yet the Succefs that has attended the Perform- ance of the JVefi- Indian, has exceeded that of any Comedy within the Memory of the oldeft Man living! There was the fame Demand for Places in the Boxes, and the fame crouding to get into the Pit and Galleries at the twenty-fixth Reprefenta- tion, as on the firft Night ! 1 4 [ 176 ] THE RECRUITING SERJEANT, a mufical Interlude. This Piece was written by Mr. Bickerjlaff, and fet to Mufic by Mr. Dibden, for an Enter- tainment at Ranelagb, and was performed there : and fome neceiTary addition formed it into an agreeable Interlude to be in- troduced between the Play and Farce at the Theatre. [ *77 1 COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. 26th Decemb. 1770. OTHER SHIPTON, a Panto- M mime. ' This Performance was made remarkable by the Machenift. I Two or three Scenes are well invented, and well executed, which is fufficient to fecure Suc- cefs. In moft of the late Pantomimes, the Harlequin, who is the Hero and always the fortunate Lover, does nothing but run away with his Miltrefs, and give Signals 1 5 with [ tyB I with his magical wooden Sword, to direct, the Men to fhift the Scenes, from one Form and Si- tuation to another : In former Times Harlequin fliewed his Agility, and made feveral dif- ficult Efcapesj, that appeared to- carry danger, and thereby alarm and furprize the Audience ! But our modern Harlequins are deter- mined to fleep in a whole Skin and never venture a Leg. but into the Lap of Columbine. Upon Enquiry, I find that Italy claims the Honour of giv- ing Birth to this motley Being,. and his Brother Scaramouch this laft was always the Servant to the old Father, and the other to the Son y in mofl of their Dramatic [ 179 ! 1 Dramat'c Pieces but he was a fpeaking Varlet; and always introduced as a blundering Ser- vant, doing all the Mifchief to his Matter. The French foon. adopted him- and made him a Pimp of confequence. The late Manager Mr. Rich, when young, went into that Character, under the feigned Name oiLun j he had the Ingenuity to ftrike out an Harlequin entirely his own : His Genius was confined to Pantomime ! and being a complete Mimer y he carried that Art to fuch Perfection, as to render Words needlefs to de- fcribe his Bufinefs, or his Mean- ing ! That was pantomiming in- deed ! It was his amazing Powers I 6 that C 180] that brought thofe Entertain- ments into Fafhion which are now funk into nothing but non- fenfe and Exhibitions of fine Scenery and (what has been long wifhed by all true Lovers of the Drama) will foon be treated with Contempt. N. B. It may not be improper in this Place to obferve, that the Leaders of the laft Riot at both the Theatres, who called themfelves the Town, and did fo much Mifchief (with Impunity) to both Houfes, to compel the Managers to admit them after the third Act at Half-price, to every New as well as old Perform- ance, except the fir ft Seafon of a new . Pantomime! By that very wife Stipu- lation, they took the only method in their [ . >8i ] their Power to promote and efta- blifh that fhameful Exhibition long complained of, whilft the Authors of four ingenious Dramatic Petite Pieces, the Deuce is in him, the Peep behind the Curtain, the Padlock, and Trip to Scotland (which have more Merit than ever was crammed into all the Pantomimes from their Crea- tion) were feen the firft Night, with two Acts of the Play, at Half- price, and confequently, the Profits at the Authors Benefits, rendered trifling and precarious. 23d Feb. 1 771. CLEMENTINA, a Tragedy. Author unknown. This Tragedy met with a favourable Reception, and was performed Nine Nights. 