Laararle Donation 
 
LIFE OF 
 
 MRS, ABINGTON, 
 

 G //. 'c </ 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 // 
 
 iRS. ABINGTON 
 
 (FORMERLY Miss BARTON) . 
 . * 
 
 CELEBRATED COMIC ACTBESS, 
 
 WITH 
 
 jFull Hccounts of ber IDartous performances in 
 the Ubeatres of Xonfcon an^ Dublin, 
 
 INCLUDING ALSO INTERESTING 
 
 NOTES UPON THE HISTORY OF THE IRISH STAGE 
 
 AND COPIOUS NOTICES, ANECDOTES, AND CRITICISMS OF 
 HER THEATRICAL CONTEMPORARIES. 
 
 tsfyefo unify n ynriqntt m 
 
 BY THE EDITOR OF THE "LIFE OF QUIN. 
 
 LON DON : 
 
 READER, ORANGE STREET, HOLBORN. 
 1888. 
 
P R E FAC E. 
 
 'T^HE following " Life of Mrs. Abington, formerly Miss Frances or 
 Fanny Barton," is sent forth in full confidence of a hearty 
 welcome by the public. 
 
 This celebrated lady achieved so high a position in the comic 
 walks of theatrical life, and was so famed for her personal beauty and 
 exquisite taste in those matters of dress which are so dear to the 
 female heart, that anything like a consecutive narrative of her career 
 must be of general interest. Hitherto, all that has appeared in print, 
 has been of such a disjointed and fragmentary, as well as limited, 
 character, that it was exceedingly difficult to get anything like a clear 
 idea of the origin, progress, and successful termination of her pro- 
 fessional life ; an effort has now been made, after considerable labour 
 and research, to connect and arrange in chronological order, all 
 attainable and trustworthy facts. 
 
 Very full lists are given of the parts she played in various 
 comedies, &c., on the stages of the London and Dublin theatres, and, to 
 relieve these from the barrenness and dryness naturally attending 
 them, many of their characteristics have been dwelt upon, and, so far 
 as was necessary and proper to the faithful exhibition of Mrs. Abington's 
 experience and influence, incidental notices of other performers and 
 historical notes respecting the Irish stage have been freely added. 
 
 Under these circumstances the publisher believes that the book 
 will be peculiarly acceptable to those who have read some of the brief 
 references to this actress's life which have occasionally appeared, and 
 who have had neither the time nor the facilities for the search and 
 study necessary to the construction of a reliable biography. 
 
 ^ 
 
 84350 
 
CIjc life 0f Jits, &faingt0u. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Mrs. Aldington's Ancestors Her Parents Struggles for a Living- 
 Obscurity of Early Life Out at Service New and Questionable 
 Acquaintances at Golden Square Eesolves to be an Actress Early 
 Attempts at the Haymarket Theatre At Bath At Eichmond 
 Appearance in her real Name at Drury Lane Appearances in Plays of 
 Double Dealer, Cato, Winter's Tale, Squire of Alsatia, Mock Doctor, 
 Zara, Heii'ess Illness of Mrs. Clive, Miss Barton takes her place Plays 
 in the Rehearsal, Beggar's Opera, Mourning Bride, Careless Husband, 
 Old Man taught Wisdom, Guardian, The Wonder, Arden of Favershani 
 Marries and appears in Eorueo and Juliet, as Mrs. Abington Difficulties 
 at Drury Lane, owing to surplus of Actresses, irregularity of her 
 engagements Last Appearances on the London Stage in the Stratagem, 
 Conscious Lovers, Suspicious Husband, Old Man taught Wisdom, Double 
 Gallant, Way of the World Lying Valet, High Life Below Stairs 
 Eupture with her Husband Jealousy of the Actors and Actresses. 
 
 The celebrated and beautiful woman whose life and experiences 
 are here chronicled, was, like many of her class and profession, 
 of extremely humble origin. It is said, indeed, that she was 
 descended from a family of some distinction in the Keigii of 
 William the Third, the head of which was then Christopher 
 Barton, Esq., of Norton, Derbyshire, who, at his death left four 
 sons, one a colonel, one a ranger of the royal parks, another an 
 ecclesiastic of Westminster, and a younger one who was her 
 grandfather ; for all this, however, her parents moved but in a 
 lowly condition of life, her father being only a cobbler, keeping 
 a small stall in Vinegar Yard, and her brother an ostler of the 
 most inferior type, in Stanway Yard. 
 
 According to some, Frances Barton (which was our heroine's 
 name) never knew her mother, but earlier accounts tell us that 
 she had the misfortune to lose her maternal relation when she 
 was about fourteen years of age. Be this as it may, it is agreed 
 on all hands that from a very early age she experienced most 
 
6 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 severely the want of a mother's care and guidance, and led a 
 life, in every particular, likely to prove disastrous. The father's 
 trade was but a poor one, and sometimes down-right starvation 
 was staring them in the face, there being neither food nor money 
 in the house to supply their most ordinary wants. The conse- 
 quence was that the motherless girl was sent out to earn a few 
 pence in whatever way she could, to assist in procuring the bare 
 necessaries of life. She sold flowers, she went on errands, she 
 sang and recited at public houses, in short, did all kinds of 
 things by which a trifle could be earned to add to the slender 
 resources of home. Occasionally, by the aid of a kindly disposed 
 waiter, she would, upon earnest application, obtain admission to 
 the better class of houses, such as the Bedford or the Shakspeare, 
 in the Piazza, Coveut Garden, when to the company met in the 
 private rooms of those establishments she would from a stage 
 extemporised from a table, recite various passages from the 
 poets, her efforts and beauty winning the reward of a few pence 
 from her auditors. 
 
 This Fanny or Frances Barton, was born either in the year 
 1731 or 1737, which of the two, it is impossible to say, as the 
 few records of her life extant, differ considerably. In her earlier 
 days, while wandering about London endeavouring to earn some- 
 thing to ward off the pangs of hunger and starvation, and when 
 known as " Nosegay Fan," no attempt was made to establish an 
 ancestry superior in station to that of her parents, but when 
 afterwards she had reached a position of eminence and prosperity, 
 it was thought advisable to ascertain from what kind of a stock 
 she had sprung, and the result was the discovery of the pedigree 
 we have mentioned. 
 
 More than a hundred years ago a magazine contributor wrote, 
 " In attempting a portrait of this celebrated comic actress, we 
 lament with Gibber, * that the animated graces of the player can 
 live no longer than the instant breath and motion that present 
 them ; or at least can but faintly glimmer through the memory 
 or imperfect attestation of a few surviving spectators.' >: 
 
 In her memoirs, however, we shall be able to hold up to 
 posterity the early and rapid strides she made in her profession ; 
 and from the various and contrasted characters she appeared in 
 with unrivalled applause, they will at least be able to conclude 
 with certainty, " that Mrs. Abington was the first comic actress 
 of her time." None of the present day, for instance, can 
 remember Betterton, and consequently can know nothing 
 personally of the a-bilities of this once celebrated tragedian, but 
 who can read this declaration of Gibber " that he never heard a 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 7 
 
 line in tragedy come from Betterton, wherein his judgment, his 
 ear, and his imagination, were not fully satisfied, but must 
 rest perfectly convinced of his transcendent abilities." 
 
 Considerable obscurity hangs over a greater portion of the 
 early life of Miss Barton, and it is with difficulty we are able to 
 trace her various movements and occupations. While still very 
 young, she seems to have become a servant in the house of a 
 milliner, in Cockspur Street, where she acquired the beginnings 
 of that taste in dress which afterwards brought her so much 
 celebrity, and also her knowledge of the French language. At 
 another time she was maid in a kitchen whose cook was Mrs. 
 Baddelay, who, after filling the same office in the houses of Lord 
 North, Mr. Foote, and others, and that of travelling valet de 
 chambre, ultimately became a popular performer of foreign parts, 
 footmen, Jews and broken English. 
 
 A modern writer has told us that " Fanny underwent many 
 painful and ignoble experiences, that her early days were miser- 
 able, squalid and vicious, but that she strove after a better life. 
 She may not be judged with severity, at least the circumstances 
 of her condition must be remembered in passing sentence upon 
 her, and something of the evil of her career must be charged to the 
 heartlessness of the world in which she lived. " Low, poor and 
 vulgar as she had been," a contemporary critic writes, " she 
 was always anxious to acquire education and knowledge. It 
 was understood that she was well acquainted with the French 
 authors, could read and speak French with facility, and could 
 converse in Italian." Her rise from obscurity to distinction, 
 from wretchedness to prosperity, was a task of exceeding 
 difficulty, and she had but herself and her own efforts to depend 
 upon. But by dint of industry, indomitable courage and great 
 natural intelligence she triumphed at last, she struggled des- 
 perately with the world, but she tore success from it in the end.* 
 
 Shortly after losing her mother, who seems to have been a 
 woman of considerable knowledge for her station, as well as a 
 tender and indulgent parent, Fanny, or Frances, was taken into 
 the house of a female relation of her father's, in Sherrard 
 Street, Golden Square, where she continued nearly three years, 
 her vivacity and engaging manners making her the favourite of 
 all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance and the " promised 
 blessing of a future comfort to her family." 
 
 About this period a young lady from Bath, came, under a 
 particular recommendation, to board in the same house, where 
 she soon commenced an intimacy with young Frances, whom 
 
 *D. Cook. 
 
8 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 she used to take frequently with her to see plays, and commu- 
 nicated an intention of going upon the stage, advising the other 
 to do the same, as a more preferable state than that of depending 
 on any friend or relation, informing her that she had interest 
 enough to introduce her to the same manager she was then in 
 treaty with, and doubted not of her succeeding. The proposal 
 did, by no means, displease our young heroine ; and from that 
 moment the desire of commencing actress was her constant and 
 utmost wish. 
 
 While this project was carrying on, Miss Barton's relation 
 discovered that her boarder "from Bath was not the most 
 circumspect of Diana's train, and had been carrying on an 
 intrigue with a favourite Endymion for a considerable time 
 with the greatest secrecy, even from her young female com- 
 panion. On warning being given her to seek for other lodgings, 
 she prevailed on Frances to quit her friend's house, the better 
 to effect the plan of going on the stage together ; but gallant- 
 ries being prevalent in the mind of this fair monitor, she went 
 off with her inamorato and left the decoyed young Frances 
 (whose friends she had deserted) to shift for herself in the 
 best manner she could. In this situation she consulted with 
 her abilities to know in what form of exertion they might most 
 effectually rescue her from the state in which her fair friend had 
 left her. The profession of actress presented itself anew to her, 
 as the most flattering prospect, as well as the most practicable, 
 and very soon a favourable opportunity presented itself for 
 making an essay. The late Mr. The. Gibber, son of Colley 
 Gibber, Esq., poet laureate, a comedian of eminence in his days 
 of prosperity, had obtained a licence from the Lord Chamber- 
 lain to exhibit plays for a certain number of nights at the 
 theatre in the Hay market, to which theatre Miss Barton was 
 invited, to make her first appearance. The character she 
 attempted was that of Miranda, in " The Busy Body," which 
 she executed with such an amazing spirit and propriety, that 
 she received the compliments of several acknowledged connois- 
 seurs in theatrical affairs, who had been present during the 
 whole exhibition. From that night her alliance proved of great 
 emolument to this occasional manager, and which he ever after 
 most gratefully acknowledged. She afterwards appeared as Miss 
 Jenny, in "The Provoked Husband;" as Kitty Pry, in " The 
 Lying Valet ;" as Sylvia, in " The Recruiting Officer ;" as Prince 
 Prettyman, in "The Kehearsal;" and as Mrs. Tattoo, in 
 " Lethe." Young as she was and a mere novice in the profes- 
 sion, she also played the character of Desdemona with so much 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 9 
 
 applause, that the late Mr. Shuter, who had seen her in tragedy 
 and comedy, catne behind the scenes and engaged her for Mr. 
 Simpson, proprietor of the Bath theatre, at that time under the 
 management of Mr. King. Having gone through the Bath 
 seasons (there were two in each year) with increasing promise 
 and reputation, Miss Barton returned to London, and Mr. 
 Shuter eagerly sought to find her and enlisted her to join the 
 light corps of comedians selected from the two London theatres 
 to play at Eichmond during the summer. There Mr. Lacy saw 
 her perform frequently and was so pleased with her acting the 
 first night that he was present that he invited her to visit his 
 family at Isleworth, and engaged her for Drury Lane play- 
 house, where she continued for a season, daily gaining popularity 
 and public favour. 
 
 Her first appearance at this theatre was on the 29th October, 
 1756, as Lady Pliant in "The Double Dealer," with the 
 following cast : 
 
 Maskwell MOSSOP. 
 
 Sir Paul Pliant FOOTE. 
 
 Brisk WOODWARD. 
 
 Careless PALMER. 
 
 Lady Touchwood MRS. PRITCHARD. 
 
 Lady Froth MRS. OLIVE. 
 
 Lady Pliant Miss BARTON. 
 
 On this occasion her name was concealed from the public and 
 her character was announced in the bills as to be played by a 
 " young gentlewoman appearing for the first time." On the 
 10th of the following month she was advertised as Miss Barton, 
 and was engaged to perform in a number of small parts in all 
 of which she managed to give considerable satisfaction both to 
 her employers and to the public. 
 
 Amongst other parts, she took a small one in a play called 
 Cato, written by Foote, a piece which brought him into a good 
 deal of trouble. The cast of Cato was as follows : 
 
 Cadwallader FOOTE. 
 
 Young Cape Koss. 
 
 Vamp (a bookseller) YATES. 
 
 Sprightly USHER. 
 
 Governor Cape BRANSBY. 
 
 Mrs. Cadwallader MRS. CLIVE. 
 
 Arabella (sister to Cadwallader) Miss BARTON. 
 
10 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 " Young Cape believes his father to be dead he has turned 
 author to support himself he is in love with Arabella, but has 
 little or no hopes of obtaining her brother's consent to their 
 union Cadwallader is very proud of his pedigree Mrs. Cad- 
 wallader is a fool at the conclusion Governor Cape discovers 
 himself to be young Cape's father young Cape marries Arabella. 
 Foote' s part was admirably acted, and Mrs. Clive was nowise 
 inferior ; the performance of these two popular artistes gave the 
 piece a great run. 
 
 Cadwallader was meant for Mr. Apreece, a gentleman of 
 fprtune and family with whom Foote was very intimate, a 
 circumstance which was so far from restraining the wantonness 
 of Foote's pen, that it only served to give him the readiest 
 means of finishing his picture with the greatest exactness. 
 Foote took care to have Mr. Apreece as one of the audience 
 that gentleman at first joined in the general laugh at his own 
 portrait, but at last the joke became so serious that he applied 
 to the Lord Chamberlain (Cooke) , and obtained the suppression 
 of the piece." 
 
 In 1757 (March 24), we find her performing, for Woodward's 
 benefit, in ' The Winter's Tale," with the following cast : 
 
 Leontes GARRICK. 
 
 Daffodil WOODWARD. 
 
 Tukely PALMER. 
 
 Dizzy YATES. 
 
 Sophia Miss MACKLIN. 
 
 Arabella Miss MINORS. 
 
 Mrs. Dotterel Miss BARTON. 
 
 Widow Damply Miss CROSS. 
 
 Lady Fanny Pewit MRS. BRADSHAW. 
 
 In October of the same year she played Lady Pliant in the 
 " Double Dealer " with Blakes as Lord Froth. 
 
 In 1758, on May 2nd, was performed "The Squire of Alsatia,'' 
 which had not been acted for ten years, Miss Barton taking the 
 part of Mrs. Termagant. Cast as follows : 
 
 Squire WOODWARD. 
 
 Sir William Belford YATES. 
 
 Belford, Junior HAVARD. 
 
 Mrs. Termagant Miss BARTON 
 
 Isabella MRS. CLIVE. 
 
 Buth MRS. MACKLIN. 
 
 Mrs. Hackum MRS. BRADSHAW, 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 11 
 
 On the 8th of May she played the part of Dorcas, in "The 
 Mock Doctor," with Yates as Gregory. 
 
 On the 13th of NoTember she played Foible in " The Way of 
 the World," on the 17th Lady Pliant in " The Double Dealer," 
 and, on the 20th of December, Rhodamintha in " Zara," for the 
 benefit of the General Lying-in Hospital. 
 
 Feeble (and old debauchee) ... YATES. 
 
 Felix (his son) OBRIEN. 
 
 Sir William Wheedle (a sharper). PALMER. 
 
 Mrs. Furbelow MRS. BENNET. 
 
 Rhodanpintha (her daughter) ... Miss BARTON. 
 
 Lady Never-Settle Miss PRITCHARD. 
 
 " Feeble is in love with Rhodamintha he intends to marry 
 her, and only wants to be satisfied that she is a gentlewoman 
 Mrs. Furbelow, by the suggestion of Sir William, who is her 
 confederate, gives a Rout several persons are engaged to assume 
 the appearance of noblemen at the conclusion, Felix convinces 
 his father that Mrs. Furbelow and her daughter are women of 
 infamous character this F. had been announced in the pre- 
 ceding bills, as being written by a person of quality it is on 
 the whole, a poor piece Lady Never-Settle is a short character,, 
 but a very good one. (Genest.) 
 
 On the 21st of May, 1759, was acted at Drury Lane, the 
 "Heiress," or " Antigallican," with the following cast : 
 
 Captain Hardy (the Antigallican) YATES. 
 
 Dash (a Coxcomb) PALMER. 
 
 Briton, senior BURTON. 
 
 Briton, junior (his Son) PACKER. 
 
 Harriot (the Heiress, disguised as a Boy) Miss BARTON. 
 
 Letitia (Daughter to Briton) .". Miss HIPPISLEY. 
 
 Mrs. Spruce ( a Milliner) Mrs. BRADSHAW. 
 
 Lady Everbloora Mrs. SIMPSON. 
 
 The dialogue of this Farce is not bad the plot is very slight 
 Harriot, for family reasons has been brought up as a boy 
 Letitia falls in love with Harriot, supposing her to be a man 
 at the conclusion, Harriot's sex is discovered, and she is united 
 to Briton, junior. Thomas Moseen, the actor, published this 
 piece in a volume of poems, in 1762, he says that the character 
 of Harriot was objected to as unnatural so it is but a similar 
 character had been introduced by two of our best writers by 
 Fletcher, in "Love's Cure," and by Vanburgh,in "The Mistake." 
 (Genest.) 
 
12 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 This was the first "breeches" part undertaken by Miss Barton. 
 
 Shortly after, Mrs. Olive appears to have been* incapacitated 
 by illness from taking her usual place on the Drury Lane stage, 
 and Miss Barton, in consequence, was deputed to' play several 
 of her characters. On May 25th, 1759, she played a small part 
 in " The Rehearsal " with Garrick as Bayes ; on May 28th, she 
 played Melissa in the " Beggar's Opera " with the Lying Valet ; 
 on May 29th, she played Charlotte in " The Mourning Bride," 
 with Mossop as Osmyn, when he made his last appearance at 
 Drury Lane ; on May 30th, she appeared as Edging in " The 
 Careless Husband," and as Lucy in " The Old Man taught 
 Wisdom ;" on May 31st, she performed Lucy in "The Guardian," 
 and on June 4th, she took the part of Inis in " The Wonder." 
 
 On the 19th of June, the " Beggar's Opera " was performed 
 for the benefit of some distressed actors, in which Beard played 
 Macheath ; Miss Macklin, Polly, and Miss Barton, Lucy. The 
 following morning the Public Advertiser announced "The weather 
 proving so unfavorable for plays, the benefit for the distressed 
 actors, last night, did not answer so well as was expected, 
 therefore, by particular desire, another play will be performed 
 June 26, and several of the actors now in town have generously 
 offered their assistance." 
 
 On the 19th of July was announced, for one night oAly, 
 " Arden of Feversham," in which Miss Barton played the part of 
 Maria. This play was written by Lillo it is only an alteration 
 of an old play of the same name which was printed in 1592, and 
 reprinted in 1770 to the later edition is prefixed an historical 
 account of the murder of Arden, which took place on the 15th 
 of February, 1550 in the play Arden is said to have obtained 
 from the Duke of Somerset, at that time Protector, all the lands 
 of the Abbey of Feversham Greene, who had some claim on 
 these lands, becomes his inveterate enemy Ales, Arden' s wife, 
 is in love with Mosbie Arden suspects her of an improper 
 attachment to Mosbie, but has no absolute proof of it Ales 
 puts poison in her husband's broth he dislikes the taste of it, 
 and does not eat ii Arden goes to London with his friend 
 Franklin Greene hires two desperate ruffians, called Blacke 
 Will and Shakebagge, to murder Arden Michael has sworn to 
 Ales that he would kill his master he promises Blacke Will 
 and Shakebagge to leave the door of the house unlocked, but, 
 when it comes to the point, he is frightened and they are 
 disappointed they resolve to kill Arden on his journey from 
 London just as they are going to effect their purpose, Lord 
 Chesny enters with his attendants, and Arden arrives in safety 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 13 
 
 at Fevevsliam he is at last murdered in his own house the 
 murderers carry his body behind the Abbey and leave it there 
 the track of their feet is seen in the snow ; so as to make it 
 plain that Arden was not murdered where he was found, but 
 carried thither after he was dead, blood is likewise discovered 
 on the floor Ales, Mosbie, Greene, and all the other persons, 
 who were principals or abettors in the murder, are punished as 
 they deserved. (Genest.) 
 
 Miss Barton's next appearance at Drury Lane was on the 25th 
 of September, 1759, as Dorcas in "Komeo and Juliet." The 
 announcement of her name, however, was now somewhat different 
 owing to an important change in her circumstances ; she was no 
 longer Miss Barton but Mrs. Abington, late Miss Barton ; under 
 this name we shall, therefore, hereafter speak of her. 
 
 At this theatre, (Drury Lane) her engagements appear to 
 have been very irregular 'for some time, during the first season 
 she had, with the exception of playing Lucy, in " The Virgin 
 Unmasked " and a new part in "The Minor," little or nothing 
 to do, and things were not much better the second season. The 
 theatre was, at this time, overstocked with popular female 
 actresses, and advancement was extremely difficult, everything 
 was monopolised by Mrs. and Miss Pritchard, Mrs. Olive and 
 Miss Macklin, whose popularity demanded the constant assign- 
 ment to them of all the best characters. Miss Barton's salary 
 was, in consequence, very moderate, being but thirty shillings a 
 week, but even out of so limited an income she not only 
 contrived to live but also to pay masters for instruction in 
 various branches of the knowledge she was so deficient in, and 
 which she sorely felt her need of. One of these masters was 
 Mr. James Abington, a trumpeter, in the royal service, him she 
 employed to teach her music, and afterwards married. In Sep- 
 tember, 1759, as we have said, she was announced as Mrs. 
 Abington, a name she was destined afterwards to cover with 
 lustre, but a name, so far as she was concerned, connected only 
 with difficulty and unhappiness. 
 