27 th April. THE MODERN WIFE, a Comedy This is a Comedy of the late Mr. Gay's, revived with fome few Alterations, for the Benefit of Mrs. Leffingham- TH [ m i THE APPENDIX. IN the Month of July iy66, a Royal Patent was granted to Samuel Foote, Efq. to build a Theatre in the City and Liberties of Wefiminfter^ and to exhibit Dramatic Performances, &c. &c. therein, from the 14th Day of May to the 14th Day of September^ during his natural Life. This Patentee was born a Gentleman ; and (what was more fortunate for him in his prefent Situation) with a Comic Genius of the firft Clafs ! which having been improved by a liberal Education, has- enabled C 184 ] enabled him to acquire a large, annual Income, by his own perfonal Merit : and as he has Tafte and Spirit to enjoy it, no one becomes it with a better Grace. Mr. Foote having purchafed the old Playhoufe in the Hay-Market (from the Executors of Mr. Potter, the Carpenter who built it in the Year 1720) he erected an entire new Theatre on that Ground, greatly enlarged, and opened it the May following. 2d July 1767. The firft new Performance was THE TAYLORS, a mock heroic Tra- gedy. This Piece is founded upon a fimilar Plan to Sir Samuel Garth's celebrated Difpenfary, and has very fingular Merit : the great Commotions in Lon- don, C 185 ] don, fome time before, between the Mafter Taylors, and their Journeymen, gave a Subject to this facetious Author. This Tragedy was fent to the Mana- ger from Mr. Dodjlefs Shop, to try his Tafte, and if not approved to return it there in the fame concealed manner it came to bim But he knew its Worth too well, not to thank the Au- thor for the Prefent. Mr. Foote. foon ordered it into Rehearfal, and took the principal Part himfelf, which, from his Comic Powers, he was fure to make entertaining and, indeed, fe- veral other Characters were well performed ; for every {trolling Tragedian cannot fail to make a plea- [ m i a pleafant Figure, and excel in mock Heroics : Thus this Tra- gedy gave Delight to feveral Audiences, and the expected Profit to the Manager. Mr. Garrick, to mew his Friendfhip to Mr. Foote, and his Approbation of this excellent Piece of Humour, wrote a fa- cetious Prologue to this mock heroic Piece. THE COUNTESS of SALISBURY, a Tragedy, by Hall Hart- stone, Efq. at that Time a Student of Trinity College Dub- lin. This Tragedy was performed at the Theatre-Royal in Dublin the preceding Winter and Mr. Barry, and Mrs. Dancer being engaged. [ i8 7 ] engaged with Mr. Foote, to act an agreed Set of Plays on Shares, during the Summer Seafon, they, performed this Tragedy- there feveral Nights with great Succefs, [ 188 ] THEATRE -ROYAL IN THE HAY-MARKET. 30th May 1768. THE DEVIL upon two STICKS, a Dramatic Satire, by Mr. Foote. It has been thought by many, that this Performance having a Name in common with one writ- ten by the celebrated Le Sage, Author of Gil Bias, that it is an Imitation of the Diable Boiteux : this is a great Miftake, as there is not the leaft Similitude in the Plan, Characters, or Conduct of thofe two Pieces. Leaving the French [ 189 3 French Novel, which has great Merit (though inferior to Gil Bias) I fhall confine myfelf wholly to our Englijh Original an Original indeed ! and which juftly demands a much abler Pen than mine, to give an ade- quate Idea of its peculiar Ex- cellence. Though the Author has ju- dicioufly calculated the principal Part (viz. the Devil) to his own Circumftances, and manner of playing, yet, feparated from that, and the Delufion of Reprefen- tation, it has great Variety of Merit, and would afford to the Reader, were it printed, uncom- mon Entertainment. 4 To [ i 9 o ] To fpeak firfl of the Cha- racters his own including the political Doclor, the Prejident of the College? are never feen with- out the greateft Marks of Ap- plaufe; and as they are fupported by ftrong, Characteristic Wit and Humour, will be equally fupported in the Clofet. Mr. Foote has produced fome Characters, which, perhaps, would fail of the Effect from any Performer but himfelf fuch as thofe which fo much en- tertained the Town in his Tea Exhibitions? &c. but the Dra-, matic Strength of Character in his Devil upon two Sticks? will be applauded, when the comic Pow- ers of the Actor are no more. We I '9* 3 We cannot omit in this Place, to give our fmall tribute of Praife to Mr. lVefion> who perforated the excellent Character ofDoflor Laft, in all the true Dramatic Sim- plicity with which it is written : It is not among the fmalleft of Mr. Footed Merits, that he has produced this Actor to the Pub- lic, and adapted Characters to his peculiar Talents ; which has -given him a Station among prin- cipal, low Comedians. Dramatic Satires, in general, are only Beings of a certain Time, and live as long as the Objects of the temporary Satire exifts but when the Characters turn upon general Ridicule, and zPrt/identof a College, or political Doclor, [ r 9 2 ] Doftor, will afford Laughter as well in the next Century as this, then the Performance becomes truly Dramatic, and will con- tinue as long as we have the name of Humour amongft us. Add to all this, that the Devil . upon two Sticks^ unlike the gene- ral run of Dramatic Satires, has an interefling Fable interwoven with it, and does not depend on fingle detached Scenes. Mr. Foote, at the End of this Piece, always gave fome hu- morous Stroke of Satire, upon the Pleafures, or Circumftances of the Day the Bal paree at Ranelagh the Rldotto al Frefco y at Vauxballxht Dijputes of the Covent - Garden Managers and, above [ 193 ] above all, the Stratford Jubilee* and its Author- have, in their turns, been laughed at by this great Matter of Ridicule ! This generally finilhes the Piece with univerfal Applaufe and is fo dexteroufly managed, that the Perfons themfelves who are the Objects of his Pleafantry, cannot help joining in the full Chorus of Laughrer. N, B. Left the Critics mould object to my having faid, that there is no Similitude between the Devil upon two Sticks, and k Diable Boiteux, I muft take notice of one trifling Cir- cumflance that is common to both the Devil in le Sage rifes out of a Vial but the Englijlo Devil, though Vol. III. K equally C 194 ] equally fpiritual, yet being fome- what more corporeal, is obliged to make his Appearance out of a ten Gallon wicker Bottle. [ '95 ] THEATRE-ROYAL I N T H& H A Y-M 4RKET, 1769. DOCTOR LAST in ms CHA- RIOT, a Comedy of three Acts, taken from LaMaladie imaginaire of Moliere^ and intended as a Sequel to the Devil upon two Sticks. The firft Night's Au- dience feemed greatly inclined to overturn Dofior Laft in his Cha- riot ; and behaved fo refractory, as to oblige Mr. Foote to ad- drefs them in the following manner. K 2 That [ i 9 6 ] That the Comedy which -. they were pJeafed to treat fo fe- verely, was written by a Gentle- man who had enjoyed the fre- quent Pleafure of entertaining the Public with fome- of their favourite Pieces, and therefore he thought he had a Right to a fair Trial in hio I heatre which if they would pleafe to permit, the Exceptions they fhould make, mould be ftruck out, or altered againft the next Performance." This Requeft appeared fo rea- fonable, that the rational Part of the Audience readily complied with it, and the Actors went through the Comedy, with fome little Obftructions but the ge- neral [ 197 ] neral Opinion was, that it would bejhort liv'd. I remember going into the Houfe at the fecond Perform- ance, about the middle of the Play, and found the Houfe not only well filled, but the whole Audience in good Humour, and laughing through every Scene of the Comedy which was con- tinued to ten or twelve Nights. THE CAPTIVE, a Comic Opera. This little Piece is taken from a Comic Epifode in Don Se- baftian^ written by Dtyden, and met with no great Saccefs. K 2 C 198 1 THEATRE-ROYAL I N T H E H A Y-M ARRET, 1770. THE LAME LOVER, a Comedy of three Acts, by Mr. Focte. This muft alfo be called a Dramatic Satire ; but the Quef- tion now is, whether it turns upon general Ridicule ? Becaufe it was laid to be drawn for a particular Perfon and that a Misfortune was not a proper Subject for Ridicule. Every Man under