 The rest of her appearances on the London Stage, after her 
 marriage, were as Cherry, in the " Stratagem," on September 
 27th, as Lucinda, in the "Conscious Lovers," on October 2nd, 
 as Lucetta, in the " Suspicious Husband," on October 5th, as 
 Miss Lucy, in the "Old Man taught Wisdom," on October 6th, 
 as Wishwell, in the "Double Gallant," on October llth, as 
 Foible, in the " Way of the World," on October 16th, as Melissa, 
 in the " Lying Valet," on October 19th, and in some character 
 not now ascertainable, on October 31st, in " High Life Below 
 
14 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Stairs." Genest says, " Mrs. Bradshaw and Mrs. Abington' s- 
 names are in the bill ; Mrs. Bradshaw was the cook ; Mrs. 
 Abington must have been Lady Bab or Lady Charlotte her 
 name is not in the farce as printed ; but if the Manuscript bill 
 had given us the names of all the female performers, it would 
 have been easy to have ascertained which of the two characters 
 she acted. 
 
 As Mrs. Abington grew popular, her husband showed unmis- 
 takeable signs of jealousy, whether justifiable or not it is not 
 easy to say, but things came to such a pitch, and the dissatisfac- 
 tion grew so mutual that by common consent they parted. A 
 regular agreement, was some time after entered into, and she 
 covenanted to pay him a certain sum per annum, on condition 
 that he neither came near her nor in any way molested her. 
 That he lived some years in the receipt of this pension is pretty 
 generally believed, but he soon disappeared from public notice, 
 and was speedily forgotten. 
 
 Owing to the great success which attended Mrs. Abington, 
 and the vociferous applause that ever greeted her appearance, 
 numerous enemies sprang up amongst other members of the 
 profession, who contrived often to make her position very un- 
 comfortable. The extraordinary jealousy that prevailed between 
 stage heroes and heroines, is not to be imagined by those who 
 never took a peep behind the curtain. If a new actor or actress 
 came on in the same walk as another who was supposed to have 
 established a reputation for that cast of parts, every invective 
 was called into play to diminish the merit and destroy the 
 reputation of the young performer. Mrs. Olive, who considered 
 Mrs. Abington as her professed rival in many capital characters, 
 could not refrain, upon every occasion, testifying the mortifica- 
 tion she felt, and her severities were sometimes of the grossest 
 kind. 
 
 Five years after, upon Mrs. A 's return to England, and 
 
 when again engaged by Garrick and meeting with the same 
 rapturous applause from the public, the same jealousy again 
 broke out and would sometimes display itself in bickerings and 
 altercations that were not entirely congenial to the delicacy of 
 the sex. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Proposals from an Irish Manager Garrick's indifference to her claims 
 and merits Distressed state of the Irish Stage Brown's struggles at 
 Smock-alley Theatre Engagement of Mrs. Abington Notes on the 
 History of the Irish Stage Poor Pay of Actors, their sufferings Re- 
 opening of Smock-alley Theatre Mrs. Abington in The Stratagem- 
 Rapid increase of popularity Arrival of Wilkinson Mrs. Abington a 
 leader of fashion Great success of High Life Below Stairs Merchant of 
 Venice Crow-street opposition to Smock-alley Woodward and his 
 attempts to lower Mrs. Abington in public estimation, his failure Mrs. 
 A. at Crow-street Venice Preserved The Lady's Last Stake Way to 
 Keep Him Suicidal Policy of the two Theatres, mutual loss The Cork 
 Theatre Further opposition between Smock-alley and Crow-street, 
 gradual decline of both O'Keefe on Mrs. Abington's manner and style 
 of acting Boaden on Mrs. A. Wilkinson's retrospect. 
 
 We now come to a new phase of experience, altogether, in the 
 life of this popular actress. As we have seen, her engagements 
 011 the London stage were neither sufficiently regular nor 
 remunerative to enable her to live with any degree of comfort 
 and happiness, it is not to be wondered at, therefore, that she 
 readily lent an ear to proposals which came from the managers 
 of other theatres, and, closing her engagements at Drury Lane, 
 proceeded to exercise her abilities in the Irish capital. Wilkin- 
 son says, " Mr. Garrick, not perceiving her merit, or in fear that 
 encouragement would be for claiming advancement of terms, did 
 not seem inclined to introduce her to advantage before the 
 public, but, my then intimate friend, Mrs. Abington formed a 
 better opinion of her own deserts, and, thinking Mr. Garrick 
 intended injury, instead of acting friendly, she, without ceremony, 
 suddenly eloped, in December, to her former manager and 
 acquaintance, Mr. Brown." 
 
 The Irish theatre at this time was in a most lamentable 
 condition, failure upon failure had attended every effort to 
 secure a return of prosperity, and put into the manager's hands 
 the means wherewith to discharge the arrears of salary due to 
 the actors. Disappointment after disappointment continually 
 occurred, and Victor was at last compelled to put Sheridan's 
 orders into execution, which were to dissolve the company from 
 acting any longer on his account, and to close the season this 
 was done the 20th of April ; at the same time, as the whole 
 
16 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Company were sufferers by arrears of salary, he offered them, 
 from Sheridan, the use of the theatre if they chose to act some 
 few more plays on their own account ; this offer they accepted, 
 but, not finding it answer, they finally closed the theatre May 
 28th. 
 
 "Victor distributed the money in his hands among the 
 tradesmen, who had not received a farthing that season, and 
 some of the poorer performers ; this gave great offence to others, 
 but he seems to have acted as uprightly as he could under the 
 existing circumstances ; he left Ireland at the close of the season, 
 and here his account of the Irish stage ends." 
 
 " As Victor had returned to England, the distressed and 
 scattered remains of the company were without a leader every 
 eye was turned to Brown his indolence and inattention to 
 business made him ill qualified for the office of manager, but his 
 reputation as an actor and knowledge of the stage seemed to 
 balance these defects, and almost every performer enlisted under 
 him on his part his affairs were desperate, he had nothing to 
 lose, and if fortune smiled, he might reap some temporary 
 advantage he accordingly hired the theatre (Smock-alley) on 
 moderate terms." 
 
 Hitchcock says " Innumerable were the difficulties Mr. Brown 
 and the performers under his management had to struggle with 
 poverty, want of numbers, want of credit, a deserted ruinous 
 theatre, contrasted to every advantage which power, success, 
 strength of forces, universal favour and full coffers could confer. 
 From circumstances the least expected, frequently arise events 
 the most splendid. The disagreeable predicament in which 
 Mr. Brown was placed proved the means of introducing to the 
 world talents which have since excited its constant admiration. 
 I mean no less than those of the famous Mrs. Abington. This 
 lady was at that time very young. We are told that she played 
 a few parts at Bath, when Mr. Brown was manager; also at 
 Kichmond, and in a few chance plays with Theophilus Gibber, in 
 the Haymarket, and though she had at every opportunity, 
 given specimens of those comic powers which were afterwards so 
 amply displayed, yet it could scarcely have been supposed that 
 in so short a time she would have been acknowledged the first 
 comic actress on the stage. She had been at Drury Lane with 
 Mr. Garrick, but judging from every appearance, that at that 
 time, she would not have in London so favourable a field for the 
 display of her abilities as Dublin presented, she listened to the 
 proposals of Mr. Brown, who was then in town on the recruiting 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 17 
 
 Mr. Brown, indeed, the moment things were far enough 
 amuiged with regard to the hire of the theatre, communicated 
 with Mrs. Abington, and su high was his opinion of her merit, 
 that, without qualification, he offered her the choice of every 
 leading character whatever, if she would quit her engagement 
 at Drury Lane and join him in his venture. His offers were too 
 tempting to an actress whose subordinate position rendered 
 impossible a full development of her talents and who was in 
 the receipt of but thirty shillings a week, to be refused, she 
 accepted his proposals and embarked for Ireland, where she 
 arrived early in December. 
 
 Particulars for a history of the Irish Stage are by no means 
 plentiful, but it will be interesting just here to give a few of 
 such as do exist, to shew the sphere of labour upon which the 
 heroine of this memoir was entering. 
 
 Hitchcock, in his "Historical View," says "Having professedly 
 confined myself to the rise and progress of the stage in this 
 kingdom (Ireland), I shall decline entering into the minutiae 
 of its origin in Greece, or its first introduction into Koine, 
 Britain or other countries ; such disquisitions would be foreign to 
 my present purpose ; most of these points are besides sufficiently 
 known, and nearly all have been already ably treated on. But 
 whilst I endeavour to avoid everything superfluous or unnecessary, 
 I find myself obliged to confess that my subject, at least the 
 earlier part of it, does not, by its fruitfulness, sufficiently com- 
 pensate for this exclusion. The era on which I am about to 
 enter, like the remote parts of all history, is not of a nature the 
 most productive or entertaining : the information to be attained 
 is but very little, and even that little so enveloped in the pre- 
 vailing ignorance and uncertainty of the times, that it affords 
 but trifling materials for a clear or connected detail ; even where 
 accounts are most authentic, the remoteness of the periods pre- 
 vents them from being, in any high degree, enlivened or 
 interesting. At what period theatrical amusements first obtained 
 footing in this kingdom has never yet been accurately ascer- 
 tained ; the general opinion is, that the drama arose later in this 
 than in most countries of Europe. It was the unfortunate lot 
 of the stage in this country, that its introduction and earlier 
 progress were attended with more than usual uncertainty. The 
 sister kingdom, can, with the greatest accuracy, trace the 
 advances of her drama, step by step among them, from the con- 
 quest to the present times ; but those advantages are denied us. 
 The period generally agreed upon for its first introduction into 
 this kingdom is the early part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
18 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 But an abstract from the annals of this city, mentions the per- 
 formance of some plays in Henry the Eighth's time, before the 
 Earl of Ossory, then Lord Lieutenant, and several of the nobility 
 in Hoggin-green, now called College-green. We find little 
 relative to the stage till the year 1635, the tenth of King Charles 
 1st when the first theatre in Dublin was raised. It was built in 
 Werburgh-street, and established by John Ogilby, Esq., who 
 was then historiographer to his majesty, and master of the revels 
 under the Earl of Stafford, Lord Lieutenant of the kingdom. 
 
 The fair beginning of the Irish theatre, and seemingly pros- 
 perous advance of the stage, received, a short time after, a 
 severe blow. " Langartha " was the last play that was acted at 
 Werburgh-street theatre. The rebellion breaking out in the 
 October of the same year, 1641, involved the whole kingdom in 
 confusion. The drama naturally shared the fate of the state, 
 with which it was so intimately connected. The theatre was 
 shut up by order of the lords justices, and never afterwards 
 opened. What became of the performers we cannot learn ; 
 perhaps, like some of their brethren in London, on a similar 
 occasion, they entered into the service of their king and country. 
 Of the manager, Mr. Ogilby, we are told that, exhausted and 
 reduced by various misfortunes, he returned to England, where 
 he intended to remain till the tumults should subside, and a 
 happier revolution of affairs afford him an opportunity of 
 resuming his former situation with safety and satisfaction. A 
 period of twenty years elapsed before this wished-for change 
 took place. At length, however, the nation having wearied itself 
 out by intestine commotions, and, Charles the Second being 
 happily placed on the throne, things began to recover an appear- 
 ance of tranquility. At this time Mr. Ogilby's friends pro- 
 cured him a renewal of the patent from his majesty, and, in 
 1662, he returned to this kingdom to the particular joy of his 
 own acquaintance, and the satisfaction of the public in general. 
 Compassion for his sufferings, and a reviving taste for the drama, 
 in a short time operated with such force as to influence the 
 nobility and gentry to subscribe towards the building of a new 
 theatre. Smock-alley, then called Orange-street, was the spot 
 fixed on : a place, by its central situation, peculiarly adapted for 
 such a purpose. The foundation was quickly laid, and the work 
 advanced with such rapidity as to be ready for representations 
 in the same year, 1662. 
 
 If we may be allowed to form an idea of the elegance of this 
 theatre from its expense, we must imagine it to have been very 
 considerable, as it is said to have cost upwards of two thousand 
 
LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 19 
 
 pounds, a great sum at that time. In all probability, Smock- 
 alley theatre was superior to those then in London, the haste, 
 however, with which it was raised, was shortly after nearly 
 proving fatal to it ; for in the year 1671, during the represen- 
 tation, part of it fell down, by which accident two were killed 
 and many severely wounded. This misfortune put another 
 total stop to dramatic entertainments for a long time." 
 
 The name of this street, Smock-alley, took its appellation 
 from Mother Bungy, of infamous memory, and was, in her 
 time, a sink of debauchery, buii a man being found murdered 
 there, the miserable houses which then occupied that spot, were 
 pulled down and handsome ones were afterwards built in their 
 room, yet, though the place was thus purged of its infamy, it 
 still retained its old name. 
 
 " The death of Mr. Ogilby proved the fore-runner of a long 
 interval of inaction to the stage. New troubles arising and 
 fresh tumults breaking forth, prevented its restoration. The 
 unsettled state of the kingdom during the second James's 
 reign, kept the public mind in too continued a state of alarm and 
 a]) prehension to admit of any calm or peaceable relaxation. 
 The people will necessarily attend to the preservation of their 
 safety before they give way to the gratification of pleasure. It 
 was, besides, peculiarly the fate of this kingdom to bear a con- 
 spicuous part in the prevailing disturbances, and be the melan- 
 choly scene of action for most of the events which ensued. 
 Thus situated, every refined and rational entertainment was 
 crushed and suppressed by the hand of violence. For these 
 reasons, the re-establishment of the theatre did not take place 
 till the revolution had once more restored tranquility and pre- 
 sented a prospect of peace with her smiling train returning to 
 bless this divided kingdom with her permanent abode." 
 
 Of the years intervening between this early period and the 
 time of Mrs. Abingtoii's appearance, it would be out of place 
 here to offer more than a brief and passing word ; suffice it to 
 say that vicissitudes and trials of all and every kind, accom- 
 panied with occasional gleams of sunshine, were the lot of the 
 Irish Stage. Again and again, owing to national troubles, to 
 severe weather, and to the poverty of the people, were the per- 
 formances suspended. For the paltry pay offered most of the 
 actors, a greater part of which they never got, it is wonderful 
 that men and women could be found willing to go through the 
 hard work and submit to the tyranny and caprice of the public, 
 incidental to the profession. Yet every now and then, actors 
 and actresses from London, such as Quin, Mrs. Womngton, 
 
20 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Wilkes, Mrs. Olive, Mrs. Gibber and Sheridan made their 
 appearance, and plays were got up and performed in the best 
 of styles. Genest says, " It is scarcely credible, though strictly 
 true, that before Sheridan's time, Isaac Sparks had but twelve 
 shillings per week Dyer, eight Elrington, a guinea, and the 
 rest in proportion, miserable as these pittances were, they 
 many weeks received not above half their respective demands 
 perhaps the following anecdote, though from unquestionable 
 authority, will hardly be believed the acting managers as they 
 were called, were so reduced in their finances and exhausted in 
 their credit, that they were once obliged to repair to the theatre 
 on the evening of a play dinnerless the first shilling that came 
 into the house they despatched for a loin of mutton the second 
 for bread the third for liquor;, and so on till they had satisfied 
 the demands of nature." 
 
 Under such adverse circumstances it is a wonder that despair 
 did not overwhelm everybody, and the profession die out 
 altogether ; the love of the actor for his art, however, survived 
 through long and dreary seasons of privation and suffering, and 
 was ultimately rewarded for its constancy by the dawn of more 
 prosperous times. 
 
 Mr. Brown, having completed his arrangements in London, 
 and secured the services of Mrs. Abington, returned at once to- 
 Dublin, and. exerted himself to the utmost in the preparation of 
 his theatre for the coming season. His finances were at a very 
 low ebb indeed, but he endeavoured to use them to the best 
 advantage in the repair and decoration of the building in 
 Smock-alley, and so far succeeded in rendering it presentable, 
 that he was able to open it on Friday, the llth of December, 
 1759, with the "Stratagem," when Mrs. Abington, as Mrs, 
 Sullen, made her first appearance on the Irish stage ; Brown r 
 himself, playing Archer, and Waker, Scrub. " On this occasion 
 Brown spoke a prologue, written by himself, entreating the 
 favour and protection of the town. Every effort which could be 
 used was tried to procure a respectable audience for the first 
 night, and the curiosity generally prevalent on such occasions 
 induced many to visit their long-favoured scene of amusement. 
 The company was altogether tolerably liked, and hope animated 
 their endeavours. Their next essay was on the Wednesday 
 following, when Mr. Brown appeared in his favourite Benedict, 
 which, with Mrs. Abington's Beatrice, were as truly capital 
 pieces of acting as ever were presented to the public." 
 
 " As Mr. Brown was acknowledged to be equal to any comedian 
 living in such characters as Brass in the " Confederacy," Bayes- 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 21 
 
 in thf M Rehearsal," Ringer in the " Suspicious Husband," Sir 
 John Brute, Felix, Roebuck, Marplot, Dr. Wolf in the " Non 
 Juror," " Don John in the " l Chances," Monsieur Le Medicin, 
 Lord Cluilkstone, Aspin, Abel Drugger ; so did Mrs. Abington 
 surpass the most sanguine expectations in Corinna, Clarinda, 
 Flora, and Violante, Lady Fanciful, &c. Each night she 
 appeared she added to her reputation, and before the season 
 closed, notwithstanding every disadvantage, and many these were, 
 particularly that of not having received the London stamp of 
 fashion and approbation, she was considered as one of the first 
 and most promising actresses on the stage." 
 
 "In the embarrassed state of the Smock-alley Company, 
 fortune raised an unexpected relief. This was the arrival of 
 Mr. Wilkinson in Ireland, and his almost immediate engage- 
 ment with Mr. Brown. He proved to be a very seasonable and 
 necessary reinforcement. He had great connections in Dublin, 
 and general opinion gave him the preference to Mr. Foote. His 
 terms were, shares above twenty pounds, and a clear benefit. 
 The former proved of little emolument ; the latter, highly pro- 
 ductive. He appeared on Friday, January 4th, 1760, after the 
 comedy of "Much ado about Nothing," in a piece of Mr. Foote's 
 never at that time acted in Ireland, called the " Diversions of 
 the Morning." He was well supported and received much 
 applause. His imitation of his late friend Mr, Foote was highly 
 relished, and he repeated it on the Monday following, after 
 Brown's Shy lock and Mrs. Abiiigton's Portia, to about forty 
 pounds ! (Hitchcock.) 
 
 Mrs. Abiiigton's acting, especially in certain pieces, fairly 
 took the town by storm, and her taste in dress was regarded by 
 the ladies of fashion as so good and correct that it became quite 
 the rage to wear articles bearing her name. Her position was 
 very different to what it had been when employed at Drury 
 Lane, leading instead of subordinate and inferior parts were now 
 assigned to her, and the improvement in her earnings enabled 
 her to make the arrangement alluded to, by which she relieved 
 herself of the presence of her uncongenial husband. 
 
 The farce of " High Life below Stairs " seems to have been 
 one of the pieces in which she was particularly successful. 
 Hitchcock says, " Here I must notice the extraordinary success 
 of the farce of " High Life below Stairs." It would exceed the 
 limits prescribed to this work to copy at full length the circum- 
 stances attending this piece, which Mr. Wilkinson so agreeably 
 describes, suffice it to say that this pleasing farce had escaped 
 the notice of the Crow-street managers. In the multiplicity of 
 
22 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 their business, engrossed as they were in the preparation of 
 grand tragedies and pantomimes, they probably might not have 
 thought it worthy of their attention. Mr. Wilkinson luckily 
 fixed upon it. He communicated his intentions to Mrs. Abington 
 who not only approved of his choice, but consented to play the 
 part of Kitty. The piece had been brought out at Drury Lane, 
 so early as the month of October, where it had met with the 
 greatest success. They had both frequently seen it before they 
 left London, and were therefore quite perfect in the stage 
 business proper to it. It lay within the compass of the company ; 
 could be got up at a very little expense, and no comparison 
 could be drawn to their disadvantage." 
 
 In allusion to this, Tate Wilkinson says, "Mrs. Abington 
 approved of my thought for that farce, and she not only con- 
 sented but seemed pleased with Mrs. Kitty ; and, though she had 
 played several leading characters, yet our receipts only ran from 
 d20 to <25, and at best c40, in general, one night with the other. 
 She laboured under great disadvantages, and such as much 
 repelled her endeavours to get admittance in the court of fame, 
 for though she was much approved, yet, as she had not then a 
 London stamp, and as Mrs. Dancer was firmly established in 
 Dublin, her merit was much forgot when her guests were 
 departed." 
 
 Hitchcock proceeds " Mr. Wilkinson tells us Mr. Ryder's Sir 
 Harry was a very excellent piece of acting, and helped the piece 
 materially. A Mr. Grates, a very conceited actor, played Lord 
 Duke. His faults and oddities served but to heighten the 
 extravagance of the character. Mr. Heatou's Philip was as well 
 as such a part could be. He was a very good actor in all the dry 
 clowns, clodpoles, &c. Miss Phillips, (aunt to the present Mrs. 
 Jordan) who was also of a conceited turn though sensible and 
 well educated, made the part of Lady Bab better than any 
 other actress I ever saw attempt it ; myself from observation 
 and youth must have been stupid, not to have made a very 
 good Jemmy, the Country Boy, and, as the great personage 
 always appears last in triumphant entries and processions, so 
 in Mrs. Kitty, Mrs. Abington advanced. The whole circle were 
 in surprise and rapture, each asking the other how such a 
 treasure could have possibly been in Dublin, and almost in a 
 state of obscurity ; such a jewel was invaluable, and their own 
 tastes and judgments they feared would justly be called in 
 question, if this daughter of Thalia was not immediately taken 
 by the hand, and distinguished as her certain and striking merit 
 demanded. To this I shall only add, that so successful were 
 
LIFE OF MBS. ABINGTON. 23 
 
 they in their representation of this farce that it was repeated 
 upwards of a dozen times during the remaining part of the 
 season." 
 