a real Misfortune has an undoubted Claim to our Com- C 1 99 3 Companion : but if that Man will fo far forget it, as vainly to endeavour to conceal, and ornament that Blemifh, and give himfelf fuch Airs as would have difgraced him, when his Perfon was perfect furely he becomes then a proper Object for .the Satirift? The Public, when the Party is of confequence enough to be generally known, are the proper Judges in this Cafe. I fhall therefore only obferve, that the Lame Lover was well adapted to the Comic Powers of Mr. Foote and the Performance met with general Applaufe from many crouded Audiences. K 4 [ 200 } AS a Theatrical Hiftorian, I cannot omit recording the moft remarkable Event that ever happened in the Annals of Theatres, fince the firft Efiablifhment of Dramatic Poetry in Europe, or, perhaps, in the known World ; I mean the Jubileb at Stratford upon Avon, which was exhibited three Days fucceffively, on the fixth,. feventh, and eighth of September 1 769 in Honour of the immortal Shake- speare ! that being the Town where he was born and educated. The common Obfervation, that great Events have arifen from imall Beginnings, was never more verified than in the Pro- grefs of Shakespeare's Jubilee ! It will, perhaps, not be difagreeable to the Reader, that I take this Matter a little earlier, and [ 201 ] and mention an Accident which happened fome few Years before in this Town of Stratford. A certain Clergyman had purchafed fome Property in and about this Town, and with it the Houfe which was Shakefpeare's in the Garden of this Houfe there was a remarkable Mulberry Tree, which the Inhabitants looked upon with Veneration, as it was planted by Sbakefpeare's own Hand. The Gentleman to whom the Houfe and Garden belonged, rinding that the Tree overfhadowed too much of the Houfe, and made it damp, not having the Fear of his Neighbours before his Eyes, or the Love of Shake fpeare in his Heart ! one unlucky Night rnoffc facrilegioufly cut it down ! The Alarm of this horrid Deed foon fpread through the Town ! Not the going out of the Vefial Fire at old Rome, or the ftealing away the K z Palladium [ 202 J Palladium from old Trey, could more have aftonifhed Remans and Trojans, than this horrid Deed did the Men, Women, and Children of old Stratford! After the firft moments of Aftonifhment were over, a general Fury feized them all, and Ven- geance was the Word ! They gathered together, furrounded the Houfe reviewed with Tears the fallen Tree, and vowed to facrifice the Offender, to the immortal Memory of the Planter ! In fhort, fuch a Spirit was on Foot, that the Clergyman, after confulting with his Friends, and fkulking from Place to Place, was per- fuaded to quit the Town, where he never would have been permitted to abide in Peace and where all the Inhabitants have moft religioufly refolved never to fuffer any one of the fame Name to dwell amongft them. The [ 203 1 The Mulberry Tree was inftantly bought up, and the Purchafer, who was a Car- penter, retaiPd and cut out the Branches of it into various Relicks, of Stand-dimes, Tea-chefts, Inkhorns, Tobacco Stoppers, &c. &c* &c. The Corporation of Strat- ford fecured fome of the belt Part of it : and among other Fancies which this facred Tree gave rife to, the moft remarkable was the following Letter, written by their Ste- ward to Mr. Garricky that began to lay the Foundation of the celebrated Sbakefpeare- Jubilee, which is the Subject of the follow- ing Pages, K 6 [ 504 ] An Extract of the Steward's Letter to Mr, Garrick. The Corporation of Stratford, ever " defirous of expreffing their Gratitude *' to all who do Honour and Juftice to w the Memory of Sbakefpeare, and highly " fenfible that no Perfon, in any Age, " hath excelled You therein, would think tc themfelves much honoured if you would " become one of their Body : though this *' Borough doth not now fend Members "to Parliament, perhaps the Inhabitants " may not be lefs virtuous ; and to rendeF " the Freedom of this Place the more ac- " ceptable to you, the Corporation propofe " to fend it in a Box made of that very M Mulberry Tree, planted by Shakefpeare's " own Hand The Story of that valuable " Relick is too long to be here inferted " but [ 205 ] " but the Gentleman who is fo obliging a5 " to convey this to yon, will acquaint you *' therewith. As alfo that the Corporation *' would be happy in receiving from your fC Hands, fome Statue, Buft, or Picture " of Sbakefpeare, to be placed within their " new Town-hall. They would be equal- " ly pleafed to have fome Picture of your- " felf, that the Memory of both may be " perpetuated together in that Place which " gave him Birth, and where he Hill lives " in the Mind of every Inhabitant. " I am, Sir, &V." This pleafing Honour, fo judicioufly conferred, wrought fo powerfully on the Mind of this infpired Actor, that he foort .formed a Scheme for a Jubilee at Strat- ford ! which (when known) engaged the Attention of all that Part of the Kingdom, that lay within one hundred Miles of the Place [ 205 ] Place of Action and, at the laft Play performed at the Theatre Royal that Sea- fon for the Benefit of the Fund for decayed Atlors, Mr. Garrick clofed it with the fol- lowing Addrefs to the Audience, by way of Invitation to the Jubilee, After taking Leave of the Audience, and faying at the End of the Epilogue f next Year we come again ; [bowing to the Audience. " My Eyes, 'till then, no Sights like this will fee, *' Unlefs we meet at Shake/peare's Jubilee ! *' On Avon's Banks ivhere Flowers eternal blo*w I * Like its full Stream our Gratitude fhall flow ! ** There let us revel, fhew our fond Regard, On that lov'd Spot,fiift breath'd our matcblefsBAK d j " To Him all Honour, Gratitude is due, " To Him we owe our All to Him, and You." "When the Plan was formed, and agreed upon, amongft other expenftve Orders, the moft confiderable was the Amphi- theatre to be erected, on the Model of that in Ranelagh Gardens, for the Public Performances and Balls, in the Mornings and [ 207 ] and Evenings and in the middle of the Day to entertain the whole Body of No- bility and Gentry aflembled on that Occa- sion, at a public Ordinary. The Painters not only decorated the Amphitheatre with various Devices* but they alfo prepared feveral excellent Tranfparences for the Town-hall Win- dows, in which the mod ftriking Tragic and Comic Characters in Sbakefpeare's Plays were exhibited j this had a moll agreeable Effect at Night, when the whole Town was illuminated. A very fmail old Houfe in which this great Poet was born, was covered with a curious Tranf- parency the Subject was the Sun ftrug- gling through Clouds to enlighten the World, in which was figuratively delineat- ed the low Circumftances of Sbakejpeare, from which his Strength of Genius rais'd him,, to become the Glory of bis Country ! In [ 208 ] In the Procession it was intended that they fhould flop at that hallowed Spot, and fing an Air, which began with thefe Lines, * From Clouds he broke forth, ' To enlighten the Earth ! '* And fpread all his Glory around" This public Building, with other various neceffary Preparations to execute this great Plan, unavoidably drove the Day of Action to the fixth Day of September, which was one Month too late. When the Morning's dawn broke forth, the whole Town was- alarmed with the difcharge of feveral Pieces of Cannon foon after a Troop of Singers appeared in the Streets, in mafquerade Habits, with Gittars, and other Inftruments, to ferenade the moft remarkable Perfonages that were come to honour the Jubilee ! Before each Houfe [ 209 3 Houfe they fung the following Song in full Chorus : ( r. ) Let Beauty with the Sun arife I To Shake/peare Tribute pay ! With heav'nly Smile, and fpeaking Eyes, Give Luflre to the Day ! ( n. ) Each Smile fhc gives protects his Name, What Face mall dare to frown ? Not Envy's