 On the 7th of January, 1760, was acted the " Merchant of 
 Venice," Shylock by Brown ; Portia by Mrs. Abington, with 
 "Diversions of the* Morning," Lady Pentweazel, Wilkinson. 
 G-enest says " Wilkinson did not take off any of the regular 
 performers at C. S. as he did not wish to affront Barry, but 
 contented himself with imitating Foote, who was then at Dublin. 
 Barry and Mossop, in consequence, took tickets of him at his 
 benefit Wilkinson acted Lear Mrs. Amlet to Brown's Brass, 
 and Mrs. Abington's Corinna Cadwallader to her Becky 
 Lord Chalkstone and Old Man in " Lethe " to her Frenchman, 
 which she played with great applause. 
 
 " His (Wilkinson's) benefit was February 15th, when not- 
 withstanding there was a deep snow, and a very strong play at 
 Crow Street, the house overflowed in every part, for Wilkinson 
 had many friends in Dublin the receipt was J2172, the greatest 
 ever known at that time in that theatre Douglas was the play ; 
 Norval, Wilkinson ; Lady Randolph, Mrs. Ibbott ; with Tea, 
 and (never acted in Ireland) High Life Below Stairs. Lovel, 
 Wilkinson ; Sir Harry, Ryder ; Duke, Yates ; Philip, Heaton ; 
 Kitty, Mrs. Abington. In consequence of the overflow of this 
 evening, another night was demanded for the outstanding tickets, 
 this was fixed for February 21st, when there was .150 in the 
 house, though .40 or less seem to have been the average receipt 
 one night with another the play was " The Orphan of China " 
 Zamti, Wilkinson (which character he says himself he had acted 
 before and been well received in) ; Mandane, Mrs. Ibbott with 
 High Life again." 
 
 The Crow-street manager advertised against it that they had 
 dresses preparing in London, which were to be sent over, and 
 intimating Mr. Murphy, the author, would follow to see it 
 rehearsed," to which Mr. Brown replied, in the following 
 paragraph : 
 
 " * The Orphan of China ' being a tragedy not in anyway 
 difficult or mysterious to those who do not require to be 
 parrotted in their parts, we can assure the public that it is now 
 in perfect readiness, and will be performed this evening at the 
 theatre, in Smock-alley, without the assistance of the author : 
 for as plays are sometimes revived long after the author's 
 decease, what would become of them in a theatre when it is 
 found essentially necessary for the poet to attend the latter 
 rehearsals? A\id as to the dresses, neither the Chinese or 
 
24 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Tartar are absolutely unknown in Ireland, therefore, it is hoped, 
 it will not be objected as a fault that we have not gone to 
 London either for design or materials." 
 
 Mandaiie was acted by Mrs. Ibbott, a lady of merit in speaking 
 blank verse. There was .150 in the house the second night of 
 " High Life," and it went off, if possible, with more eclat than 
 on the first representation, and Abington resounded in all parts 
 of the theatre. I remember the second night of " High Life." 
 
 Mrs. Abington said to me (with great propriety), " Good G , 
 
 Mr. Wilkinson ! what could provoke you to blunder so ? why 
 should you think of a tragedy, when you had reason to expect 
 so fine a house, as the company are not equal to the performance ?" 
 Certainly, her being so noticed in Kitty would, in speculation 
 have been materially bettered with that lady in a leading charac- 
 ter in comedy ; the house would have felt much injured and 
 diminished in profit had half price been taken, but it neither 
 was then, nor ever since has been, the custom to take under 
 price in Dublin. I had a strong party made again by my 
 friends, which, with Mrs. Abington's name, settled the business 
 to my advantage ; but I told her my reason for taking a tragedy 
 was solely that its gravity might aid and give spirit when the 
 new farce came on. The truth was, I wanted to entertain myself 
 with acting Mr. Ga nick's part of the Chinese Zamti, in which 
 I was so fortunate as actually to please beyond mediocrity, 
 though dressed in an old red damask bed gown, which was what 
 we termed the stock bed gown for Brabantino and many other 
 parts and had for time immemorial been of that venerable use, 
 and bore the marks of many years' faithful servitude. 
 
 I was certainly lucky in my two nights answering with such 
 swimming success, and more fortunate still, when I inform the 
 reader, twenty-four hours after would have given the last 
 night a severe blow, and greatly prejudiced it, for the next day 
 not only an alarm was received, but several expresses arrived, 
 that Thurot had actually landed at Carrickfergus. This, of 
 course, caused the army to march by beat of drum instantly, 
 to give immediate assistance and repel the invaders, and it 
 naturally occasioned a general panic and confusion and was the 
 topic of universal conversation throughout the city of Dublin, 
 even the Abington that day was not mentioned. It quickly 
 subsided, and Mons. Thurot made an unfortunate retreat, as 
 stands on well known record. 
 
 " High Life Below Stairs " was perpetually acted and with 
 never failing success. In ten days after its being performed, 
 Abington's cap was so much the taste with the ladies of fashion 
 
LIFE OP MBS. ABINGTON. 25 
 
 and ton, that there was not a milliner's shop window, great or 
 small, but was adorned with it, and in large letters ABINGTON 
 appeared to attract the passer by. This Abington-rage Wood- 
 ward endeavoured to suppress by ridicule, not here fit to be 
 described, but all too little, or rather to no purpose, for her 
 reputation as an actress daily increased, though on the remote 
 ground of an unfashionable ill supported theatre. (Wilkinson.) 
 
 This " Henry Woodward was born in the borough of South- 
 wark, in the year 1717, where his father had for some time 
 followed the business of a tallow chandler, for which profession 
 the son was intended. Very fortunately, however, for the youth, 
 he was placed in Merchant Taylor's School, a seminary long 
 remarkable for the men of genius it has produced in various 
 professions. There Harry made a rapid progress, and acquired 
 a taste for the classics which in the future part of his life, he 
 frequently displayed to the surprise of such of his company as 
 had not been acquainted with the manner in which he was 
 educated. A circumstance happened when he was about four- 
 teen years of age which gave him a strong bias in favour of a 
 theatrical life, it was briefly this : From the uncommon run of 
 the " Beggar's Opera," Mr. Rich who was at that time manager 
 of the Theatre Royal, in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, was encouraged 
 to represent it by cliildren. In this lilliputian company Harry 
 performed the part of Peachum with great success ; and having 
 thus entertained a passion for the drama, could never afterwards 
 divest himself of it. He had begun with the lowest of panto- 
 mimical characters, and went on in regular succession from a 
 frog to a hedgehog, an ape and a bear, till he arrived at the 
 summit of his ambition, harlequin. His talents at this period 
 produced him a genteel salary at Co vent- Gar den Theatre, and 
 in consequence of the death of Chapman, the comedian, he had 
 an opportunity of exhibiting his comic powers in their full force. 
 Marplot, Lord' Foppington, Sir Andrew, Aguecheck, Touchstone, 
 Captain Parolies, &c., were all represented by him with an 
 uncommon degree of applause. 
 
 In the year 1747, Mr. Sheridan, manager of Smock Alley 
 Theatre, Dublin, engaged him at no less a sum than five hundred 
 pounds to perform the ensuing winter. In this engagement 
 Mr. Woodward was articled as a comedian and harlequin, in 
 both which departments he was extremely useful, and brought 
 great receipts. In the former character he attacked Mr. Foote 
 in his favourite piece of " Tea, or the Diversions of the Morn- 
 ing," with such superior strength of humour, ridicule and 
 mimicry, as beat him out of the field ; and in the latter, got up 
 
26 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 a new pantomime (since altered to " Queen Mal> ") which did 
 his invention great credit and his employer considerable service. 
 As a comedian he was unequalled in his cast of parts, as a com- 
 poser of pantomimes he had infinite merit, his merit likewise 
 as a principal actor in those amusements, was considerable. 
 (Thespian Dictionary.) 
 
 Whatever Woodward's power and influence over other actors 
 might be, he altogether failed, as we have said, in his attempt 
 to lessen the fame acquired by Mrs. Abington, on the contrary, 
 that fame increased every day and Hitchcock says " she became 
 an object for the Crow-street managers to fix their attention 
 upon, many persons of the first rank earnestly interested 
 themselves in her favour, and wished much to see their new 
 favourite transplanted to the genial sunshine of the Royal 
 Theatre before the close of the present season, and they exerted 
 themselves so strenuously that an engagement was soon con- 
 cluded, she was to perform for a few nights for a clear benefit. 
 
 Her first appearance at Crow-street was on the 22nd of May, 
 1760, in the character of Lady Towiiley, and Lucinda in the 
 Englishman in Paris, and so generally was she patronised that 
 part of the pit was laid into the boxes and there was a great 
 overflow from every part of the house." 
 
 The theatre closed June 9th with Oroonoko, with the Virgin 
 Unmasked, by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 " Woodward immediately set off for London to provide for 
 the next season he was followed in some few weeks by Mossop, 
 on similar business. Thus ended one of the most brilliant seasons 
 ever known in Ireland, at the end of which, Barry and Wood- 
 ward found themselves greatly deficient, and this deficiency 
 increased every year, till it involved them in total ruin. So heavy 
 and numerous a company had never been collected the weekly 
 payments to performers alone often amounted to d170 trades- 
 men's bills, and servants' salaries frequently were not less 
 than .200 more the receipts of the theatre" were not equal 
 to these expenses, and the managers, who had launched into 
 such extravagance, felt too late the consequences of their im- 
 prudence. Whether the interests of the dramatic world and the 
 public in general would be best served by one or by two theatres 
 had been much disputed, but it appears clear as a matter of 
 fact, that Dublin could not maintain two play-houses without 
 ruin to one or both parties." (Hitchcock.) 
 
 The Crow-street theatre re-opened in the autumn, and on the 
 17th of November, Mrs. Abington played the part of Lucy 
 in the " Beggar's Opera." 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 27 
 
 " As soon as the managers found they were to be opposed by 
 Mossop, they offered her an eligible engagement, which she 
 thought proper to accept rightly judging that her abilities 
 would receive greater support and have better opportunities 
 of displaying themselves with Woodward than with Mossop 
 it was indeed no easy task to adjust the distribution of parts 
 between her and Mrs. Dancer, however it was agreed to divide 
 them as near as possible with impartiality." (Hitchcock.) 
 
 This was followed soon after by " Venice Preserved " with 
 first time, Queen Mab Harlequin, Woodward ; Columbine, Mrs. 
 Abington, and then 
 
 " The Lady's Last Stake "Lord George Brilliant, Wood ward : 
 Mrs. Conquest, Mrs. Dancer : Miss Notable, Mrs. Abington : 
 who in girlish characters was at this time superior to any 
 actress from her naivete and genuine traits of nature she 
 acted Miss Prue to Mrs. Dancer's Anglica, and did herself 
 infinite credit in Polly Honeycombe. 
 
 In February 1761, was acted for the first time in Ireland, 
 "The way to Keep Him," when Mrs. Abington is said to have 
 added greatly to her reputation by the easy, elegant, finished 
 portrait of the woman of fashion which she exhibited in the 
 Widow Belmour. 
 
 Crow-street theatre closed on the 9th of June with " Every 
 Man in his Humour." 
 
 " The latter part of the season had proved a continued dis- 
 agreeable scene of exertions and rivalship, productive of infinite 
 trouble, great expense, and vexation, attended with loss of 
 reputation and very little profit, and gradually involving the 
 managers of each house in that ruin which finally overtook both. 
 It seemed to be laid down as a rule by the respective managers, 
 that no sooner was a piece announced to be in rehearsal or 
 for exhibition by the one, than the other strained every nerve, 
 no matter with what propriety to prepossess the public with an 
 idea of its being preparing in a superior style by him, or boldly 
 advertising the very piece, on the same evening, sometimes 
 without an idea of its being performed, but merely to divide 
 or suspend the general curiosity. Thus the little ballad farce 
 of the Lottery, which, from the limited number of after-pieces, 
 more than its intrinsic merit, was then much in fashion, was no 
 sooner exhibited at Smock-alley, than the week following pre- 
 sented it to the public at Crow-street ; supported by the Jack 
 Stocks of Mr. Griffith, and the admirable Chloe of MrslAbingtoii. 
 
 " The Wife's Resentment," revived at the theatre Royal, with 
 Mr. Woodward, Mrs. Dancer, and Mrs. Abington, immediately 
 
28 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 produced an advertisement announcing the same play with Mr. 
 Mossop, though he had not the least idea of exhibiting it. 
 
 Mr. Colman's farce of Polly Hoiieycombe, then performing 
 with great eclat at Drury-lane, was, in like manner advertised 
 by both parties, but only produced at Crow-street, on which 
 occasion, as before noticed, Mrs. Abington acquired infinite 
 credit in the part of Polly. 
 
 But the greatest piece of generalship manifested through the 
 whole of this doubtful contest was respecting the new tragedy 
 of " The Orphan of China," written by Arthur Murphy, Esq., 
 and at that time exhibiting with uncommon reputation in 
 London. The great fame and popularity of this piece, rendered 
 it an obect of peculiar attention to both houses in Dublin ; but 
 to attain their object they pursued quite different lines of 
 conduct. The play being printed, was consequently in pos- 
 session of both. Mr. Mossop observed a discreet silence 011 the 
 subject, and kept his designs as much a secret as possible. The 
 managers of Crow-street on the contrary, confident of their 
 strength, but rather injudiciously I should think, for several 
 weeks, made a great parade of their intentions of pro- 
 ducing it with a pomp and magnificence, equal to that of Drury- 
 lane ; informing the public of the extraordinary expense they 
 were at, in having all the dresses made in London, from models 
 imported from China, and an entire new set of scenes painted 
 for the occasion, in the true Chinese style, by the celebrated 
 Carver, then deservedly in the highest reputation. 
 
 When the expectations of the town were raised to the 
 utmost pitch, and curiosity strained to the highest point without 
 the least previous hint dropped, most unexpectedly, early on 
 Monday Morning, January 5th, 1761, bills were posted up, 
 announcing the representation of this much talked of tragedy 
 that very evening, at Smock-alley Theatre. The scenery, dresses, 
 and decorations entirely new, with this specious and popular 
 addition, the characters will be all new dressed in the manufac- 
 tures of this kingdom. 
 
 The truth was, they had bespoke dresses, to be made in 
 London, on the models of the Drury-lane habits, but had not the 
 least expectation of their arriving in time. As they knew that 
 everything depended on their producing it before the other 
 house, certain they had not an equal chance on equal terms, the 
 dresses and scenery of Crow-street being so much superior, they 
 used evey exertion possible. The tragedy was rehearsed three 
 times a day, and Mr. Tracey, then tailor to the theatre, working 
 day and night on the dresses, they were completed in eight and 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 29 
 
 forty hours. The event proved they acted right. The Orphan of 
 China drew five tolerable houses to Smock-alley, before they 
 were able to get it out at Crow-street, and then it did not 
 answer the expense they had been at. \The dresses and scenery 
 were truly characteristic, but the curiosity of the public had 
 been in a great measure previously gratified. (Hitchcock.) 
 
 In the summer of 1761, the Crow-street managers opened a 
 new theatre at Cork. 
 
 " During the infancy of the stage in Ireland, Cork was fre- 
 quently visited by itinerant companies of comedians, who some- 
 times spent an entire winter there with much emolument. The 
 theatres on these occasions were generally temporary structures, 
 hastily erected for the immediate purpose. In process of time, 
 the Dublin managers extended their views to a city so capable 
 of supplying the intervening time, between the close and the 
 opening of their winter seasons. The country companies were 
 obliged to give place to his majesty's servants, and a new theatre 
 was erected at the corner of Princess-street, in George-street, 
 and opened in the year 1736. Messrs. Barry and Woodward, 
 with a judicious eye, beheld the many advantages likely to arise 
 from a theatre on a more extended scale, in so capital a situation ; 
 the present one being much too small for their processions, and 
 pantomimes. They had accordingly advertised a subscription 
 for raising a fund towards building a new theatre. The pro- 
 posal was eagerly embraced; in a few weeks the money was 
 raised. The ground was purchased in Georges-street, not far 
 from the former buildings, in a situation which every day im- 
 proved, and the work began. The model adopted was that of 
 Crow-street ; the dimensions were nearly as large, except having 
 but one gallery. It was finished and ready for the reception 
 of the company this summer, and the public expressed great 
 pleasure at so great an improvement in their favourite amuse- 
 ment." (Hitchcock.) 
 
 The theatre was duly opened with a company of unusual 
 strength, and the season proved to be uncommonly brilliant and 
 profitable. Shuter went with them to Cork, but Mrs. Abingtoii 
 remained in Dublin, to which city the company returned, 
 flushed with success. 
 
 Mr. Woodward at once left for England for the purpose of 
 endeavouring to make up for certain losses he had sustained in 
 his company, and which, in the opinion of some, gave a prepon- 
 derance of strength to Mr. Mossop. Pretty nearly equal in 
 quality were the two companies, but Mrs. Abington and Mrs. 
 Fitzhenry had been won over to Mr. Mossop, jealous of the 
 
30 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 power of Mrs. Dancer, and Mr. Ryder too, who had been absent 
 for some time, returned to Smock-alley to take that lead which 
 his merit so highly entitled him to. The theatre opened in 
 October with the " Spanish Fryar." 
 
 " Among the ill effects produced by two rival theatres, one 
 was, that of seducing performers from their first engagements. 
 Changing sides was so much the fashion, and some gentlemen 
 were so much in this mode of manoeuvre, that they were some- 
 times led into great mistakes, and have often been called to 
 play at one theatre, when they have been found dressing at 
 another." (Hitchcock.) 
 
 At this time Mrs. Abington played Termagant. 
 
 " Wilkinson, who had arrived in January, and was engaged 
 for twelve nights, acted Lady Pentweazel his benefit (February 
 22nd) was a very great one "Jealous Wife" Oakly , Wilkinson ; 
 Major Oakly, Baddeley; Lord Trinket, Jefferson; Charles, Reed ; 
 Russet, Heaphy ; Lady Freelove, Miss Kennedy ; Harriet, Miss 
 Macartney; Mrs. Oakly, Mrs. Abington ; with "Tea," Buck's 
 " Have at you all," and the farce of the " Country House." 
 
 After his engagement was over, Mrs. Abington requested him 
 to act for her benefit in an interlude, which proved a foolish busi- 
 ness the play was " Rule a Wife." Lean, Mossop ; Peres, 
 Brown ; Estifania, Mrs. Abington. She spoke an Epilogue in 
 which there were some lines sarcastically aimed at Woodward, 
 who deserved this at her hands, for what he had said of her 
 about two years before ; they were very severe, and as she 
 delivered them excellently in Woodward's manner, he was stung 
 to the quick. (Genest.) 
 
 The comedy of " All in the Wrong," written by Mr. Murphy, 
 was then performing with such eclat in London, as to make it 
 well worthy the attention of the Dublin managers. Each party 
 prepared for its representation. It was announced with much 
 pomp, as in rehearsal at Crow-street, when, after five or six days 
 hard study it was most unexpectedly, one morning, without any 
 previous notice, advertised for that evening at Smock-alley. The 
 consequence was it was pushed on six nights before they could 
 possibly bring it forward at Crow-street, and then it was not 
 worth much to either party. Notwithstanding which, it was 
 played sixteen nights that season at Smock-alley. 
 
 Notwithstanding any little temporary success, during the 
 course of the season, the interests of the Crow-street theatre 
 were visibly on the decline. The Lord Lieutenant, the Earl of 
 Halifax, it is true, afforded his patronage, and generally com- 
 manded at least once a week. Several very excellent pantomimes 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 31 
 
 also, particularly two new ones, the " Fair " and the "Sorcerer," 
 were produced. * Yet in spite of all these advantages and exertions, 
 the managers found their receipts infinitely inferior to their 
 disbursements, which indeed were too heavy for a Dublin theatre 
 to support. The succeeding season, in Dublin, exhibited nothing 
 remarkable. The theatres were visibly on the decline ; unable 
 to support the expense of the prevailing opposition, the man- 
 agers found every day added to the precariousness and danger 
 of their situation, without the least prospect of relief. The 
 receipts of the two theatres were scarcely sufficient to defray the 
 expenditure of one. The greatest contention seemed to be, not 
 who should gain most, but who should lose the least. Towards 
 the end of the season Mr. Mossop produced Mrs. Abington, 
 whose popularity rendered her at this time a welcome visitor, 
 but who not being so well supported as she ought, had not, con- 
 sequently so much attraction. Smock-alley closed much sooner 
 than Crow-street. (Hitchcock.) 
 
 This brings Mrs. Abington's career in Dublin to a close, act- 
 ing sometimes at Crow-street and at other times at Smock-alley, 
 always with success, and winning the loudest applause and 
 approbation, she thus passed five years of her life. Henceforward 
 we shall have to speak of her appearances on the stage of the 
 English metropolis. 
 
 In closing this section of our memoir, we shall give a few 
 further specimens of the very high estimation in which she was 
 held by those who were competent judges of her professional 
 ability during her stay in Ireland. 
 
 O'Keefe says " her manner was most charmingly fascinating, 
 and her speaking voice melodious. She had peculiar tricks in 
 acting ; one was turning her wrist, and seeming to stick a pin 
 in the side of her waist ; she was also very adroit in the use of 
 her fan, and though equally capital in fine ladies and hoydens, 
 was never seen in low or vulgar characters. On her benefit 
 night the pit was always railed into the boxes. Her acting 
 shone brightest when doing Estifania, with Brown's Copper 
 Captain, Don Juan Benedict, Bayes, Sir John Restless, and 
 Barnaby Brittle. At those times in Ireland, every comedy and 
 comic opera ended with a country dance by the characters, which 
 had a charming and most exhilarating effect, both to the dancer 
 and lookers on. A particular tune when he danced, was called 
 Brown's Rant; in the course of the dance, as he and his partner 
 advanced to the lamps at the front of the stage, he had a 
 peculiar step, which he quaintly tipped off to advantage, and 
 the audience always expecting this, repaid him with applause." 
 