felf can blaft the Fame, Which Beauty deigns to crown. When that was over, printed Handbills were left at every Houfe, to inform the Company of the various Entertainments, for the different Parts of the Day and Night. First Day, Wednefday the 6th of September. SHAKESPEARE'S JUBILEE. The S teward of the Jubilee begs Leave to inform the Company, [ 210 ] that, at Nine o'Clock will be a PUBLIC BREAKFAST at the Town Hali, : Hence to proceed to the Church to hear The ORATORIO of JUDITH, which will begin exactly at Eleven. From Church will be a full Chorus of Vocal and Inflrumental Music to the Amphi- theatre ', where at Three o'Clock will be An Ordinary for Gentlemen and Ladies. About Five o'Clock, a Collection of jnew Songs, Ballads, Roundelays, Catches, and Glees, &c. will be performed in the Amphitheatre ; after which the Company is defired to prepare for the Ball which will begin exactly at Nine, with new Mi- nuets, compofed for the Occafion, and played by the whole Band. N. B. The Steward hopes the Gentle- men and Ladies will wear the Fa- vors [ "I ] vors that are prepared on this Occa- fion, and called the Shakefpearc Favors. The whole Town of Stratford being in- formed by thefe Advertifements feveral Guns were fired as Signals for the Morn- ing's Entertainment the Magistrates afiembled about Eight in one of the principal Streets ; Mr. Gar rick, the Steward, appeared at the Town Hall, the Place appointed for the public Breakfaft, to fee that every Thing was properly prepared for the Reception of the Com- pany, and to be in readinefs to receive them but previous to the coming of the Company, the Mayor, at the Head of the Corporation, in their Forma- lities, waited on Mr. Garrick, and in a polite Speech, delivered by the Town Clerk, prefented him with a Medalion of Shake- [ 212 ] Shakefpeare, carved on a piece of the famous Mulberry Tree, and richly fet in Gold. Mr. Gar rick, to this elegant mark of Diftinttion, made a fuitable Reply and inftantly fattened it on his Breaft. From the Town Hall the Company retired at half after Ten to the Church, where the Oratorio of Judith was to be given, conducted by Doctor Artie. When the Oratorio was over the Steward, with a "great Number of the Gentlemen, walked in Procefiion from the Church to the Amphitheatre, with all the Band of Mufic and Singers, in full Chorus before them chanting the following Lines, ac- companied with proper Inftruments. " This is the Day ! a holyday ! *' Drive Care and Sorrow far away ! " Let all be Mirth and hallOw'd Joy ! " Here Nature nurs'd her darling Boy ! " Whofe [ *3 ] " Whofe Harp the Mufes flrung ! " From Heart to Heart let Raptures bound ! " Now, now, we tread enchanted Ground, " Here Shakefpeare walk'd and fung 1" At the Amphitheatre at three o'Clock an elegsnt Dinner wasfervedfor fix or fe- ven hundred Gentlemen and Ladies.- And when Dinner was over, the Band of Mufic and Singers appeared in. the Orcheftra, and entertained the Company with Ballads, Catches, and Glees 'till it was time to retire to new drefs and prepare for the Ball between nine and ten the Company- began to repair thither and in that Ihort Interval, a great number of Hands were employed to decorate and illuminate the Amphitheatre.- When Night ap- proached, the Inhabitants of Stratford teftined their Joy by lighting up every Window in every Houfe, and every Houfe in [ 214 ] In every Street in the Town. This made the Night as chearful as the Day the AiTembly was crowded and brilliant ; the Ball opened foon after ten, and the Country Dances continued till three o'Clock in the Morning. Second Day. The Steward of the Jubilee informs the Company that at nine o'Clock will be a PUBLIC BREAKFAST, at the Town Hall. At Eleven o'Clock, aPAGEANT, (if the Weather will permit) to proceed from the College to the Amphitheutre y Where An O D E (upon dedicating a Building and erecting a Statue to the Memory of Shake- speare) will be performed, after which the Pageant will return to the College. i At [ 215 ] At Four an Ordinary for Ladies and Gentlemen. At Eight, the Fire-Works.*' And at Eleven o'Clock, The Masquerade. The Town Hall was crouded, as before,* at Breakfaft but the Morning proving rainy, the mod fhowy Part of the Enter- tainment (particularly for the Country People, the Young and Gay) I mean the Pageant, was obliged to be omitted. But the more fenlible Part of the Com- pany, who promifed themfelves' more Pleafure from Poetry and Music, from Senfe and Sound united they haftened to fecure good Places at the Amphitheatre, to the Performance of the Ode! Mr. Garrick (the Author of the Ode) appeared in the Front-line, with the female Singers on each Side of him, and (after the Over- ture) [ "6 ] tvw) fpoke the Recitative Parts, which had fo great an Effect, that, perhaps, in all the Characters he ever played, he never ftiewed more Powers, mere j udgment, or ever made a ftr-onger Impreflion on the Minds of his Auditors ! And though he was frequently disturbed by the turbulence of Applauie, it was then, generally allowed by all I heard fpeak of it, that the Ode, in point of poetical Merit, and the Speaker, in point of Elocution, were juftly intitled to univerfal Admiration ! It mould therefore be remarked in this Place, that Mr. Garrick was the firft who conceived the Idea of fpeaking the Reci- tative, which in general is the moft languid end neglected Part of a mufical Perform- ance , if his Example were followed, and good Speakers could be procured, the happy Mixture of fine Speaking and Mu- 4 fic L 217 ] Be, would afford a moft exquifite and ra- tional Entertainment. Mr. Garrick, in the Performance of this Ode, diftinguifhed himfelf equally as a Poet) an Aftor, and a Gentleman ; and when it was over, he lamented in a profe Addrefs to his Auditors, that none of the eminent Poets of our Univerfities had un- dertaken the Subject, who were infinitely more capable than himfelf, to execute that arduous Talk. He exprefTed an Appre- henfion, that his Zeal for the Honour of Sbakefpeare had led him to expofe the weaknefs of his own Abilities , but hoped his Motive would apologize for his Defects : then turning to Doctor Arne, he politely added, that the firft mufical Genius in this Country, did not think his Mufe unwor- thy the Exercife of his Talents, and that he was certain the Compofer's Excellence Vol. III. L would [ 2i8 3 -would amply attone for the Imperfections of the Author. He added, that he now perceived too late, the wide Difference between fpeaking in public, fupported by the Genius of Shakefpeare, and celebrating that Genius, fupported only by his own weak Abilities; -but as this is his firji Attempt in this Way, he hopes for that Favour and Indul- gence which is always given to every Stage Adventurer, who appears for the firit Time in any Character. May he not hope too, that his weak Endeavours will be fupported by thofe (whom he has the Honour to fee before him) who having Powers equal to it, will ido Juftice to a Subject the raoft worthy xjf their Admiration, and their Eloquence. . Hear what our Englijh Homer fays, " What t 2I 9 1 '* What need my Shakespeare, for his honour'd " bones, " The Labour of an Age in piled Stones ; ** Or that his hallow'd Reliques mould be hicf, " Under a Star-y pointing Pyramid ! ' w Dear Son of Memory, great Heir of Fame ! ** What nced'ft thou fuch weak vvitnefs ofthy Name I " Thou, in our Wonder and Aftonilhment, " Haft built thyrelf a live-long Monument ! ** And fo fepulcher'd, in fuch Pomp doft lie, ** That Kings in fuch a Tomb, would wifh to die ! If you want (till a greater Authority than Milton's, for the unequalled Merits of Shakespeare, confult your own Hearts I would not pay them fo ill a Compliment to fuppofe, that he has- not made a dear, valuable, and lafting Impref- fion upon them ! Your Attendance here upon this Occafion, is