32 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Boaden writes of her : " Ireland as a school for a young 
 actress, had been long rendered of first-rate importance by the 
 brilliant career of Mrs. Abington, who acted at both the Dublin 
 theatres, and unquestionably possessed very peculiar and un- 
 approached talent. She, I think, took more entire possession 
 of the stage, than any actress I have ever seen, there was how- 
 ever, no assumption in her dignity ; she was a lawful and 
 graceful sovereign, who exerted her full power, and enjoyed her 
 established prerogatives. The ladies of her day wore the hoop 
 and its concomitants. The spectator's exercise of the fan was 
 really no play of fancy. Shall I say that I have never seen it 
 in a hand so dexterous as that of Mrs. Abington. She was a 
 woman of great application, to speak as she did, required more 
 thought than usually attends female study. For the greater 
 part of the sex rely upon an intention which seldom misleads 
 them, such discernment as it gives becomes habitual, and is 
 commonly sufficient, or sufficient for common purposes. But 
 common-place was not the station of Abington. She was always 
 beyond the surface, untwisted all the chains which bind ideas 
 together, and seized upon the exact cadence and emphasis by 
 which the point of the dialogue is enforced. Her voice was of 
 a high pitch and not very powerful. Her management of it 
 alone made it an organ, yet this was so perfect that we some- 
 times converted the mere effect into a cause, and supposed it 
 was the sharpness of the tone that had conveyed the sting. Yet, 
 her figure considered, her voice rather soun ded inadequate ; its 
 articulation, however, gave both strength and smartness to it, 
 though it could not give sweetness. You heard her well, and 
 without difficulty, and it is the first duty of a public speaker to 
 be audible and intelligible. Her deportment is not so easily 
 described ; more womanly than Farren, fuller, yet not heavy, like 
 Younge, and far beyond even the conception of modern fine 
 ladies. Mrs. Abington remains in memory as a thing for chance 
 to restore us, rather than design, and revive our polite comedy 
 at the same time." 
 
 " From dear Dublin and good friends, "writes Wilkinson, " I 
 took my farewell early in March, 1760, and left Mrs Abington 
 going on in full career to reach the pinnacle where she has many 
 years sat smiling, and been looked at and admired with sincere 
 pleasure and respect by the first persons in both the kingdoms." 
 At that juncture she had many disadvantages to struggle with, 
 such as the encountering Barry's, Woodward's, Mossop's, 
 Fitzhenry's, and Dancer's benefit nights at Crow-street, which 
 summonses the Dublin world obeyed ; and Smock-alley, which 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 33 
 
 had sometimes by luck her attractions and chance benefits, &c., 
 dragged on perforce, but in the ides of March was on the verge 
 of a certain downfall. Plays were thus acted then in Crow- 
 street. "The Orphan." Castalia, Mr. Barry; Chamont, Mr. 
 Mossop ; Polydore, Mr. Dexter ; Monimia, Mrs. Dancer ; and 
 all the other characters well dressed and supported, as may be 
 supposed, by referring to the list of the company, with the 
 advantage of new scenery, a new and elegant theatre, &c. r 
 "All for Love." Marc Antony, Mr. Barry; Dolabella, Mr. 
 Jefferson ; Ventidius. Mr. Mossop ; Octavia, Mrs. Dancer ; 
 Cleopatra, Mrs. Fitzhenry. "Alexander the Great," cast in the 
 same manner. Comedies, with Woodward, Macklin, Mrs. 
 Kennedy, Vernon, &c., with the persons just mentioned : so that 
 take it all together, it was equal to any company I ever saw in 
 London, and much better than I have frequently seen there, 
 though the old house was sinking rapidly, had not Mrs. Abington 
 by her strength of arm upheld it ; yet it was indeed restored to 
 its ancient dignity and family honours for one joyful, happy 
 night of ecstacy, and that was no less than 011 the enjoyment of 
 the Abington, at what might be truly called her own night. 
 
 A strange play for Mrs. Abington to choose it was ! " A New 
 Way to pay Old Debts," March 17th, but she made amends by 
 other performances that evening, on which occasion the old, the 
 young, the gay, all bowed at her shrine as the Temple of Thalia, 
 such ascendancy had she thus quickly acquired over the public 
 opinion. This attachment towards the latter end of the season 
 did not cease with the million, for it is true, to attend the falling 
 theatre was a great bore, yet, still languishing for Abington, and 
 wishing to see her on a better cultivated and good promising- 
 soil, for her merit to be nourished and matured by a perpetual 
 sunshine, a party of leading persons proposed her acting a few 
 nights at Crow-street, before the theatrical campaign closed ; 
 gave assurance of patronage on her nights of performance, and 
 on a clear night being promised and fixed for Mrs. Abington, in 
 return for her support to the managers' nights, she complied 
 with their desire. 
 
 Mrs. Abington had not any occasion to request this change of 
 place or accumulation of honours, as they were not owing to 
 solicitation on her part, but the persons of distinction were 
 stimulated to this desire by their eagerness to satisfy themselves 
 by seeing the new favourite transplanted amidst the gaudy 
 flowers of Crow-street, where they did not doubt but she would 
 soon gain a state of distinction whenever the artists of theatrical 
 florists met to signalize, distinguish, and decide the claims to 
 
34 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 the prizes when they scrutinized on the play-house auriculas and 
 the gaudy tulips. 
 
 All that was contracted for by the persons of quality for the 
 managers and Mrs. Abington, was, I believe, strictly abided by, 
 faithfully executed, and answered to the infinite satisfaction of 
 all parties. The persons of lead and fashion were entertained 
 and paid for their purchase of choice, not compulsion ; the 
 managers got money. Mrs. Abington had a surprising and 
 magnificent audience at her benefit so I can guess they were 
 all pleased. Not that I would venture to pronounce all were 
 entirely satisfied, for there never can be great commotion at the 
 real court, or behind the theatrical curtain, but it must and will 
 affect and hurt the minds of those concerned. A lord dis- 
 appointed of his court expectation, seldom (I will not say never) 
 rejoices at the preference given to another, so the actor or actress 
 buoyed up with the pleasing tide of success, must be alarmed 
 when he or she not only hears but feels the treading of the kibe 
 by a courtier or new raised favourite. 
 
 It not only is galling, but more is really to be said for it than 
 is always allowed. That merit should be cherished and raise its 
 head, is a first principle and duty from the audience and the 
 manager ; but when considered as a lessening of pride and in- 
 come to another, it is a serious matter to the soul so piqued, 
 nor are any minds so soon hurt 011 the least frivolous occasions 
 as those of the theatre ; and sometimes it happens a phenomenon 
 really starts up. Mrs. Jordan, four years ago only, playing at 
 York, at <! 11s. 6d. per week, was thought really very clever 
 by London performers who saw her there, but all said it would 
 not do among them, yet by great luck, great good fortune indeed, 
 and to be for an hundred years at least remembered in theatrical 
 annals, she in two years afterwards made even the London 
 managers dread her frown, her non-compliance, her elope- 
 ment, her toothache, or her phantom of horror which she has 
 threatened them with, to the terror of tragedy itself, and made 
 them comply with the most exhorbitant terms. A happy lot 
 indeed ! A happy rise ! I hope it will last her life, and with 
 care make her career successful as it has so providentially and 
 wonderfully begun. 
 
 Mrs. Jordan is certainly the lucky child of fortune, but led, 
 caressed, and nursed in the lap of nature ; she is undoubtedly 
 the reigning Thalia of the age 1790, and deservedly so ; and to 
 her comic talents, archness, whim and fancy, I submissively bow, 
 and also acknowledge her humanity and goodness to her late 
 parent, but am compelled as Mr. Manager, to declare, like Mr. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 35 
 
 Foote in his "Devil upon Two Sticks," (as greatness knows 
 itself) that Mrs. Jordan, at making a bargain, is too many for 
 the cumiiiigest devil of us all. 
 
 Speaking of Mrs. Aldington's merit in the comic line occasioned 
 iny introducing Mrs. Jordan's name at the same time, and as I 
 cannot yet quit Mrs. Aldington's situation, whom I left at her 
 great benefit in Dublin, it may be easily supposed from her 
 being so happily transplanted, that she derived many advantages 
 from playing with Mr. Woodward, Mr. Macklin, and other 
 regulars ; nor was Mr. Woodward a loser but a gainer by the 
 acquisition to his stage, as Mrs. Abington rebounded the ball 
 to the force with which Woodward struck it. 
 
 But now another irksome matter arose in consequence of her 
 success ; where our passions or partialities are predominant, it 
 is not always reason can be listened to or obeyed. It was very 
 apparent, from motives of policy and sound judgment that Mrs. 
 Abington should be engaged on the most eligible terms, other- 
 wise they could not hope such a rising actress would article. To 
 this Woodward did not hesitate, as it assisted his comedies, and 
 an agreement was settled for the following winter. But when it 
 is considered Mrs. Dancer then played all the principal characters 
 in comedy as well as in tragedy, it made the sea of Crow-street 
 troubled ; the waves that looked calm turned to rough breakers, 
 and the open sea to rise and threaten a storm, for when those 
 ladies acted in the same plays, as in the " Lady's Last Stake," 
 Mrs. Dancer played Mrs. Conquest; Mrs. 'Abington, Miss 
 Notable ; (by the bye Mrs. Jordan, why have you neglected 
 Miss Notable?) In ** Love for Love," Angelica, Mrs. Dancer ; 
 Miss Prue, Mrs. Abington ; and many other plays, where they 
 were often mutually concerned, and sometimes where Mrs. 
 Abington was the rival Fine Lady, which some plays admit 
 where the parts are of equal consequence. Miss Notable and 
 Miss Prue, from the archness and excellent acting of Mrs. 
 Abington, seemed to have the decision at the winning post for 
 fame, but I must observe, those comic characters will ever, when 
 well supported, obtain the loudest applause, however well acted 
 Mrs. Conquest and Angelica may be by any actress whatever, as 
 the hoydens are so well calculated for what we term stage effect. 
 
 This division of hands from the upper and lower part of the 
 house, it was not likely Mrs. Dancer (as queen of the theatre) 
 could relish or gulp down by any means to make the Abington 
 pleasing or agreeable. This proved and grew offensive to Mr. 
 Barry, as he was then as passionate an inamorato as ever youth- 
 ful poet fancied when he loved, and would have thrown imme- 
 diate bars to the engagement with Mrs. Abington, and greatly 
 c 
 
36 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 impeded her rapid good fortune, had not a sudden and important 
 matter of astonishment at that time started up to the amazement 
 of every faculty of eyes, ears, <fcc., for Barry and Woodward, 
 lulled in their long wished for security, became the dupes of 
 their own arts and made the wandering prodigal (Woodward) 
 begin seriously to reflect, and severely repent his foolish conduct 
 in leaving his enviable situation in London, and above all the 
 horror of losing what he had saved with so much care. This 
 dreadful alarm was no less than the certainty of a report being 
 confirmed as real, which at first they treated as unlikely, vague 
 and impossible, but it proved strictly true, that Mr. Mossop 
 from the encouragement and instigation of all his friends, and 
 patronised by the Countess of Brandon, of powerful sway, with 
 many leaders of fashion, had certainly taken Smock-alley theatre 
 on a long lease, purposing many expensive and gaudy alterations, 
 &c., to oppose Crow-street, in the month of October, the ensuing 
 season. Barry and Woodward (to prevent if possible the dread- 
 ful undertaking) made him liberal offers, nay, even humbled 
 themselves before him, to entreat Mossop to name his own 
 terms. All this only increased his pride, and he spurned at 
 every kindness or emolument, submitted to his acceptance and 
 consideration : they even offered him one thousand pounds, 
 English, and two benefits whenever he chose to take them ; but 
 all would not do, though they certainly would have been losers 
 by his acceptance, but their situation was desperate ; therefore 
 all they could do was right if by any means they could have 
 effectually prevented such an opposition. Mossop's pride and 
 obstinacy was however bent on monarchy, and so he was the 
 cause of mutual ruin, but he at last suffered a peculiar 
 degree of punishment. 
 
 He had saved a decent fortune, and by the absence of Barry, 
 could have commanded a first station in London, at either 
 theatre, whenever he pleased, or wished a change from Dublin ; 
 but his pride was predominant over reason, so he prostrated 
 fame, fortune, health and peace of mind, headlong at the shrine 
 of vanity, where sycophants hailed him with songs of triumph 
 in full chorus, but his festal days were few and not to be envied. 
 
 Barry and Woodward on, this act of hostility being put into 
 actual force, were from necessity glad to secure Mrs. Abington ; 
 and I do suppose, however she might fear foul play from Mr. 
 Barry and Mrs. Dancer, thought Woodward to act with was a 
 great point, much better than being at Mossop's new theatre 
 without such a partner to support her; Mossop being out of her 
 walk, and Woodward the comedian. She therefore depended on 
 liis interest and candour for her consequence in the comic line. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 37 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Admiration excited in Ireland by Mrs. Abington Mrs. Abington and 
 the M.P. for Newry ; Death of the latter, Provision made for Mrs. A. 
 Keturn to Drury Lane Murphy's Inscription of the Way to Keep Him 
 to Mrs. Abington His flattering recognition of her services The 
 Provroked Wife Plain Dealer Clandestine Marriage Rule a Wife 
 Beggar's Opera Romeo and Juliet Virgin Unmasked Cymon English 
 Merchant Provoked Husband Country Girl School for Lovers 
 Widow'd Wife All in the Wrong False Delicacy Richard III. 
 Like Master like Man Funeral Lottery Merchant of Venice 
 Hypocrite No Wit like a Woman's Shakespeare's Jubilee Foote and 
 Garrick Mrs. Abington as Comedy The Stratagem School for Rakes 
 Jealous Wife Confederacy Merry Wives Double Gallant Careless 
 Husband West Indian Way of the World High Life Below Stairs 
 Twin Rivals Mrs. Abington in Paris Horace Walpole Twelfth Night 
 Hamlet The Lady's Last Stake Linca's Travels Revival of The 
 Chances, Mrs. Abington as Second Coustantia George II. and the 
 Theatre The Committee Fair Quaker of Deal Gamesters Epilogue 
 to the Gamesters Various plays, as the Frenchified Lady, Merope, 
 Albumazar, Prologue to last Rule a Wife School for Wives. 
 
 Mrs. Aldington's success in Ireland was universally allowed to 
 have been most unqualified, writers and critics of all kinds vied 
 with each other in expressing their admiration of her talents and 
 rendering to her a suitable tribute of applause. From the first 
 to the last of her five years' visit, her career had been triumphant, 
 her peculiar ability for the parts in which she appeared asserting 
 itself beyond contradiction or controversy, and winning from the 
 play-going public the highest approbation. " To the courteous 
 and hospitable inhabitants of the sister-isle, she needed no other 
 credentials than the super-natural talent with which she was 
 gifted by nature, and that being called forth by the genial hand, 
 continued fostering of public applause on the Dublin stage (the 
 best seminary for those of London), she not only snooted forward, 
 but even out-bloomed the fairest conceived hopes of her excelling 
 in Thalia's department. In this admired point of view it is not 
 to be wondered, that, among a people, one of whose characteristics 
 is gallantry, many of the young fashionable gentry and nobility 
 paid their complimentary addresses to so attractive an object, 
 and to which it is hard for female vanity not to listen." 
 
 Whether she might have hearkened with too encouraging an 
 indulgence to such addresses, or, that her husband (who had 
 
38 LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 accompanied her to Ireland) was, by insinuation from others, or 
 suggestion from himself, induced to believe she did, is what we 
 cannot take upon us to say, but it is certain that when she be- 
 came universally popular, he became extremely jealous and 
 conceived an antipathy against her. Her indignation was 
 aroused, and she affected to return this treatment with marks of 
 contempt and indignation, till, by degrees, what was at first but 
 a semblance in her, became at last to be a fixed reality, which 
 by his subsequent conduct her patron rendered immovable, where- 
 upon ensued the separation and agreement already mentioned. 
 
 Availing herself of the liberty afforded by this separation, 
 Mrs. Abington appears to have regarded herself as a single 
 woman again, and apparently was looked upon in the same light 
 by others. In order to rid herself of the crowd of admirers who 
 daily surrounded her, and emboldened by her husband's absence, 
 did not scruple openly to declare their love, and to enjoy quiet 
 under what she called an honourable protection (since the 
 circumstances of her position prevented her accepting any pro- 
 posals of marriage), she yielded at last to the solicitations of a 
 gentleman of family, fortune and learning, who had made the 
 tour of Europe, and was Member of Parliament for Newry in the 
 county of Down. 
 
 This connection, brought about through an approving choice 
 of the mind on both sides, gather than the gratification of any 
 other wish, the pleasure arising from this intercourse, became 
 gradually so intense, that he delighted in no company so much 
 as hers, each was a great and irresistible attraction to the other 
 and while she found herself unable to withdraw herself from his 
 company, he was charmed in cultivating a mind happily disposed 
 to receive and profit by his instruction, enjoying a singular 
 satisfaction in reading, explaining, and communicating to her 
 every kind of knowledge. 
 
 Business calling this gentleman to England shortly after, an 
 opportunity was afforded Mrs. Abington of re- visiting her native 
 country. The great reputation she had at once achieved in 
 Ireland, had very speedily attracted the attention of English 
 managers, and Mr. G-arrick had thought it worth his while to 
 make her what was then considered an extravagant offer to 
 return to Drury-lane, an offer she declined accepting until 
 Garrick returned from Italy and re-occupied his own house. 
 Meanwhile her protector's state of health became so bad as to 
 give rise to serious apprehensions respecting the future, and 
 impelled by a sense of duty and affection, she attended him to 
 Bath and some other places that, it was hoped, might assist in 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 39 
 
 his recovery, but a constitutional malady, under which he had 
 laboured from his infancy, at last getting the better of him and 
 threatening him with the approach of that final tribute, which 
 is to be paid at one time or other, by all mortal beings, he be- 
 thought himself seriously of leaving out of the reach of adversity, 
 a faithful friend and companion who had devoted herself to him, 
 and whose behaviour, during his last illness, was such as the 
 most heroic matron might not be ashamed to copy. His heirs 
 afterwards discharged, in a very honourable manner, the provision 
 he had made for her, and she was also favoured by the family 
 with a notice that is rarely the consequence of an attachment of 
 such a nature. 
 
 Accepting Mr. G-arrick's pressing invitations and offer of 
 what was then considered the liberal salary of =5 per week, 
 Mrs. Abington agreed to return to Drury-lane, and resolved 
 when her grief on account of her loss in the death of her lover 
 was somewhat assuaged, to exert her utmost efforts to reach the 
 highest pinnacle of fame in the particular line of business to 
 which she had shewn herself so peculiarly adapted. The diffi- 
 culty of finding a good part for her, however, seemed at first to 
 present a formidable obstacle to her occupation of the position 
 for which she was adapted. Nearly all those in which she had 
 been so successful in Dublin, were in the possession of Mrs. 
 Clive and Mrs. Pritchard, the Widow Belmour in Murphy's 
 comedy " The Way to Keep Him," was the only one of any 
 consequence, open to her. " With all her blushing honours 
 thick about her," she made her first appearance for five years in 
 this character, November 27th, 1765, and not only confirmed the 
 report of her former reputation, but drew that applause from 
 the author (as expressed in the edition of 1787) which will be a 
 lasting test of her intrinsic merit. 
 
 MR. MURPHY TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Madam You will be surprised at this distance of time, and 
 in this public manner, to receive an answer to a very polite 
 letter, which you addressed to me in the course of the last 
 summer at Yarmouth. In a strain of vivacity, which always 
 belongs to you, you invite me to write again for the stage. You 
 will tell me that having gone through the comedies of the " Way 
 to Keep Him," "All in the Wrong," and "Three Weeks after 
 Marriage," you now want more from the same hand. I am not 
 bound, you say, by my resolution, signified in a Prologue about 
 ten years ago, to take my leave of the dramatic muse. At the 
 perjuries of Poets, as well as lovers, Jove laughs ; and the public 
 you think, will be ready to give me a general release from the 
 
40 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 promise. All this is very flattering. If the following scenes, 
 at the end of five and twenty years, still continue to be a part 
 of the public amusement, I know to what cause I am to ascribe 
 it. Those graces of action, with which you adorn whatever you 
 undertake, have given to the piece a degree of brilliancy, and 
 even novelty, as often as you have repeated it. I am not un- 
 mindful of the performers who first obtained for the author the 
 favour of the town ; a G-arrick, a Yates, a Gibber, united their 
 abilities ; and who can forget Mrs. Clive ? They have all passed 
 away, and the comedy might have passed with them, if you had 
 not so frequently placed it in a conspicuous light. 
 
 The truth is, without such talents as yours, all that the poet 
 writes is a dead letter he designs for representation, but it is 
 the performer that gives to the draught, however justly traced, 
 a form, a spirit, a countenance, and a mind. All this you have 
 done for the Widow Belmour ; and that excellence in your art, 
 which you are known to possess, can, no doubt, lend the same 
 animation to any new character. But, alas ! I have none to 
 offer. That tinder in the poet's mind, which, as Doctor Young 
 says, takes fire from every spark, I have not found, even though 
 you have endeavoured to kindle the flame. Could I write as 
 you can act, I should be proud to obey your commands ; but 
 after a long disuse, how shall I recover the train of thinking 
 necessary for plot, humour, incident, and character ? 
 
 In the place of novelty, permit me to request that The Way 
 to Keep Him may be inscribed to you. You are entitled to it, 
 Madam, for your talents have made the play your own. A 
 Dedication, I grant, at this period of time, comes rather late; 
 but being called upon for a new edition, I have retouched the 
 dialogue, and perhaps so reformed the whole, that in its present 
 state it may be deemed less unworthy of your acceptance. It 
 is, therefore, my wish, that this address may in future attend 
 the comedy, to remain (as long as such a thing can remain), a 
 tribute due to the genius of Mrs. Abington, and a mark of that 
 esteem with which I subscribe myself, 
 Madam, 
 
 Your real admirer, 
 
 And most obedient servant. 
 
 Lincoln's Inn, ARTHUR MURPHY. 
 
 25th Nov., 1785. 
 
 " Here we cannot but pause to think of the inward satisfaction 
 Mrs. Abiugton must necessarily feel on her return to Drury-lane 
 theatre ; when she had to reflect that by her own spirited, yet 
 
LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 41 
 
 prudent conduct, she bad been the architect of her own fame 
 and growing fortune. Had she, like other young actresses, been 
 content to vegetate in the soil where she was first planted (and 
 which, perhaps, it would have been prudent for another person 
 to have so advised her), time and chance might have raised her 
 to an eligible situation ; but true genius, generally speaking, is 
 its best adviser. She knew best what she could do, and what 
 another might call presumption, she found from her feelings to 
 be the call of nature; she had spirit as well as judgment to obey 
 that call, and her grateful mistress, ever true to her votaries, did 
 not neglect to cultivate the sentiments she inspired. 
 
 Dec. 5th, of this same year, was performed by command," The 
 Provoked Wife." 
 
 Sir John Brute GARRICK. 
 
 Lady Brute MRS. GIBBER. 
 
 Lady Fanciful MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 The Public Advertiser for Dec. 2nd says : "Mrs. Gibber is come 
 to town and so well recovered as to be able to appear in 
 Belvidera, the latter end of the week." This, however, proved 
 the last time but one that her name was in the bill. 
 
 Dec. 7th was revived after twenty years, " The Plain Dealer," 
 considerably modified by Bicker staffe. "Notwithstanding the 
 excellence of " The Plain Dealer," it could not well have been 
 performed before a modern audience without alterations. 
 Bicker staffe is entitled to some degree of credit for reforming 
 the exceptional parts without materially mutilating the plot 
 he ought, however, to have retained much more of the original 
 dialogue instead of which he has foisted in several short insipid 
 make-shift scenes of his own." (Genest.) With the above was 
 performed " The Virgin Unmasked," (first time in five years) 
 Mrs. Abington. playing the part of Miss Lucy. 
 
 Dec. 13th, "The Provoked Wife" performed, Mrs. Abington 
 as previously in the part of Lady Fanciful, with Mrs. Gibber as 
 Lady Brute her name in the bill for the last time. 
 
 Feb. 20th, 1766, "The Clandestine Marriage" performed, 
 Mrs. Abington acted Betty in the play and Miss Crotchet in the 
 epilogue, but when the play was printed, she would not suffer 
 her name to be put to such small parts. Genest says " this was 
 ridiculous, as her name had been in the bills I have the real 
 bill for the seventh night of " The Clandestine Marriage," with 
 Mrs. Abington's name in it." 
 
 April 8th, " Eule a Wife " performed, Mrs. Abington playing 
 Estifania at her own benefit. 
 
42 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 April 14th, at Miss Wright's benefit, "The Beggar's Opera,'* 
 Lucy by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 May 2nd, Romeo and Juliet, with Catherine and Petrachio, 
 by Mrs. Abington and King; Gmmio, Yates. 
 
 May 10th, "The Way of the World," Millamant, Mrs. Abington. 
 
 Sept. 25th, " The Beggar's Opera," Lucy, Mrs. Abington. 
 
 Oct. 10th, " The Provoked Wife." 
 
 Sir John Brute GARRICK. 
 
 Constant BENSLEY. 
 
 Heartfree PALMER. 
 
 Razor YATES. 
 
 Lady Fanciful MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Brute MRS. PALMER. 
 
 Belinda Miss PLYM. 
 
 Mademoiselle MRS. CROSS. 
 
 Nov. 7th, " The Virgin Unmasked," Mrs. Abington as Miss 
 Lucy. 
 
 Jan. 2nd, 1767, Cymon, never acted. 
 
 Cymon VERNON. 
 
 Linco KING. 
 
 Merlin BENSLEY. 
 
 Dorus PARSONS. 
 
 Damon and Dorilas FAWCETT AND Fox. 
 
 Demon of Revenge CHAMPNESS. 
 
 Sylvia MRS. ARNE. 
 
 TJrganda MRS. BADDELEY 
 
 Fatima MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dorcas MRS. BRADSHAW. 
 
 1st Shepherdess Miss REYNOLDS. 
 
 2nd do. Miss PLYM. 
 
 " Cymon was acted with great success a third edition of it was 
 printed in 1767 King, Parsons, and Mrs. Abington played 
 particularly well. This dramatic romance, in five acts, is founded 
 on Dryden's tale of Cymon and Iphigenia. It is so generally 
 attributed to Garrick, that there can be no doubt of his being 
 the author. As a first piece it is contemptible : if it had been 
 brought out in two acts as a mere vehicle for songs, scenery, &c., 
 it might have past without censure." (Genest.) 
 
 Feb. 21st, "The English Merchant," never acted. Genest 
 says, " This is a very good comedy, by Colman ; he dedicated it 
 to Voltaire, on whose Scotchwoman lie had founded his piece. 
 Voltaire at first published his play under a fictitious name, and 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 43 
 
 pretended that he had translated it from a comedy written by 
 the author of Douglas. Colin an has not made any very material 
 alterations in the plot, but he has improved the play in many 
 points." Davies says that two celebrated performers (King, 
 who played Spatter, and Mrs. Abington, who played Lady Alton), 
 expected to have been hissed on the first night, but were well 
 received. 
 
 April 22nd, Mrs. Abington' s benefit, was performed " The 
 Way to Keep Him," with " Marriage-a-la-Mode, or Conjugal 
 Douceurs." This is supposed to have been some piece in which 
 Mrs. Abington had acted in Ireland. 
 
 Sept. 18, " The Provoked Husband." 
 
 Lord Townly ... REDDISH his first appearance at 
 Lady Townly ... MRS. ABINGTON. [Drury-lane, 
 
 Oct. 28, " The Virgin Unmasked," Miss Lucy, Mrs. Abington. 
 
 Nov. 16th, " The Country Girl," Mrs. Abington. . 
 
 Critics are of opinion she ought to have had the character 
 before as she had been highly successful with similar parts in 
 Ireland. 
 
 Nov. 23rd, " The School for Lovers, "Araminta, Mrs. Abington. 
 Dec. 5th, " The Widow'd Wife," never acted. 
 
 Frederick Mellmott REDDISH. 
 
 Syllogism KING. 
 
 General Mellmott HOLLAND. 
 
 Colonel Camply AIKEN. 
 
 Alderman Lombard LOVE. 
 
 Furnival J. PALMER. 
 
 Lord Courtly J. AIKIN. 
 
 Dr. Mineral DODD. 
 
 Mrs. Mildmay MRS. PRITCHARD. 
 
 Narcissa MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Sophia MRS. PALMER. 
 
 Sift MRS. CLIVE. 
 
 Susan MRS. BRADSHAW. 
 
 " The piece was acted 14 or 15 times it is a moderate comedy 
 by Kenrick the dialogue is better than the plot " 
 
 Jan. 19th, 1768, was performed " All in the Wrong." 
 Belinda MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Jan. 23rd, Never acted, " False Delicacy," a sentimental comedy 
 by Kelly, good in its way but narrowly escaping the charge 
 
44 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 of excessive dullness. Mrs. Abington played Lady Betty 
 Lambton. The object of the play was to ridicule " False 
 Delicacy." 
 
 April 6th, Mrs. Abington's benefit, " The Way to Keep Him," 
 Mrs. Abington as the Widow Belmour. Also the new comedy 
 of " National Prejudice," with Mrs Abington, Miss Reynolds, 
 Eeddish, Cautherley, and J. Palmer. 
 
 April 12th, Reddish' s benefit, "Richard III.," with "Like 
 Master, like Man," altered from " Vanburgh's Mistake," (never 
 acted there). Genest says: "Mrs. Baddeley and Mrs. Abington 
 probably acted Leonora and Jackinta. This farce came out in 
 Ireland perhaps before Reddish left that kingdom it was 
 printed at Dublin in 1770. " The Mistake " is so good a play 
 that it ought not to have been cut down to a farce besides the 
 thing is done in an absurd manner in the 2nd act, Leonora 
 threatens that she would repulse Carlos for the future, but she 
 certainly had not repulsed him when she makes her exit yet 
 Carlos enters immediately and says " repulsed again ! this is 
 not to be borne." 
 
 April 14th, Cautherley's benefit, "The Funeral." 
 
 Lady Harriet MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Oct. 31st, " The Lottery." 
 
 Lady Lace MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Nov. 5th, "The Merchant of Venice." 
 
 Portia MRS. ABINGTON (1st time.) 
 
 Nov. 17th, "The Hypocrite." (never acted.) 
 
 Dr. Cantwell KING. 
 
 Darnley REDDISH. 
 
 Col. Lambert JEFFERSON. 
 
 Ley ward CAUTHERLEY. 
 
 Maw- worm WELTON. 
 
 Sir John Lambert PACKER. 
 
 Charlotte MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Lambert MRS. W. BARRY. 
 
 Old Lady Lambert MRS. BRADSHAW. 
 
 " This is a very good alteration of the Nonjuror. Charlotte is 
 the best drawn coquette and the most defensible one on the 
 stage, though the part had been well performed by Mrs. Oldfield 
 originally, and since her time with great applause and approba- 
 tion by Mrs.Woffington and Mrs. Pritchard, yet it is impossible 
 
LIFE OF MBS. ABINGTON. 45 
 
 to conceive that more gaiety, ease, humour, eloquence and grace, 
 could have been assumed by any actress than by Mrs. Abington 
 in this part (Davies) she had acted Maria in Ireland." 
 
 Nov. 21 st, " The Provoked Husband." 
 
 Lady Townly MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dec. 14th, " The Provoked Wife." 
 
 Lady Fanciful MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Jan. 7th, 1769, " The Merchant of Venice." 
 
 Portia MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 28, Mrs. Abington's benefit, "The Hypocrite, fourteenth 
 time, with " No Wit like a Woman's." (Never acted.) 
 
 March 31st, " No Wit like a Woman's." 
 
 " Taken from George Dangiu of Moliere ; Modely, Palmer ; 
 Vintage, Weston ; Symon, Moody; Mrs. Vintage, Mrs. Abington. 
 Not printed." 
 
 In September, 1769, a Jubilee in honour of Shakespeare was 
 celebrated at Stratford, under the direction of Garrick. 
 
 Foote, either from envy of Garrick' s taking the lead in this 
 business, or from thinking that he conducted it with too much 
 vanity and self -ostentation, looked with a jealous eye upon the 
 whole, and hence took every little occasion, in squibs, sarcasms, 
 and bon-mots, to arraign the projector's taste and management. 
 
 This conduct, however, passed off with a laugh on both sides, 
 till the winter following; when, finding that Garrick meant to 
 convert his Jubilee into an object of profit, by bringing out a 
 representation of it on the stage, Foote' s spleen could be 
 restrained no longer he played off all his powers of ridicule 011 
 every part of the subject, both in company and in the public 
 papers particularly on the ode on erecting a statue to 
 Shakespeare, in which he pointed out some errors and inaccuracies 
 with such force of humour, as gained the greatest part of the 
 laughter on his side. 
 
 He carried his satire still further ; for, finding that the 
 entertainment of " The Stratford Jubilee " ran to ninety nights, 
 in that season, his jealousy became so strong, that he intended 
 to bring out a mock procession in imitation of it, and introduce 
 Garrick himself on the stage as the principal figure. In this 
 procession, a man was to be dressed out so as to resemble 
 Garrick as much as possible, in the character of Steward of the 
 
46 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Jubilee, with his wand, white topped gloves, and the mulberry- 
 tree medallion of Shakespeare hanging at his breast ; while 
 some ragamuffin in the procession should address him in two- 
 well-known lines of the grossest flattery. To this, Garrick's 
 representative was to make no other answer, but clap his arms, 
 like the wings of a cock, and crow out, Cock-a-doodle-doo ! 
 
 Garrick had early intelligence of his whole scheme, and the 
 uneasiness which he felt upon the occasion could not be 
 dissembled he dreaded public ridicule as the most painful 
 of all misfortunes ; and in the hands of such a man as Foote, 
 he apprehended the decay, perhaps the ruin, of that reputation 
 which was ever dear to him, and which he had been raising for 
 so many years. However, suddenly this mighty project fell to 
 the ground ; a nobleman, the mutual friend of both, seeing 
 Garrick so very unhappy about this menaced caricature, prevailed 
 upon Foote to abandon the design the parties met as if by 
 accident, at the house of this nobleman, when alighting at the 
 same time from their chariots at his lordship's door, and 
 exchanging significant looks at each other, Garrick broke silence 
 first, by asking, " Is it war or peace ? " Oh ! peace by all means 
 said the other, with much apparent good will, and the day was 
 spent in great cordiality." (Cook and Davies.) 
 
 The New Monthly Magazine for Feb. 1838, says : Mrs. Abiiigton 
 represented comedy in the pageant of the Jubilee, in 1769. 
 
 " Delightful, ever charming fair, 
 Whose presence ev'n the sons of care 
 
 With brows unfolded own, 
 How can the raptures be express'd 
 Of merry souls to see thee placed 
 
 Upon the comic throne ? 
 There long despotic niay'st thou reign, 
 And not a patriot will complain 
 
 Thy tyranny is grievous ! 
 No, Britons, let us all unite, 
 And join in comedy's delight, 
 
 Ere Abington must leave us." 
 
 Oct. 6th, " The Stratagem." 
 
 Mrs. Sullen MBS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Oct. 10th, " The Provoked Wife." 
 
 Lady Fanciful MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Oct. 14, The " School for Rakes," with the Jubilee. In the 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 47 
 
 piece will be introduced the pageant as it was intended for 
 Stratford- upon- Avon. Characters in pageant. 
 
 Benedick GARRICK. 
 
 Beatrice Miss POPE. 
 
 Touchstone KING. 
 
 Richard III HOLLAND. 
 
 Romeo BRERETON. 
 
 Hamlet CAUTHERLEY. 
 
 Falstaff LOVE. 
 
 Lear REDDISH. 
 
 Antony AIKIN. 
 
 Portia MRS. W. BARRY. 
 
 Apollo VERNON. 
 
 Tragic Muse MRS. BARRY. 
 
 Comic Muse MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Davies says that Stevens, to the great annoyance of Garrick* 
 turned the whole business of the real Jubilee at Stratford into 
 ridicule, and indeed it seems to have been a foolish affair, better 
 calculated to gratify Garrick's vanity, than to do honour to 
 Shakespeare. The Drury-lane Jubilee was very pleasing in the 
 representation and was acted through the whole season to 
 crowded houses. 
 
 Oct. 26th, " Merchant of Venice." 
 
 Portia MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dec. 4th, "The Jealous Wife." 
 
 Mr. & Mrs. Oakly... REDDISH & MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dec. 8th, " Confederacy." 
 
 Corinna MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dec. 16th, " Merry Wives." 
 
 Ford AIKIN (1st time.) 
 
 Slender CAUTHERLEY (1st time.) 
 
 Mrs. Ford MRS. ABINGTON (1st time.) 
 
 Dec. 23rd, " Love for Love." (not acted for five years.) 
 Miss Prue MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Jan. 16th, 1770, " The Double Gallant." (not acted six years.) 
 Lady Sadlife MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Jan. 25th, " The Careless Husband." 
 
 Lady Betty Modish MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 1st, " Rule a Wife," 
 
 Leon GARRICK. 
 
 Estifania ... MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
48 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 24th, " Cyinon," with (not acted eight years) 
 " Frenchified Lady," never in Paris. 
 
 Melantha MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Feb. 19th, 1771, " The West Indian." (never acted.) 
 
 Belcour KING. 
 
 Major O'Flaherty MOODY. 
 
 Stockwell AIKTN. 
 
 Varland PARSONS. 
 
 Captain Dudley PACKER. 
 
 Ensign Dudley CATTTHERLEY. 
 
 Fulmer BADDELEY. 
 
 Charlotte Eusport MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Eusport MRS. HOPKINS. 
 
 Louisa Dudley MRS. BADDELEY. 
 
 Mrs. Fulmer MRS. EGERTON. 
 
 "This has always been considered as Cumberland's best play 
 it is not a little remarkable, that in his own life he calls it a 
 fortunate comedy, and almost gives the preference to "The 
 Fashionable Lover," it must indeed be allowed, that, though 
 the piece is deservedly a favourite both on and off the stage, yet 
 it cannot be said to be a copy from life the foibles, the humours, 
 and real manners of a West Indian planter are not delineated 
 with truth and accuracy." (Murphy.) 
 
 "Barry was extremely desirous to play the Irish Major, and 
 Gar rick was very doubtful how to decide, for Moody was then 
 an actor but little known and at a low salary after a long 
 deliberation he gave his decree for Moody with considerable 
 repugnance, qualifying his preference of the latter with reasons 
 that in no respect reflected on the merits of Barry, but he did 
 not see him in the whole character of O'Flaherty ; there were 
 certain points of humour where he thought it likely he might 
 fail, and in that case his failure, like his name, would be more 
 conspicuous than Moody 's ; in short, Moody would take pains ; 
 it might make him, it might mar the other ; so Moody had it 
 and succeeded to the utmost wish of the manager and author. 
 Mrs. Abington, with a few salvos on the score of condescension, 
 took Charlotte Eusport, and though she would not allow it to be 
 anything but a sketch, yet she made it a character by her 
 inimitable acting." (Cumberland.) 
 
 " Cumberland seems to forget himself strangely in what he 
 says about Moody he had acted all the Irish characters for 
 several years, and had particularly distinguished himself in "The 
 Jubilee." Garrick's doubt perhaps arose from his fear that 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 49 
 
 Moody would not be sufficiently the gentleman, and that Barn- 
 would* not be sufficiently comic." (Genest.) 
 
 March 14th, "Cymon," with (not acted fourteen years) "The 
 Author." 
 
 Mrs. Cadwallader MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 18th, "The Way of the World," and "High Life 
 Below Stairs," Mrs. Abington's benefit. 
 
 Millamant in the former, Kitty in the latter 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 21st, Miss Pope's benefit, " The Funeral." 
 
 Lady Harriet MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 April 5th, Moody's benefit, " The Twin Rivals." 
 
 Aurelia MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 May 7th, I. Sparks's benefit, " The Provoked Husband." 
 Lady Townly MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 In 1771, Mrs. Abiiigton paid a visit to Paris, and we accordingly 
 hear no more of her performances till her return to Drury-lane 
 in the autumn. Just now we come upon some correspondence 
 with Horace Walpole, which was continued in after years. An 
 undated letter, probably written before she started for Paris, 
 says : " Mr. Walpole cannot express how much he is mortified 
 that he cannot accept of Mrs. Abington's obliging invitation, as 
 he had engaged company to dine with him on Sunday, at 
 Strawberry Hill, whom he would put off, if not foreigners, who 
 are leaving England. Mr. Walpole hopes, however, that this 
 accident will not prevent an acquaintance which his admiration 
 of Mrs. Abington's genius has made him long desire, and which 
 he hopes to cultivate at Strawberry Hill, when her leisure will 
 give him leave to trouble her with an invitation." 
 
 While in Paris she received the following : 
 
 To MRS. ABINGTON, 
 
 PARIS, SEPTEMBER IST, 1771. 
 
 If I had known Madam of your being at Paris, before I heard 
 it from Colonel Blaquiere, I should certainly have prevented 
 your flattering invitation, and have offered you any services that 
 could depend 011 my acquaintance here. It is plain I am old and 
 live with very old folks, when I did not hear of your arrival. 
 However, Madam, I have not that fault at least of a veteran, the 
 thinking nothing equal to what they admired in their youth. I 
 
5'0 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 -do impartial justice to your merit, and fairly allow it not only 
 equal to that of any actress I have seen, but believe the present 
 age will not be in the wrong, if they hereafter prefer it to those 
 they may live to see. 
 
 Your allowing me to wait on you in London, Madam, will 
 make me some amends for the loss I have had here, and I shall 
 take an early opportunity of assuring you how much. 
 I am, Madam, 
 
 Your most obliged humble servant, 
 
 HOR. WALPOLE. 
 
 We have i\ow reached the autumn of 1771, and find Mrs. 
 Aldington again at Drury Lane playing her well-known part of 
 the Widow Belmour in " The Way to Keep Him," on the 31st 
 of October. 
 
 Dec. 13th, " Twelfth Night " performed, Mrs. Abingtou as 
 Olivia. Reported as very well acted. 
 
 Dec. 30th, " The Country Girl," by Mrs. Abington. 
 Jan. 8th, 1772, " Hamlet." 
 
 Hamlet GARRICK. 
 
 Ophelia MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Feb. 5th, " Hamlet." 
 
 Hamlet GARRICK. 
 
 Ophelia MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Feb. 29th, " The Lottery." 
 
 Lord Lace KING. 
 
 Stocks ... PARSONS. 
 
 Lovermore BANNISTER. 
 
 Lady Lace MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 30th, " Lady's Last Stake," Mrs. Abiugton's benefit. 
 
 Lord Wronglove ... REDDISH. 
 
 Lord George Brilliant KING (first time). 
 
 Sir Friendly Moral... AIKIN. 
 
 Lady Wronglove ... MRS. HOPKINS. 
 
 Miss Notable MRS. ABINGTON (1st time there). 
 
 Mrs. Conquest ... Miss YOUNGE (first time). 
 
 Lady Gentle MRS. EGERTON. 
 
 With Linca's Travels. Pit and boxes laid together. 
 April 4th, " Double Gallant," Miss Pope's benefit. 
 
 Atall KING. 
 
 Lady Sadlife MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Dainty Miss POPE. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 51 
 
 April 9th, " As you like it " and " Author." 
 
 Mrs. Cadwallader MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 On the return of Mrs. Abington to England, some favourable 
 circumstances concurred to bring her forward in characters that 
 gave additional lustre to her reputation. One of the earliest of 
 these was that of the Second Constantia in the revived comedy 
 of " The Chances." As the history of the revival of this play 
 contains not only the circumstances that led to Mrs. Abington's 
 introduction to this character, but also some curious anecdotes 
 of royalty, we shall give it entire from Mr. Davies's " Life of 
 Gai-rick," a work replete with great theatrical knowledge and 
 judicious criticism. 
 
 " Amongst his many kingly virtues, George II. could not 
 enumerate the patronage of science and love of vertu. Poetry, 
 painting, sculpture, and all the imitative arts were neither 
 understood nor encouraged by him. When Hogarth presented 
 him with his admirable picture of the " March to Hounslow," 
 he thought the painter well rewarded with the donation of a 
 guinea. Garrick's excellence in acting was as little admired by 
 his Majesty as the humour of Hogarth." 
 
 It was with difficulty the good king could be persuaded that 
 he who represented so strongly the atrocious acts of Richard III. 
 could in reality be an honest man. However, Taswell, who 
 acted the Lord Mayor of London in the same play, attracted 
 his attention : the king thought him an excellent city magistrate, 
 and laughed heartily at his burlesque oratory. The players 
 indeed by their dressing of the Mayor and his brethren, and 
 giving the parts to a comic actor and a parcel of scene men, seem 
 to have designedly thrown a kind of ridicule, where the author 
 certainly never intended any. However, the king had no aversion 
 to the entertainments of the stage, and he generally bespoke 
 a play twice or thrice in a twelvemonth. But it appeared that 
 he was best pleased with these dramatic pieces which abounded in 
 low humour and extravagant plot. The London Cuckholds and 
 Fair Quaker of Deal were in more estimation with him than the 
 best written comedies in the English language. 
 