a Proof that you felt powerfully felt his Genius ! and that you love and revere him and his Memory : L 2 the [ 220 ] the only -remaining Honour to him now (and it is the greateft Honour you can do him) is to speak for him. [Here a Paufe enfued with a general Laugh] Perhaps my Proportion (continued he) comes a little too abruptly upon you ? with your Permiffion, we will defire thefe Gen- tlemen [the Band of Mufic] to give you time, by a Piece of Mufic, to recoiled and adjuft your Thoughts. [After the Piece of Mufic] Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, will you be pleafed to fay any Thing/ Lord and Lady Hertford, Lord Grofuenor^ Lord Denbigh, Lord Spencer, Lord Cravetr r Lord Beaucbamp, Duke of Manchefter Lord Plymouth, Lord Carlijl'e, Lord North*. Sir Wat kins Williams Wynn, &c. Th-e Third Day. PuSlic Breakfast at the Town Hall, at Nine o'Clock as before at Twelve- an Horse -Race was appointed, for a Jubilee-Cup of fifty Pounds Value for which five Colts ftarted of Tome Note on the- Turf: Lord Grofvenor\ Colt- the Hon-. Mr. King's and Mr. Fettiplace, Mr. Wat- fin, and Pratfs Colts. Pratt the Groom- rode his own Colt, and won the Cup and declared his Refolution never to part with it, though he honeftly confefled he knew very little about Plays, or Mafter Shake- speare. Vol. III. M At [ ^ I At their Return from 'the Race, the Company repaired to the Amphitheatre. to Dinner ; the French Horns and Clari- nett* attending from thence to their Lodgings to drefs for the Ball at Night, which was opened at Nine o'CIock : this Evening (being fair Weather) there was a grand Flrework played off before the Amphitheatre* which clofed the molt fplendid Jubilee that ever was plarid or- executed in England , and which gave Birth to a Dramatic Repafdentation of it at the Thxatre, that gave Delight to Ninety-two crowded Audiences that Seafop. P. S. I forgot to mention that there. was a Statue .of Shakes-peare filled in the Front of thz.Orcbeftrd. at the Aivphiihe- ttrei which had a very good Effect, and after the Jubilee it was placed in a Nich of the Town-Hall : Thisalfo was [ 22* 1 was another Prefent of Mr. Garrick's. to the Corporation of Stratford. I cannot quit this Subject without ob- ferving, the fcandalous Behaviour of the very low People of the Town of Stratford* m regard to their Avarice, and fhamefuL Extortions-, as well as their abfurd Notions- relating to the Jubilee. They were, in general, much difiatisfied, and greatly afraid of Mifchief they had not the leaft Com- prehenfion of what, or about whom fuch. Preparations were making. -They looked upon Mr. Garrick as a Magician, who could, and would raife the Devil ! And, inftcad of being delighted with the ap- proaching Fefti'valy many of them kept at home, and were afraid to ftir abroad. They were confirmed inr their Absurdities by the, black Looks and fecret Operations of thole who Were employed in making a the i 232 1 the Fireworks and looked oh the heavy Rains that fell during the Jubilee, as a Mark of Heaven's Anger. In fhort, their Defire to get Money, and their Terrors left they mould deal with the Devil, occafioned great Mrrth to many of the Neighbours, and Gentlemen who delight in Humour and Pleafantry. The Author of the Jubilee (as it was acted at the 'Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane) has opened his Farce with a Scene that ridicules (without the leaft Exaggeration) the unac- countable Notions, and abfurd Apprehen- fions of the lower People of Stratford.-* It feems as if Providence had created Shake- fpeare tofhew what Wonders the intellectual Powers of Man might perform ! and by having beftowed fo much upon one of that Town, was refolved to take away all Ideas from three-fourths of the reft of the In- habitants. FINIS. -489 5 * University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. APRn UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY l '.)RNIr.