 The reader will not, I hope, be displeased if I should record 
 an anecdote of the royal taste for scenes of a peculiar cast. He 
 had, when Prince of Wales, seen the tragedy of "Venice 
 Preserved," but on his reading the play, he found the character 
 of Aquilina, the Venetian courtezan, had been entirely omitted, 
 and very little of Antonio, the foolish orator, her lover, preserved. 
 His Highness was so diverted with the ridiculous dotages of the 
 
52 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 old speeclimaker, and the perverse and petulant humours of his 
 mistress, that he sent for one of the managers, and ordered him 
 to restore the long-exploded scenes of Antonio and Aquilina. 
 Mrs. Horton, who was then a beautiful young actress, played 
 the part of the courtezan, and the facetious Mr. William 
 Pinkethman acted Antonio ; but whether the revived scenes gave 
 pleasure to anybody but the Royal Person who commanded 
 them, I could not learn. 
 
 The play of " The Chances," as altered from Beaumont and 
 Fletcher, by Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, had been thrown 
 out of the common list of plays for above twenty -five years. 
 The King happened to recollect that Wilkes and Oldfield had 
 greatly diverted him in that comedy, and he asked one of his 
 courtiers why it was never played. Mr. Garrick, as soon as he 
 learned the King's pleasure to 'see "The Chances," immediately 
 set about reforming the play so as to render it exceptionable in 
 language and action. 
 
 The manager's great difficulty was how to cast the part of the 
 Second Constantia, in such a manner, as that she might bear, 
 some resemblance to the first. Mrs. Pritchard was the only 
 actress in the company who had in a superior degree, much 
 vivacity, variety of humour, and engaging action ; but this lady 
 was become so bulky in her person, that she could not be mis- 
 taken for Miss Macklin, whose figure was elegant, and who acted 
 the first Constantia. But could Mr. Garrick have surmounted 
 this difficulty, Mrs. Cibber, by a clause in her articles, claimed 
 a right to choose any character she pleased to act in a new or 
 revived play. This actress, whose tones of voice were so 
 expressive of all the tender passions, and who was by nature 
 formed for tragic representation, was uncommonly desirous of 
 acting characters of gaiety and humour, to which she was an 
 absolute stranger. She had no idea of Comedy, but such as 
 implied a representation of childish simplicity. 
 
 Mr. Garrick knew that it was impossible to divert her from 
 the resolution to play Constantia, and therefore determined to 
 give way to her humour, till the want of applause should 
 admonish her to resign the part. 
 
 I need not recall to the reader's mind the great delight which 
 Mr. Garrick gave the public in Don John. Mrs. Cibber soon 
 grew tired of a part to which the audience afforded no signs 
 of approbation; Miss Haughton, a young actress, succeeded 
 her for a short time, and merited a good share of applause. 
 But it was in the sequel, in Mrs Abington, that Mr. Garrick 
 met with a Constantia who disputed the palm of victory with 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 53 
 
 him. She so happily assumed all the gay airs, peculiar oddities, 
 and various attitudes of an agreeable and frolicsome mad-cap, 
 that the audience were kept in constant good humour and 
 merriment, which they recompensed by the loudest applause, 
 through all the several scenes in which she acted. The king 
 commanded The Chances, and seemed to enjoy the performance." 
 
 April 27th, " The Committee." 
 
 Ruth MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 May 12th, " The Fair Quaker of Deal." 
 
 Arabella MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 June 10th, Reddish and Mrs. Abington as Mr. and Mrs. 
 Oakley. 
 
 Oct. 30th, " The G-arnesters," not acted for 14 years. 
 
 Wilding KING. 
 
 Hazard REDDISH. 
 
 Barnacle PARSONS. 
 
 Nephew DODD. 
 
 Penelope MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Mrs. Wilding Miss YOUNGE. 
 
 Epilogue to the revived comedy of " The Gamesters." 
 
 Spoken by MRS. ABINGTON. 
 " Critics, before you rise, one word, I pray ; 
 You cannot to a female sure say nay ! 
 I'll make a short excuse for what I've done, 
 And then to church with Master Hazard run : 
 Yes, run I say, nay fly, my zeal to prove, 
 Fly to the Indies with the man I love ! 
 Love, a choice plant, once native of this soil, 
 Grew, spread, and blossom' d without care or toil ; 
 'Twas through the land in such perfection kept, 
 That ivy-like, around the heart it crept ; 
 Each honest-feeling bosom nurs'd the flow'r 
 So sweet, it often proved the happiest dow'r; 
 Till folks of taste, their genius to display, 
 Brought in exotics ; while to sad decay 
 Poor love is fallen, cast like a weed away ! 
 I will revive the plant in spite of fashions ; 
 The heart is dead without that best of passions ; 
 Aye, but says Surly (there I see him sit 
 Glancing a frown upon me from the pit), 
 I am for loving, Miss, as well as you j 
 
 But not a dice-box that will never do ! 
 
 Who draws for husbands, these, with open eyes 
 
 Puts in a lottery without one prize ! 
 
 Sir by your leave your praise I wish to merit, 
 
54 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 For stepping forth with more than female spirit ! 
 
 Am not I brave, amid the tempest's war, 
 
 To plunge and bring a drowning man to shore ? 
 
 But should the monstre so ungrateful prove, 
 
 When I have saved and warm'd him with my love, 
 
 To let his former sins his heart entice 
 
 And leave my rattling for the rattling dice ! 
 
 Fll strike a bargain, and I say done first, 
 
 As soon as e'er my wretched spouse is hears'd ; 
 
 For if he wear his worthless life away, 
 
 Watching all night, and fretting all the day; 
 
 E'en let him go, his loss your gain secures, 
 
 The widow and ten thousand shall be yours ! 
 
 Our youths are so fin'd down with fashions new, 
 
 I'd rather chuse a surly man like you." 
 
 Feb. 18th, 1773, " The Double Gallant." 
 
 Lady Sadlife "Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 23rd, For King's Benefit, " Double Dealer." 
 Lady Froth Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 March 27th, ''The Gamesters" and "Frenchified Lady," 
 Mrs. Abington's benefit. 
 
 Melantha Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 April 3rd, "Merope" and " The Intriguing Chambermaid," 
 Miss Younge's benefit. 
 
 Lettice , Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 April 13th, " Fashionable Lover " and " Intriguing Chamber- 
 maid, by Mrs. Abington. Love's benefit. 
 
 April 21st, " Chances," revived. 
 
 Second Constantia Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 Oct. 19th, " Albumazer," not acted 26 years. 
 
 Sulpitia Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 "Albumazer" was revived in 1668, it was now revived with 
 alterations by Garrick they are not material, but one of them 
 must not be passed over without notice in the original, R-oiica, 
 looking into the perspicil, says, I see the Jesuits at Rome, and 
 what they write and do. This Garrick has changed to " I see 
 the Jesuits like a swarm of bees all buzzing, just turned out." 
 Pandolfo. " A good riddance " this allusion to the suppression 
 of the Jesuits in 1773, is introduced in this old comedy with 
 peculiar impropriety." 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 55 
 
 Prologue to the revived comedy of " Albumazer. " 
 Spoken by MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 " In times of old, by this old play we see, 
 
 Our Ancestors, poor souls, though brave and free, 
 
 Believed in spirits and astrology ! 
 
 'Twas by the stars they prosper'd, or miscarried ; 
 
 Thro' them grew rich, or poor; were hang'd or married; 
 
 And if their wives were naught, then they were born 
 
 Under the Ram, or Bull, or Capricorn ! 
 
 When our great grandniamas had made a slip, 
 
 (Their shoes with higher heels would often trip) 
 
 The rose and lily left their cheeks 'twas duty 
 
 To curse their Planets and destroy their beauty. 
 
 Such ign' ranee, with faith in Stars, prevails ; 
 
 Our faces never change, they tell no tales ; 
 
 Or should a husband, rather unpolite 
 
 Lock up our persons, and our roses blight ; 
 
 When once set free again, there's nothing in it, 
 
 We can be ros'd and lily'd in a minute; 
 
 Fly all abroad, be taken into favour, 
 
 And be as fresh and frolicsome as ever ! 
 
 To heav'nly bodies we have no relation, 
 
 The Star that rules us is our inclination ! 
 
 Govern'd by that, our earthly bodies move, 
 
 Quite unconnected with the things above. 
 
 Two young ones love a chaise to Scotland carries 'em. 
 
 The Star lend light, but inclination marries 'em. 
 
 When passion cools, and flame is turned to smother, 
 
 They curse no Stars but Scotland and each other ! 
 
 To walk i'th dark no Belles now make a fuss, 
 
 No Spectres or Hobgoblins frighten us ! 
 
 No, says Old Crab, of Fops the last Editions, 
 
 Pray, Madam, what are they but Apparitions ? 
 
 So slim, so pale, so dress'd from foot to head, 
 
 Half girl, half boy, half living, and half dead, 
 
 They are not flesh and blood, but walking gingerbread. 
 
 Mere flimsy beings kept alive by art, 
 
 " They come like shadows, and they'll so depart." 
 
 O fye, for shame ! said I He turned about, 
 
 And turned us topsy turvey, inside out : 
 
 Eail'd at our Sex, then curs'd the Stars, and swore 
 
 But you're alarmed I see, I'll say no more : 
 
 Old doating fools from Stars derive all evil, 
 
 Nor search their hearts to find the little devil : 
 
 Ladies take counsel, crush the mischief there ; 
 
 Lay but the Spirit, you'll be wise as fair." 
 
 Oct. 22nd, " Eule a Wife." 
 
 Estifania MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dec. llth, " The School for Wives," never acted. 
 
 Miss Walsingham MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
56 LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Irritability of Mrs. Abington Benefit of Mrs. Abington Agreement 
 with Garrick respecting her Engagement Correspondence with Garrick 
 The Stratagem The Maid of the Oaks ; Account of the Piece ; The 
 Acting Prologue to the Maid of the Oaks Epilogue, The British 
 Parliament Lines on Mrs. Abington as Lady Bab Lardoon Further 
 Correspondence with Garrick The Choleric Man Epilogue to the 
 Choleric Man Letters of Garrick and Mrs. Abington ; mutual recrimina- 
 tion King's Benefit Measure for Measure Bon Ton Boswell, 
 Johnson, and Mrs. Abington The Sultan A Law Case, Counsel's 
 Opinion Mrs. Abington Threatens to Leave the Stage ; Returns how- 
 ever to Drury-lane Many Plays Performed Mrs. Abington sets up as 
 a Woman of Fashion ; the Public Press on her Style of Dress Lines on 
 seeing Mrs. Abington in the character of Millarnant The Eivals The 
 Trip to Scarborough; Description of the Play School for Scandal; 
 Notes of the Actors and the Comedy itself Mrs. Abington leaves Drury- 
 lane. 
 
 In the early part of the year 1774, we find indications of that 
 irritability of disposition and inclination to give trouble to her 
 employers, which afterwards displayed itself so conspicuously, 
 and sometimes thoroughly exhausted Garrick's patience. 
 
 FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. 20TH, 1774. 
 
 Mrs. Abington sends the part of Letitia in " The Choleric 
 Man " to Mr. Hopkins, in order to his receiving Mr. Garrick's 
 commands as to the person he is pleased to give it in study to 
 for the next representation of the play. Mr. Cumberland has 
 obligingly given his consent to her resigning of the part, and Mrs. 
 Abington natters herself that Mr. Garrick will have the goodness 
 and complaisance to relieve her from a character so little calcu- 
 lated to her very confined style of acting. 
 
 Mrs. Abington has been very ill for some days past, but 
 would not importune Mr. Garrick with complaints, as she saw 
 there was a necessity for exerting herself till the new tragedy 
 was ready. 
 
 Eeceived ten minutes before four. W.H. 
 
 Endorsed Mrs. Abington, with the part of 
 Letitia in " Choleric Man." 
 
 The editor of the " Private Correspondence of Garrick," in 
 allusion to this letter, says " They who had the pleasure to know 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 57 
 
 Cumberland, and have witnessed his irritation and acquiescence 
 under such provocations, will have a just notion how obligingly 
 he consented to resign the best actress in the theatre in the 
 getting up a new comedy. Mrs. Abington was excessively per- 
 verse even to such a manager as Garrick." 
 
 March 15th, 1774, was Mrs. Abington's benefit, when was 
 performed " The Way of the World," Mrs. A. taking the part 
 of Millamant, with " the Man of Quality." 
 
 Lord Foppington DODD. 
 
 Young Fashion PALMER. 
 
 Lovey WESTON. 
 
 Sir T. Clumsey HURST. 
 
 Miss Hoyden MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Nurse MRS. BRADSHAW. 
 
 In the Spring of 1774 (May 5th) the following agreement was 
 drawn up and duly signed by G-arrick and Mrs. Abbington. 
 
 It is agreed this day between Mrs. Abington and Mr. Garrick, 
 that the former shall be engaged to him and Mr. Lacy, patentees 
 of the theatre Royal, in Drury-lane for three years from this 
 date, or three acting seasons, at the sum of twelve pounds a 
 week with, a benefit, and sixty pounds for clothes ; the above 
 agreement to be put into articles according to the usual 
 form. 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 D. GARRICK. 
 
 For Mr. Lacy and Himself. 
 
 Getting on to September of this year, further specimens of 
 Mrs. Abington's growing propensity to give trouble occur. 
 
 WEDNESDAY MORNING, 1774. 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 Indeed, Sir, I could not play Violante to-morrow if my 
 happiness in the next world depended upon it, but if you order 
 me, I will look it over, and be perfect as soon as possible. Mrs. 
 Sullen is ready, and I am sure if you are pleased to give yourself 
 a moment's time to reflect upon my general conduct in the 
 theatre, you will see that I have ever made my attention to my 
 business and my duty to you my sole object and ambition. 
 
 I am, Sir, your most humble servant, 
 
 F. ABINGTON. 
 
58 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 ADELPHI, SEPT. 26TH, 1774. 
 
 Dear Madam, As no business can be done without being 
 explicit, I must desire to know if you choose to perform Mrs. 
 Sullen. The part is reserved for you, and the play must be 
 acted soon : whoever does it with Mr. Smith must do it with me 
 supposing that I am ever able to be the rake again. We 
 talked a great deal last night, and, I am sorry to say it, without 
 my having the least idea what to do in consequence of it. If 
 " The Tender Husband " can be done with credit, I shall 
 immediately set to work and with " The Hypocrite." I cannot 
 create better actors than what we have, and we must both do 
 our best with them. Could I put you upon the highest comic 
 pinnacle, I certainly would do it ; but indeed, my dear Madam, 
 we shall not mount much if your cold counteracting discourse is 
 to pull us back at every step. Don't imagine that the gout makes 
 me peevish ; I am talking to you in the greatest good humour ; 
 but if we don't do our best with the best we have, it is all fruit- 
 less murmuring and inactive repining. Something too much of 
 this. I shall write to the author of the piece to-morrow night, 
 which I read to you. I have yet obeyed but half his commands, 
 as he wrote the character of Lady Bab for your ladyship. I 
 must beg of you to speak your thoughts upon that, which after 
 I had read it to you, I promised to let him know your sentiments. 
 I could wish, if you say anything to me of our stage business, 
 you would send it separately from your opinion of "The Maid 
 of the Oaks " and " Lady Bab." With your leave I could wish 
 to enclose what you say of the last to the author. 
 
 Yours most truly, 
 
 DAVID GARRICK. 
 Endorsed, 
 
 " A letter to Mrs. Abiugton, in which her manner of doing 
 and saying is not described amiss." 
 
 Nov. 3rd, 1774, " The Stratagem." 
 
 Archer GARRICK. 
 
 Scrub WESTON. 
 
 Foigard MOODY, 
 
 Mrs. Sullen MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Cherry Miss POPE. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 59 
 
 Nov. 5th, " The Maid of the Oaks," (never acted). 
 
 Dupely DODD. 
 
 Old Groveley KING. 
 
 Sir Harry Groveley BRERETON. 
 
 Hurry WESTON. 
 
 Old worth J. AIKIN. 
 
 Painter MOODY. 
 
 Lady Bab Lardoon MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Maria MRS. BADDELEY. 
 
 This piece was written by Gen. Burgoyne expressly for Mrs. 
 Abingtou, whose abilities had considerably excited his atten- 
 tion and admiration. " It was originally intended to have been 
 in two acts, but by the advice of Garrick, and the assistance of 
 singing:, dancing, &c., it was spun out to five. It has since 
 been reduced to two acts, in which shape it must be considered 
 as a particularly good little Comedy the language is very neat 
 the character of Lady Bab is excellent ; it was admirably well 
 acted by Mrs. Abington, to whom General Burgoyne has 
 contrived to pay a very happy and deserved compliment, when 
 he makes Lady Bab say " You shall see what an excellent 
 actress I should have made, if fortune had not unluckily brought 
 me into the world an Earl's daughter." 
 
 The plot as condensed by Genest is this : Sir Harry is going 
 to marry Maria, who is supposed to be an orphan brought up 
 by Oldworth the wedding is to be celebrated with a fete 
 cliamprtre Dupely and Lady Bab are invited Dupely considers 
 himself as quite an over-match for the women Lady Bab is 
 addicted to fashionable follies without being absolutely corrupted 
 by them she is desirous of making a fool of Dupely for this 
 purpose she puts on the dress of a shepherdess, which she 
 meant to wear at the fete Dupely makes love to her as Philly 
 Nettletop of the vale Harry enters and addresses her as Lady 
 Bab she laughs at Dupely in the meantime Old Groveley 
 arrives he is angry with Sir Harry for marrying without his 
 knowledge he takes a great fancy to Maria Oldworth 
 discovers himself to be her father. The play was acted twenty- 
 five times, and, though adversely criticised by some, met with 
 a generally favourable reception. 
 
 A writer in the Sentimental Magazine for Nov., 1774, says, 
 " On Saturday, the 5th of November I went to Drury-laiie 
 Play-house to see the new dramatic piece called " The Maid of 
 Oaks." As a corned}', the critics seem universally to condemn 
 this production, and pronounce it not. only destitute of sufficient 
 
60 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 fable to support five acts, but destitute also of sufficient character 
 to admit the possibility of any considerable plot. These sagacious 
 
 Sijiitlemen, however, should remember that the " Maid of the 
 aks" is not given as a comedy, but avowedly the vehicle of a 
 pastoral festivity, lately celebrated by several persons of the first 
 distinction ; the critics, therefore, may as well examine it by the 
 strict rules of tragedy, as by the strict rules of comedy. The 
 author with great propriety calls his piece a Dramatic Entertain- 
 ment ; and if we receive it as a Dramatic Entertainment, instead 
 of receiving it for what it never was intended to be, we must 
 candidly declare it one of the most elegant exhibitions that has 
 hitherto appeared on the English theatre. 
 
 As far as the grand design could admit the introduction of 
 fable, the author has shewn himself perfectly acquainted with 
 the true principles of comic literature Lady Betty Lardoon is 
 (for its length) as capitally written as Lady Betty Modish, it 
 abounds with wit, observation and vivacity. Mr. King's character 
 likewise is an exquisite sketch and Weston's obviously manifests 
 the pencil of a master. But as I have already said, the author's 
 chief intention being to introduce an entertainment of music, 
 dancing and scenery, he was unavoidably obliged to contract his 
 fable, and if he has at all erred, he has erred in supposing that 
 the plain dramatic palate of the multitude was calculated to 
 relish a very refined dish, which is only just come into fashion 
 with our nobility. 
 
 The attention which Mr. Garrick has shewn to the decorations 
 of this piece, is a convincing proof that he never spares either 
 labour or expense, where there is a likelihood of promoting the 
 pleasure of the public. I am told that the scenery only, which 
 has been painted on purpose for "The Maid of the Oaks," cost 
 <1,500. This is a prodigious sum ; yet it will not appear in the 
 least extravagant to anybody who sees it. The landscapes of 
 Claud are scarcely equal to some of the views exhibited ; and 
 if nothing beyond the bare merit of the painting was held forth 
 to attract the town, I should not be surprised at its bringing 
 twenty crowded houses. Mr. Garrick's care, however, has not 
 been confined to the scenery, it has extended to the minutest 
 object that could increase either the beauty, or the magnificence 
 of the entertainment. The number of singers and dancers who 
 are pastorally habited on the occasion, is incredible ; and the 
 engagement of Slingsby and Hidon, the two greatest performers 
 in their style perhaps on earth, is a circumstance that deserves 
 the highest approbation. 
 
 With respect to the merit of the actors in " The Maid of the 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 61 
 
 Oaks," it is, generally speaking, very considerable, and in some 
 instances exceedingly capital. Mr. Weston was deservedly 
 applauded for the fund of genuine pleasantry which he displayed 
 in his part. Mr. King in the blunt, yet benevolent, proprietor 
 of Broomstackhall, played to the hearts of the whole audience, 
 and entered, as he always enters, with double spirit into the 
 poet's views, where a stream of generosity is mingled with his 
 character. Mr. Dodd in Dupely, with solely one tolerable scene, 
 maintained his just pretensions to the favour of the town. Mr. 
 Aickin did simple justice to Oldword ; so did Mr. Brereton to 
 Sir Harry Grovely ; and in Lady Betty Lardoon it is impossible 
 to say enough of Mrs. Abington. The quick transition of Lady 
 Betty from the rapid playfulness of conscious beauty in high 
 life, to the extreme of rustic simplicity, gave this great actress 
 a fair occasion of supporting that comic superiority which she is 
 universally allowed by the real judges of the drama ; though she 
 had little or no business but in two acts, she proved herself not 
 more unrivalled in the walks of elegance, than in the lines of 
 humour, and contributed essentially to the preservation of the 
 piece. In the Epilogue particularly, such as remember the tem- 
 per of the audience must acknowledge the truth of this remark ; 
 for, though the Epilogue was admirably written to follow a play 
 highly approved, it was pregnant with evils to a play which had 
 received any marks of even a partial disapprobation. Her man- 
 ner, nevertheless, of speaking it, as well as her manner of retiring 
 when it was spoken, converted danger into victory, and did 
 equal honour to her good nature and her understanding. 
 
 The new Prologue spoken after the dramatic entertainment 
 of " The Maid of the Oaks," by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 " Two Epilogues are past and yet absurd ! 
 
 They urge, nay, push me forth to speak a third; 
 
 If you were cross indeed, and made a fuss, 
 
 It might be right to dress a pageant thus, 
 
 And hold it up, for twenty nights together, 
 
 Like Popish images to pray fair weather ; 
 
 But now, the whole horizon is quite clear, 
 
 No critic goblin rides the troubled air ; 
 
 No imp provokes the deep with fancy blunders, 
 
 No heathen God from high Olympus thunders. 
 
 Why should I forth? Well, since it must be done, ) 
 
 What shall I say ! What character put on ? 
 
 Or Lady Bab, or Phill, or Abington ? ) 
 
 For Mrs. Abington, her part I see, 
 
 Asks too much curt'sying and humility, 
 
 'Twere tedious stuff, and let me never stir, 
 
 If I am perfect in her character. 
 
62 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 So let her pass, a creature of your own, 
 Born of your smiles, and murder'd with a frown : 
 Next, Lady Bab, aye there I must confess, 
 But what's a character without a dress ? 
 Stripp'd of his frock, the veriest Macaroni, 
 Might issue forth a very simple Tony. 
 For Philly then Fly hence fantastic art, 
 And simple nature mold me to the part. 
 La ! What a power of faces here there be ? 
 Tho' some are mainly greasy, that I see ; 
 A rare assembly ! All the world is here, ") 
 In all its uses ; bread, and clothes, and beer, / 
 Besides that pretty courting couple there ; C 
 [To the Gallery. ) 
 
 Well, certain never was so rare a show ! ~) 
 I wonder who you be that sit below ? 
 Critics perhaps Ecod it must be so. ) 
 
 I've heard some harm of you, and you shall know it ; 
 That, tho' nine critics cannot make a poet, 
 Yet with much malice, and with little wit, 
 You tear the poet's children, bit by bit, 
 And bury the sweet babies in the pit. 
 Oh ! f ye for shame ! but stay ye who be those, ") 
 Like flowers upon the banks in beauteous rows ! j 
 A dainty show of tulips, belles, and beaus ! 
 By goles, I've found you out, sure as a gun 
 You Q.VQ fine Ladies ! what they call The Ton! 
 Oh ! I have heard strange stories told of you, 
 What, play at cards o'Sundays? is that true ? 
 And when you money want, still stranger news, 
 Like Macaronies, you are done by Jews ! 
 That they examine you from top to toe ! 
 Vat is your age, tiss propers tat I knoiv, 
 Your looks are fresh and youngish, that I grant, 
 But dat complexion, is it health or paint ? 
 If I must do you, Matam tell me all, 
 Vat vile lade Tiotirs, and maskerrate and pall, 
 Your gaming, influenzas and the doctors, 
 Your debts, your gaming husband, and your broctor 
 It cannot lasht a Lady of the ton 
 For more than one year's burchase can't be done; 
 " Eather than this, oh ! come again those days, 
 When Congreve drew the world, and all its ways, 
 When bold intriguers try'd with winning art, 
 To gain their noblest prize, a woman's heart ; 
 When practis'd rakes wou'd lose their gold at play, 
 In hopes to make it up some other way : 
 Not so, it seems, the modern Macaroni, 
 He thro' the live-long night will court your money, 
 Rifle your purse, and leave you when 'tis done, 
 To think on what was past, and sigh alone." 
 Shame on these wretched times, when guilty play 
 Makes the night hideous and deforms the day. 
 
LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 63 
 
 C1 . "When man eslrang'd from nature we behold 
 
 Polluted, horrid ! with the love of gold." 
 "When even beauty dips with erring aim 
 Her rosy fingers in the sordid game, 
 Oh ! that the voice of reason from the stage, 
 Could check this fatal madness of the age, 
 Then would the poet every wish obtain, 
 And Philly Nettletop not preach in vain." 
 
 N.B. Those lines marked with inverted commas are omitted in the 
 speaking on account of the extraordinary length. 
 
 An Epilogue, likewise was delivered by Mrs. Abington, com- 
 paring the resolutions of the audience to those of the British 
 Parliament. She assumed with great pleasantry, the character 
 of the noble speaker, and put the question whether " the bill 
 should pass " for the author to " possess Paruass ;" which 
 passed in the affirmative, the " ayes having it." 
 
 EPILOGUE. 
 Written by Mr. G-ARRICK. Spoken by Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 " In parliament, whene'er a question comes, 
 
 Which makes the chief look grave, and bite his thumbs, 
 
 A knowing one is sent, sly as a mouse, 
 
 To peep into the humour of the house : 
 
 I am that mouse : peeping at friends and foes, 
 
 To find which carry it the ayes or noes. 
 
 With more than power of parliament you sit, 
 
 Despotic representatives of wit ! 
 
 For in a moment, and without much pother, 
 
 You can dissolve this piece, and call another: 
 
 As 'tis no treason, let us frankly see, 
 
 In what they differ, and in what agree, 
 
 The said supreme assembly of the nation. 
 
 With this our great dramatic convocation ! 
 
 Business in both oft meets with interruption : 
 
 In both, we trust, no brib'ry or corruption ; 
 
 Both proud of freedom, have a turn to riot. 
 
 And the best speaker cannot keep you quiet . 
 
 Nay, there as here he knows not how to steer him 
 
 When order, order's drown'd in hear him, hear him ! 
 
 We have, unlike to them, one constant rule, 
 
 We open doors, and choose our gall' ries full : 
 
 For a full house both send abroad their summons ; 
 
 With us together sit the lords and commons, 
 
 You ladies here have votes debate, dispute, 
 
 There if you go ! (0 fie for shame) your'e mute, 
 
 Never was heard of such a persecution, 
 
 'Tis the great blemish of the constitution ! 
 
 No human laws should nature's rights abridge, 
 
 Freedom of speech ! our dearest privilege. 
 
 Ours is the wiser sex tho' deem'd the weaker ; 
 
64 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 I'll put the question if you choose me speaker : 
 
 Suppose me now be-wigg'd, and seated here, 
 
 I call to order ! you the chair ! the chair ! 
 
 Is it your pleasure that this bill should pass 
 
 Which grants this poet, upon Mount Parnas' 
 
 A certain spot, where never grew or corn or grass ? 
 
 Is it your pleasure that this bill should pass? 
 
 You that would pass this play, say aye, and save it ; 
 
 You that say no would damn it the ayes have it. 
 
 LINES 
 
 On Mrs. Abington being announced in Lady Bab Lardoon, in 
 " The Maid of the Oaks," after an absence from the stage of 
 two months. 
 
 " Some there have been who've trod the stage, 
 Who gave the fashionable rage, 
 
 To every well-bred Belle ; 
 Whilst others sought, nor sought in vain, 
 To find the wreath of lasting fame, 
 
 Where laugh and humour dwell. 
 
 But, born to fill the Comic round, 
 
 Thy powers the two extremes have found, 
 
 By Taste and Nature's clue. 
 Hence, in thy Lady Bab, we find 
 The rustic and the polish'd mind, 
 
 By turns brought out to view. 
 
 Come then, O come, dispel those fears 
 Thy absence gave me, ev'n to tears, 
 
 And let us never part. 
 Be " fashion's glass " as heretofore, 
 Draw Critics, Beaus, and Belles once more, 
 
 And charm each eye and heart ! 
 
 ME. G-ARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 ADELPHI, Nov. QTH. 
 
 Mr. Garrick's compliments to Mrs. Abington, and has sent 
 her on the other side a little alteration (if she approves it, not 
 else) of the epilogue, where there seems to be a patch : it should, 
 he believes, run thus : 
 
 " Such a persecution ! 
 
 'Tis the great blemish of the constitution ! 
 
 No human laws should Nature's rights abridge, 
 
 Freedom of speech, our dearest privilege ; 
 
 Our's is the wiser sex, though deemed the weaker, 
 
 I'll put the Question, if you'll cheer me Speaker. 
 
 Suppose me now be-wigged," etc. 
 
 Mrs. A. is at full liberty to adopt this alteration or not. Had 
 not our house overflowed last night in a quarter of an hour, 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 65 
 
 from the opening of Covent Garden had suffered much. As it 
 was there was great room in the pit and gallery at the end of 
 the third act. 
 
 Much joy I sincerely wish you at your success in Lady Bab. 
 May it continue till we both are tired, you with playing the part, 
 and I with seeing it. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON, 62, PALL MALL. 
 
 A month after, Garrick wrote 
 
 ADELPHI, DEC. STH. 
 
 Dear Madam I altered the beginning of your epilogue merely 
 for your ease and credit. I leave it wholly to your own feelings 
 to decide what to speak or what to reject. I find the epilogue 
 is liked, and therefore I would make it as tolerable as possible 
 for you, I assure you, upon my word, that if you please your- 
 self, you will please me. In my hurry I find, looking over the 
 lines this afternoon, that I have made a false chime. I have 
 made directed and corrected to chime, which will not do ; suppose 
 them thus : 
 
 Does not he know, poor soul, to be detected 
 Is what you hate, and more to be corrected. 
 or this : 
 
 Does not he know, in faults to be detected 
 Is what you hate, and more to be corrected. 
 
 I most sincerely wish you joy of your friend's success. The 
 comedy will be in great vogue. 
 
 I am, Madam, your very humble servant, 
 
 D. GARRICK. 
 
 On Nov. 16th of this year, 1774, was performed " The Pro- 
 voked Wife," Mrs. Abington playing Lady Fanciful. 
 
 Dec. 19th, " The Choleric Man," never acted. Mrs. Abington 
 played Letitia, a part she had earlier in the year rejected, or 
 objected to, as unsuitable. 
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
 To the New Comedy of " The Cholerick Man." 
 Written by Mr. GARRICK, and spoken by Mrs. ABINGTON. 
 
 ' As I'm an Artist, can my skill do better 
 
 Than paint your pictures? for I'm much your debtor : 
 
 I'll draw the outlines finish at my leisure 
 
 A groupe like you would be a charming treasure ! 
 
 Here is my Pencil, here my Sketching-book, 
 
 Where for this work I memorandums took ; 
 
 I will in full, three quarters, and profile, 
 
 Take your sweet faces, nay, your thoughts I'll steal ; 
 
66 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 From my good friends above, their wives and doxies, 
 Down to Madame and Monsieur in the Boxes : 
 Now for it, Sirs ! I beg, from top to bottom, 
 You'll keep your features fix'd till I have got 'em. 
 t First for Fine Gentlemen my fancy stretches 
 They'll be more like, the slighter are the sketches : 
 Such unembodied form invention racks ; ~\ 
 
 Pale cheeks, dead eyes, thin bodies, and long backs 
 They would be best in shades, or virgin's wax. } 
 
 To make Fine Ladies like, the toil is vain, 
 Unless I paint 'em o'er and o'er again : 
 In frost tho' not a flower its charms discloses, 
 They can, like hot-houses, produce their roses. 
 At you, Coquettes, my Pencil now takes aim ! \ 
 In love's 'Change- Alley playing all the Game, > 
 I'll paint you Ducklings waddling out quite lame, j 
 The Prude's most virtuous spite I'll next pourtray ; 
 Bailing at gaming loving private play. 
 Quitting the gay Bon-ton, and Wou'd-be-witty, 
 1 come to you, my Patrons, in the City : 
 I like your honest, open, English looks ; 
 They shew too that you well employ your cooks ! 
 Have at you, now Nay, Mister pray don't stir, 
 Hold up your head, your fat becomes you, Sir ; 
 Leer with your eyes as thus now smirk Well done ! 
 Your ogling, Sir a haunch of venison, 
 fcome of your fickle Patriots I shall pass 
 Some brittle Beings will be best on glass. 
 
 Now, Courtiers, you Looks meant your thoughts to smother 
 Hands fix'd on one thing eyes upon another. 
 For Politicians I have no dark tints 
 Such clouded brows are fine for wooden prints. 
 To distant climes if modern Jasons roam, 
 And bring the golden Fleece with curses home, 
 .I'll blacken them with Indian ink but then 
 My hands, like theirs, will ne'er be clean again. 
 Though last, not least in love, I come to you !* 
 And 'tis with rapture Nature's sons I view ; 
 With warmest tints shall grow your jolly faces, 
 Joy, Love, and Laughter, there have fix'd their places, 
 Free from weak nerves, Bon-Ton, ennui, and foreign Graces, 
 I'll tire you now no more with Pencil strictures ; 
 I'll copy these next week send home your Pictures. 
 
 We have now reached the year 1775, an interesting feature 
 connected with which is the correspondence between Mrs. Abing- 
 tou and Garrick, and which, perhaps more than anything else, 
 shows the effect of prosperity upon her character and the 
 exceedingly difficult task Garrick had before him in endeavouring 
 to please her and efficiently meet her wishes. 
 
 Between the evening in March, when Mrs. A. took her benefit, 
 and the 21st of the ensuing October, she seems to have been 
 
 * To the Galleries. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 67 
 
 missing from the theatre, and from the correspondence we shall 
 now lay before our readers, it is pretty clear that that interval 
 was occupied in writing angry and sarcastic letters. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. G-ARRICK. 
 
 MONDAY NIGHT, MARCH 6TH, 1775. 
 
 Mr. Garrick behaves with so much unprovoked incivility to 
 Mrs. Abington, that she is at a loss how to account for it ; and 
 her health and spirits are so much hurt by it, that she is not 
 able to say what or when she can play. If he had been pleased 
 to have given her a day's notice, she could have played her part 
 in " The West Indian ;" but it was not possible for her at three 
 o'clock to read her part, get her clothes ready, and find a hair- 
 dresser all by six o'clock, and that too at a time when she is in 
 a very weak and ill state of health. 
 
 If Mr. Garrick really thinks Mrs. Abington so bad a subject 
 as he is pleased to describe her in all the companies he goes 
 into, she thinks his remedy is very easy, and is willing on her 
 part to release him from so great an inconvenience as soon as he 
 pleases ; and only begs, while he is pleased to continue her in 
 his theatre, that he will not treat her with so much harshness as 
 he has lately done. 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 ADELPHI, MARCH 7, 1775. 
 
 Madam Whether [it be] a consciousness of your unaccount- 
 able and unwarrantable behaviour to me, or that you have 
 really heard of my description of you in all companies, I will 
 not enquire ; whatever I have said I will justify, for I always 
 speak the truth. Is it possible for me to describe you as your 
 note of yesterday describes yourself. You want a day's notice to 
 perform a character you played originally, and which you have 
 appeared in several times this season : you knew our distress 
 yesterday almost as soon as I did, and did not plead the want of a 
 day's notice, clothes, hair-dresser, <&c., but you refused on account 
 of your health, though you were in spirits and rehearsing a new 
 farce. You suffered us to be obliged to another lady, of another 
 house, to do your business, when neither our distresses, the credit 
 of the theatre, or your own duty and justice, could have the least 
 influence upon you. How could I give you a day's notice when 
 I knew not of Mr. Beddish's illness but in the morning? and 
 you were the first person I sent to between twelve and one, 
 and not at three o'clock. It was happy for us that we found a 
 lady, though not of our company, who had feeling for our 
 
68 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 distress, and relieved us from it without requiring a day's notice, 
 or wanting any thing but an opportunity to show her politeness. 
 These are serious truths, Madam, and are not to be described 
 like the lesser peccadillos of a fine lady. A little time will show 
 that Mr. G-arrick has done essential offices of kindness to Mrs. 
 Abington, when his humanity only, and not his duty obliged 
 him. As to your wishes of delivering me from the inconvenience 
 of your engagement, that, I hope, will soon be another concern. 
 My greatest comfort is, that I shall soon be delivered from the 
 capriciousness, inconsistency, injustice, and unkindness, of those 
 to whom I always intended the greatest good in my power, 
 lam, Madam, Your most obedient servant, 
 
 D. GARRICK. 
 
 Your refusing to play this evening has obliged me, though but 
 just recovered from a dreadful disorder, to risk a relapse. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 7TH, 1775. 
 
 Sir, From your not recollecting some circumstances, your 
 letter is a misrepresentation of facts from the beginning to the 
 end. 
 
 You are pleased to say " The West Indian " has been per- 
 formed several times this season ; it has really been acted but 
 once, and that at the very beginning of the winter. You say I 
 was well and in spirits at the rehearsal. Indeed, Sir, whoever 
 told you so, deceived you ; I was very ill, and not able to hold 
 myself up in my chair. You say I knew the distress of the 
 theatre at twelve o'clock. I saw very little distress, for it was 
 plain that "The Country Girl" could have been acted from the 
 instant that Mr. Reddish' s illness was known ; the design, 
 therefore, of changing it to " The West Indian " could only be 
 to hurt and hurry me ; and if I refused, it was a good pretence 
 for borrowing a performer to play my part, in order to give 
 colour to the abuse that was intended for me in the papers this 
 morning. I have, however, been too attentive to my business, 
 and too faithful a servant both to you, Sir, and to the public, 
 to suffer from such malice and ill nature ; and if you refuse me 
 the indulgence that is due to me for all the labour and attention 
 I have given to the theatre, for this winter in particular, and 
 for many years past, I must at least remember what is due to 
 myself ; and if the newspapers are to be made the vehicles of 
 your resentment to me, I must justify myself in the best man- 
 ner I can. 
 
 I am, Sir, your obedient and most humble, 
 
 F. ABINGTON. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 69 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 ADELPHI, MARCH ?TH, 1775. 
 
 Madam, I beg that you will indulge yourself in writing 
 what you please and when you please. If you imagine that I 
 in the least countenance, or am accessory to any scribbling in 
 the papers, you are deceived. I detest all such methods of 
 showing my resentment. I never heard of the disorder which 
 was occasioned in " The Maid of the Oaks :" I was too ill to 
 be troubled with it : and Mr. King, whom you have always 
 unjustly suspected, never mentioned it to me, nor did I know of 
 the paragraph you allude to till it was shown to me this 
 morning. Could " The Country Girl " have been done with 
 credit yesterday, I should not have distressed myself to have 
 applied to you, or to have borrowed a lady from another theatre. 
 As I will always retract the most insignificant mistake I may 
 have made, I find by the prompter that ''The West Indian" 
 has been performed but once. May I venture, if "Braganza" 
 cannot be performed on Thursday, to put your name in the bills 
 for Lady Bab in " The Maid of the Oaks," or for any other part ? 
 I most sincerely assure you that I do not ask this to 'distress 
 you, but to carry on the business in the best manner I am 
 able. 
 
 I am, Madam, your most humble servant, 
 
 D. GARRICK. 
 
 Mrs. Yates has not yet sent word that she cannot play on 
 Thursday, and I hope you may be excused. I ask the question 
 to prevent trouble to both. 
 
 The writing peevish letters will do no business. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 THURSDAY, TWO O'CLOCK, 1775. 
 
 Sir, " A paragraph to say that 'The Sultan' is withdrawn"* 
 would be a very singular and a very new object : however, as 
 that threat is only meant in harshness and insult to me, it is 
 neither new nor singular ; and all the answer I should make to 
 such a paragraph would be that I had withdrawn myself from 
 the theatre, which I should most undoubtedly have done some 
 years since, but that Mr. Garrick has so much real goodness in 
 his nature, that no ill effects need ever be dreaded in a situation 
 where he has the entire government. 
 
 I will endeavour, and I think it is possible to be ready by 
 
 * A farce really written by Bickerstaff. Ed. 
 
70 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Tuesday, as I see " The Sultan," is advertised for that day ; but 
 I shall want many little helps, particularly in the business of 
 the dinner scene, and about my song, as I am at best a bad stick 
 in that line as well as in most others, God knows. 
 
 I am, Sir, &c. &c., 
 
 F. ABINGTON. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 WEDNESDAY MORNING. 
 
 Mrs. Abington has kept her room with a fever for some days 
 past, or she would have complained to Mr. Garrick of a letter 
 she has received from Mr. Hopkins, dictated in the spirit of 
 incivility and misrepresentation. He says it is written by order 
 of Mr. Garrick, which Mrs. Abington is the more surprised at, 
 as she is not conscious that her conduct in the theatre has 
 deserved so much acrimony and ill humour. She apprehends 
 that for some time past she'has had enemies about Mr. Garrick, 
 and it is to them she supposes herself indebted for the very 
 great change in Mr. Garrick's behaviour ; after all the fatigue 
 she has undergone, and the disappointment she has experienced 
 in respect to the business that was by agreement to be done for 
 her this winter. 
 
 She hopes that Mr. Garrick has got some person to perform 
 the part of " Letitia in " The Choleric Man," and in respect to 
 the epilogue, she takes the liberty of referring him to Mr 
 Hopkins, with whom she left a message upon that subject. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 TUESDAY, THREE O'CLOCK. 
 
 Mrs. Abington presents her compliments to Mr. Garrick, and 
 is very sorry to read of his indisposition ; she is very ill herself, 
 and exceedingly hurt that he should accuse her of want of zeal 
 for the cause, as she natters herself that Mr. Garrick is fully 
 persuaded, she has never been wanting in duty and attachment 
 to the business of his theatre. 
 
 But she thinks she is entitled to the same degree of indulgence 
 that is given to other performers, and hoped that Mr. Garrick 
 would have had the goodness to let her come out in some part of 
 stronger comic humour than that of Millamant. 
 
 She begs that he will not be angry, or treat her with harshness, 
 as he will certainly find her a very faithful and useful subject, if 
 he will condescend to think her worth a very little degree of 
 attention and consideration. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 71 
 
 She will play in "The Hypocrite" and " Bon Ton," on 
 Saturday if he pleases, and will be ready in " The Way of the 
 World " the beginning of the next week, but trouble him for an 
 answer if that measure is approved. 
 
 Endorsed, 
 " Mrs. Abington about acting." 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 MONDAY, MAY 2?TH. 
 
 Sir I am very much indisposed, and desire to be excused 
 when I tell you T cannot act to-morrow night. If the considera- 
 tion of the salary I receive is a reason for my being called out 
 to play to empty benches, I must beg leave to decline receiving 
 any more pay at your office ; at the same time I take the liberty 
 of assuring you that I shall be ready and willing to stay in for 
 the purpose of acting with you, if you think proper to call for 
 my services, and in such case shall accept of any proportion of 
 my salary that you may think I deserve for such attendance. T 
 beg you will not take the trouble of writing an answer, as I am 
 sure your spirits ought to be composed for the great business of 
 this evening. I hope you are perfectly well, and am, with great 
 respect, Sir, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. G-ARRICK. 
 
 THURSDAY, JUNE 29TH, 1775. 
 
 Sir, I received the favour of your message by Mr. Hopkins, 
 and have sent the farce as you was pleased to command. 
 
 I am very certain that a few of your nice touches, with a little 
 of your fine polish, will give it that stamp of merit as must 
 secure it a reception with the public, equal to the warmest of my 
 expectations. 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 JULY IST, 1775. 
 
 Mr. G-arrick presents his best compliments to Mrs. Abington, 
 and she may depend upon his doing his best to give her piece 
 success. Had the author vouchsafed to have communicated 
 with Mr. G. the matter would have been better managed. 
 
 Endorsed, 
 
 "Mrs. Abington's note and my answer about her petite 
 piece." This was sent by me the same day T. B. i. e. Tho. 
 Beckett, the Bookseller. 
 
72 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 SOUTHAMPTON-STREET, JULY 14TH, 1775. 
 
 Sir, I take this method of expressing my thanks for the very 
 polite message you was pleased to send to me by Mr. Hopkins, 
 of which, I beg leave to assure you, I am entirely sensible. 
 
 I am sorry to say I am as little read in dramatic as in other 
 authors; but were I more conversant in this respect, I would not, 
 in a theatre where Mr. Garrick is manager, take the liberty of 
 catering for myself ; I can only say, that the parts to which the 
 actresses of my time owed their fame, are in the possession of 
 other performers, particularly Beatrice, Mrs. Sullen, Clarinda, 
 &c. ; and of those others in which I have been most favourably 
 received by the public, the plays are so altered by the death of 
 actors, the giving up their parts, or other accidents, that they are 
 no longer of use to the catalogue. 
 
 In the choice of new ones, therefore, I would certainly wish to 
 be directed by you, nor will it be wondered at that I am anxious 
 for your assistance in a point so very essential to my interest 
 and reputation. 
 
 Whilst you, Sir, continue upon the stage, it will be the ambition 
 of every performer to have their names appear with yours ; I 
 cannot, therefore, help reminding you of your intention to play 
 Don John, and of your sometimes hinting that it was not 
 impossible but you might appear in the character of the Copper 
 Captain. 
 
 If such an event should at any time take place, it would 
 gratify my utmost wishes ; in the mean time, I have only to hope 
 that your present disposition in my favour may continue, and I 
 have nothing farther to desire in this world. 
 
 I am, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 Endorsed, 
 " Mrs. Abington about Pope's parts." 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 SOUTHAMPTON-STREET, Nov. 26iH, 1775. 
 
 Dear Sir, I am encouraged by the kind assurances you have 
 favoured me with, and from a conversation I was accidentally 
 engaged in last night with Mr. Murphy, to be a little impor- 
 tunate with you on a subject which has been the source of much 
 discontent and unhappiness to me. 
 
 Mr. Murphy says his new comedy is not yet cast, and flattered 
 me much by assuring me it was your opinion that it would be for 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 73 
 
 the advantage of the piece that I should be in it as well as Mrs. 
 Barry ; however, if the character which the author very kindly 
 intended for ine is to be given to that lady, from what I 
 remember of it, I fear that I cannot undertake any other part 
 without more disadvantage to myself than you would choose to 
 lay me under. 
 
 Permit me, dear Sir, to observe, that if I had been, at this time, 
 on a more respectable footing at the theatre, I apprehend Mr. 
 Murphy would not have thought it necessary for the interest of 
 his play to have withdrawn his promise to me in favour of any 
 other actress ; and you will perhaps not think there is any very 
 inexcusable vanity in this opinion, when you are told that upon 
 his showing me the complimentary verses on Mrs. Barry, which 
 were afterwards prefixed to " The Grecian Daughter," he was 
 so obliging as to say that he would do as much for me if Mr. 
 Garrick would let him that is, (as I understood it,) if you 
 received the play, the capital part of which he then designed for 
 me. 
 
 It is in your power, dear Sir, I know it is, at any moment to 
 put me on such a respectable footing with the public, and of 
 course, with authors, that I should be thought not unequal to, 
 nor be ill received in such light and easy characters of comedy 
 as my talents confine me to : the part in question is one of 
 those'. 
 
 I am not insensible of Mrs. Barry's extensive merit ; I know 
 that she is singularly excellent in the pathetic : in the new 
 comedy there is a character of that kind which might be made 
 worth her acceptance. But I beg pardon, Sir ; I have perhaps 
 said too much on this point ; the end of my application is 
 sufficiently obvious, and I natter myself, Sir, you will not think 
 it unreasonable or impertinent, but favour it with your kind 
 attention. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, 
 
 Your much obliged and very humble servant, 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 ADELPHI, FRIDAY, Nov. 2?TH, 1775. 
 
 Madam, I am always happy to see the performers of merit, 
 who belong to us, happy and satisfied ; but if I were to make 
 myself uneasy when they are pleased, right or wrong, to be dis- 
 content ed f I cannot pay them the compliment to mortify myself 
 for nothing. After I have said this, let me be permitted to say 
 
74 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 farther, that I never yet saw Mrs. Abington theatrically happy 
 for a week together ; " there is such a continual working of a 
 fancied interest, such a refinement of importance, and such 
 imaginary good and evil, continually arising in the politician's 
 mind, that the only best substantial security for public applause 
 is neglected for these shadows. That I may hear no more of 
 tliis or that part in Mr. Murphy's play, I now again tell you, 
 that every author, since my management, distributed his parts 
 as he thinks will be of most service to his interest, nor have I ever 
 interfered, or will interfere, unless I perceive that they would 
 propose something contrary to common sense. As I cannot 
 think this to be the case between Mrs. Barry and you, I must beg 
 leave to decline entering into the matter. I sincerely wish, for 
 all our sakes, that you may have a character worthy of you, as 
 well as Mrs. Barry. I can no more. You sometimes pay me 
 the compliment to say that you would do anything I should 
 advise ; I flatter myself, if you had done so, you would not 
 have repented of your politeness. I never advised you to play 
 Ophelia, though that has been unjustly laid to my charge. 
 I advised you to take Maria, and was polite enough to send 
 you the play ; you sent both the part and book back, with 
 incivility to me, and great injustice to yourself. Mrs. B. has 
 discovered what you would not, and has taken it wisely taken 
 it. Remember to tell your friends that you might have played 
 Maria, but political refinement, the ban of all our actions, pre- 
 vented you. I shall in no wise hinder Mr. Murphy from paying 
 you any compliments his friendship or kindness may intend 
 you ; and if they depended upon my accepting his play, I have 
 done my part towards it, for it is accepted. I am sure Mr. 
 Murphy means you well, and thinks justly of your talents ; and 
 I would not have you quarrel with him because his gratitude 
 for the favours he has received in " The Grecian Daughter " 
 may have made him willing to oblige Mrs. B. by another part 
 in his next play. Now, Madam, I have done. You wished to 
 play " The Scornful Lady ;" I fetched an alteration of that play 
 from Hampton on purpose. I am very willing to do you all 
 the justice in my power, and I could wish you would represent 
 me so to persons out of the theatre, and, indeed, for your own 
 sake, for I always hear this tittle-tattle again, and have it 
 always in my power to prove that I am never influenced by 
 any little considerations to be unjust to Mrs. Abington or any 
 other performer. 
 
 I am, Madam, your most humble servant, 
 
 D. GrARKICK. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 75 
 
 I would have answered your letter last night, but I was pre- 
 vented by company. A sister arrived from the country, has 
 taken up all my time till this moment. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 SOUTHAMPTON-STREET, 
 
 FRIDAY NIGHT, Nov. 2?TH, 1775. 
 
 Sir, Your letter is very cross, and such a one as I had no 
 apprehension I should provoke by what I intended as a res- 
 pectful application for your favour and protection. 
 
 Among the long train of accusations you unkindly urge 
 against me, give me leave to exculpate myself of one only I 
 mean the charge of incivility to you in returning the part of 
 Maria in " The Duel." When you recommended that part to 
 me, Mr. Hopkins gave me the play, and desired I would return 
 it in the morning ; it was then late at night. I gave it a hasty 
 reading, and returned it accordingly, telling him I could not 
 see much in the part ; however, I would play it if Mr. G-arrick 
 desired or insisted upon it. The part was never sent me ; the 
 charge, therefore, of my sending it back with incivility to you, 
 must certainly have arisen from some misinformation. 
 
 There is a coldness, a severity, in your letter, which at this 
 time adds greatly to the affliction of your distressed humble 
 servant, 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 Mrs. Abingtoii has great complaints to make to Mr. G-arrick 
 respecting a servant in his theatre for very impertinently writing 
 against her in the newspapers last night, only for begging leave 
 to sit in the prompter's box to see one act of a play on a night 
 that she was to perform in " Bon Ton ;" when her head was 
 dressed, ready to begin the farce, which was the reason she 
 could not so conveniently go to any other part of the house. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 THURSDAY. TWELVE O'CLOCK. 
 
 Sir, The servant has brought me word that Mr. Garrick is 
 very angry at my not attending rehearsal this morning. 
 
 I do not believe him. I am sure Mr. Garrick did not expect 
 I could be able to go out this morning, after the labour I have 
 very willingly gone through for three nights past. I am ill to 
 death, and really not able to stand ; I cannot, therefore, think 
 
76 LIFE OF MBS. ABINGTON. 
 
 that much apology for my staying away is necessary, when the 
 cause is so well known. 
 
 I am not perfect in the part in " The Sultan," and have been 
 put out of humour with it by being told that Mr. Andrews talks 
 of the farce at the coffee-houses as the work of Mr. Kelly, which 
 is so far from being a fact, that, I declare to God, Mr. Kelly 
 has never so much as seen it ; and the report can only be meant 
 to bring popular prejudice against it. I most sincerely wish 
 that Mr. Andrew's farce was out, and had received that appro- 
 bation which there can be no doubt of its meriting ; he would 
 then perhaps not take the trouble of considering about who 
 was the author of " The Sultan,"* or at least not give it to a 
 gentleman who has never seen a line of it. 
 
 I have once more to hope that Mr. G-arrick will let it come 
 out after Christmas, as the present powerful run of "Bon Ton," 
 makes it very hard upon me, in the idea of being constantly 
 upon the stage in two farces, one of which is like something 
 dropped from the clouds, and only made its appearance at the 
 benefits last year, or I should not have interested myself 
 about the other, knowing the impossibility of my attempting 
 that line of business while I am necessarily engaged in so many 
 plays. 
 
 I am, sir, <c., 
 
 F. ABINGTON. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 SUNDAY MORNING, TEN O'CLOCK. 
 
 Mrs. Abington was surprised at receiving a message from Mr. 
 Garrick last night respecting the part of Araminta, in " The 
 School for Lovers," as she had flattered herself that he under- 
 stood her reasons for wishing to resign that character ; if he 
 does not, she refers him to a note which she wrote to Mr. 
 Bensley on Friday morning. 
 
 Mrs. Abington takes leave to acquaint Mr. Garrick that she 
 is very ill, and has been so for some days ; though she was not 
 wiling to trouble him with an account of her indisposition ; nor 
 would she wish to be excused from the business of the theatre 
 when she is at all able to put on her clothes, or walk upon the 
 stage. 
 
 She is greatly surprised to see " The Hypocrite " advertised 
 
 for Wednesday, and begs it may not be continued with her name 
 
 in it, as she certainly cannot play in it on Wednesday ; indeed, 
 
 if she was well enough to perform so long a part as that of 
 
 * " It was really Bickerstaff s " Editor of Garrick's Letters. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 77 
 
 Charlotte, Mr. Garrick knows that the play will not bring half 
 a liouse, and it would be very hard that she should be obliged 
 to play to empty benches* merely to gratify Mr, Garrick's 
 present resentment to her. Mrs. Abington told Mr. Garrick 
 that she would play in any farce after that play that might be 
 supposed to have strength enough to help to fill the house ; 
 but his answer was, that he ivas Manager. She understands 
 perfectly well his power as a manager; and is very willing to 
 submit to it, when it is not exercised in endeavours to destroy her 
 health, her peace of mind, and her credit with the public. 
 
 She is willing to act in any plays that are ready, and can be 
 creditably performed : if the plays are not ready, and that Mr. 
 Garrick has no occasion for Mrs. Abington, she repeats the 
 requests she made last year, that he will give her up her agree- 
 ment, and not make " The Morning Post " the vehicle of his 
 resentment. 
 
 On the 18th of March, 1775, was acted at Drury-lane for 
 King's benefit, " Measure for Measure," (not acted for 16 years) 
 and an excellent little comedy by Garrick, called "Bon Ton," 
 in three acts. In this latter piece, Mrs. Abington played the 
 part of Miss Tittup. The acting throughout is described as 
 particularly good. 
 
 Garrick, in a short advertisement says, " This little drama was 
 brought out last season for the benefit of Mr. King, as a token 
 of regard for one, who during a long engagement, was never 
 known, unless confined by real illness, to disappoint the public, 
 or distress the managers." 
 
 Genest says : The prologue by Colman was so good and so 
 well delivered, that King always spoke it till he left the stage. 
 
 March 27th, Mrs. Abington's benefit, when was performed 
 " The Hypocrite " and " Bon Ton," now reduced to two acts. 
 
 In allusion to this benefit, we find the following interesting 
 particulars in Boswell's Life of Johnson. 
 
 On Monday, March 27th (1775), I breakfasted with him 
 (Johnson), at Mrs. Strahan's. He told us that he was engaged 
 to go that evening to Mrs. Abington's benefit. She was visiting 
 
 * When I remember this lady's excellence, lam ashamed of her perverse 
 dishonest arts. If the play of itself will fill a house, she will act in it ; if 
 it will not, she cannot act to empty benches : she will add attraction to 
 strength, but always refuse it to weakness. The power of a manager 
 indeed ! what is it to an actress of powerful talent, backed by half the 
 women of fashion in the metropolis? Editor of Garrick correspondence. 
 
78 LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 some ladies whom I was visiting and begged that I would come 
 to her benefit. I told her I could not hear ; but she insisted so 
 much 011 my coming, that it would have been brutal to have 
 refused her. This was a speech quite characteristical. He 
 loved to bring forward his having been in the gay circles of life, 
 and he was perhaps a little vain of the solicitations of this 
 elegant and fashionable actress. I met him at Drury-lane play- 
 house in the evening. Sir Joshua Reynolds, at Mrs. Abington's 
 request, had promised to bring a body of wits to her benefit ; 
 and having secured forty places in the front boxes, had done me 
 the honour to put me in the group. Johnson sat on the seat 
 directly behind me, and as he could neither see nor hear at such 
 a distance from the stage, he was wrapped up in grave abstrac- 
 tion, and seemed quite a cloud amidst all the sunshine of glitter 
 and gaiety. I wondered at his patience in sitting out a play of 
 five acts and a farce of two. He said very little ; but after the 
 prologue to " Bon Ton " had been spoken, which he could hear 
 pretty well from the more slow and distinct utterance, he talked 
 on prologue writing, and observed, " Dryden has written pro- 
 logues superior to any that David Garrick has written, but David 
 Garrick has written more good prologues than Dryden has done. 
 It is wonderful that he has been able to write such a variety of 
 them." 
 
 On Friday, 31st March, I supped with him and some friends 
 at a tavern. One of the company attempted, with too much 
 forwardness, to rally him on his late appearance at the theatre ; 
 but had reason to repent of his temerity. " Why, sir, did you 
 go to Mrs. Abington's benefit ? Did you see ? " Johnson : 
 " No, sir." " Did you hear ? " Johnson : " No, sir.'* " Why 
 then, sir, did you go?" Johnson: "Because, sir, she is a 
 favourite of the public, and when the public cares a thousandth 
 part for you that it does for her, I will go to your benefit too." 
 
 On Saturday, April 8th, I dined with him at Mr. Thrale's, 
 where we met the Irish Dr. Campbell. Johnson had supped the 
 night before at Mrs. Abington's with some fashionable people 
 whom he named, and he seemed much pleased with having made 
 one in so elegant a circle. Nor did he omit to pique his mistress 
 a little with jealousy of her housewifery ; for he said with a smile, 
 " Mrs. Abington's jelly, my dear lady, was better than yours." 
 
 Oct. 21st, " Conscious Lovers," Mrs. Abington as Phillis. 
 (first appearance since March 27th.) Whether her absence was 
 caused by illness or irritability of temper, it is impossible to say, 
 some are of opinion that it was through illness. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 79 
 
 Oct. 31st, " The Provoked Wife." 
 
 Sir John Brute GARRicK. 
 
 Constant BRERETON (1st time.) 
 
 Heartfree BENSLEY (1st time.) 
 
 Razor BADDELEY. 
 
 Col. Bully VERNON. 
 
 Lady Fanciful MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Brute Miss YOUNGE. 
 
 Belinda MRS. GREVILLE. 
 
 Mademoiselle MRS. BRADSHAW. 
 
 Nov. 6th, " Much Ado about Nothing." 
 
 Benedick GARRICK. 
 
 Claudio BRERETON (1st time.) 
 
 Beatrice MRS. ABINGTON (1st time.) 
 
 Dec. 1st, " The Stratagem." 
 
 Archer GARRICK. 
 
 Scrub YATES. 
 
 Mrs. Sullen MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Cherry Miss JARRATT. 
 
 Dec. 12th, Richard the III., with, never acted, " The Sultan, 
 or a Peep in the Seraglio." 
 
 Solyman the Great PALMER. 
 
 Osmyn BANNISTER. 
 
 Roxalana MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Elmira MRS. KING. 
 
 Ismena MRS. WRIGHTEN. 
 
 " The Sultan " had been very much enamoured of Elmira, but 
 his love had cooled Osmyn (chief of the Eunuchs) complains 
 to the Sultan that Roxalana (an English slave) is ungovernable 
 the Sultan represents to her the impropriety of her conduct 
 she treats his remonstrance with lenity he falls in love with 
 her she at last gains such an influence over him, that he makes 
 her his wife." 
 
 Mrs. Abington gave to the volatile Roxalana that elegance and 
 grace which has so long distinguished her character. She was 
 very much applauded, and the audience testified their approba- 
 tion of the piece in the strongest terms. 
 
 The year 1776 brought with it a return of the paper war 
 between Mrs. Abington and Garrick, which we have already 
 noticed ; the following letters will show that things instea.d of 
 getting better began to assume a more serious character in spite 
 of all outward appearances of cordiality. 
 
80 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Before giving the 1776 correspondence however, we insert the 
 following letter, written in December, 1775, (dated the 5th), 
 which is evidently connected with their disputes, though the 
 special particulars appear unknown. 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 DEC. STH, 1775. 
 
 Madam, I beg that you will keep Mr. Andrews' note , it is 
 a justification to you ; and had he been guilty of the least 
 endeavour to prejudice " The Sultan," I would never have spoken 
 to him again ; be assured I have done my utmost for the piece, 
 and had it not come out till Tuesday or Wednesday, we should, 
 as well as you, have been great sufferers ; I shall take care that 
 you are kept from playing, till you appear in the new piece ; we 
 will settle business of the table and guitar when we meet. I 
 cannot attend you to-morrow, because I have a long and laborious 
 part. On Saturday, I shall attend, and settle the whole. 
 
 I took care that Mrs. Wrighten should not have a gay song, 
 nor do I understand it will in the least interfere with you and 
 don't be uneasy, a natural, gay chansonette song, with natural 
 ease and pleasantry, will be heard with pleasure, after the first 
 embroidered air of a Farinelli. I believe an Emperor of the 
 Turks was never seen before. Mr. Palmer will make his first 
 appearance in "The Sultan." If you would have Mr. Shaw 
 oblige you most completely, a few half-guineas would be well 
 bestowed, to have him home to your house, and settle the song 
 and accompaniments with you. Don't starve your business for 
 trifles. I have done my utmost for the piece, and it will be most 
 splendid in scenery and dresses. 
 
 Yours very truly, when 
 You are not unruly, 
 
 D. GARRICK. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. HOPKINS. 
 
 TUESDAY, THREE O'CLOCK, JAN. 30TH, 1776. 
 
 Sir You will be pleased to let the manager know that I am 
 ill (though I thank God I have not lost the use of my limbs, as 
 he has been pleased to tell the public), but I am too ill to attempt 
 to perform to-morrow night. My friends will take an oppor- 
 tunity of thanking Mr. Garrick for his humanity and civility to 
 me, which you will have the goodness to tell him, and that I am 
 his 
 
 Most humble servant, 
 
 Endorsed by Hopkins, F. ABINGTON. 
 
 " Eeceived this letter ten minutes before 5." 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 81 
 
 MR. HOPKINS TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 TUESDAY NIGHT, JAN. 30TH, 1776. 
 
 Madam I sent your letter to Mr. Garrick, who ordered me to 
 inform you that he told no more than your servant delivered, 
 and that he will both answer your letter and your friends at a 
 proper time. 
 
 As to the part of Lady Fanciful, both Mr. Garrick and myself 
 have been informed that you said you never intended to perform 
 it again. 
 
 I am, Madam, your most humble servant, 
 
 WILLIAM HOPKINS. 
 
 CASE. DRURY-LANE. 
 
 LINCOLN'S-!NN, MARCH IST, 1776. 
 
 Mrs. Abington is engaged as a performer for the season at a 
 salary and a benefit night. Benefits are generally fixed according 
 to the rank of the performer, and that rank is determined by 
 the rate of salary. The highest salary has the first choice of the 
 day, and so on : Mrs. Abington stands in the fourth degree of 
 eminence ; Miss Younge, the next. 
 
 About a fortnight ago, when the benefits were fixing, Mrs. 
 Abington had the choice of Saturday, the 16th of March, or 
 Monday, the 18th, for her benefit. She had objections to both : 
 Saturday was Opera-night ; Monday degraded her, for she then 
 must give precedence to Miss Younge. After weighing these 
 important points, rank and precedence prevailed over interest ; 
 she chose Saturday the 16th, and Monday was given to Miss 
 Younge. The next day, interest seemed' to preponderate, and 
 she rather wished for Monday ; but this night being engaged, 
 and not to be had, she gave out that the managers refused to 
 give her any night for a benefit, and she has hitherto declined 
 to advertise or make any preparations for the 16th of March. 
 
 The Managers are somewhat distressed by this untoward 
 conduct, though they are not concerned in point of interest ; 
 but should she not prepare for that night, there will be no per- 
 formance ; the consequence. 
 
 They have thought of giving her a notice to the following 
 purport : 
 
 " I am directed by the managers to acquaint you that, con- 
 formable to your choice of Saturday, the 16th of March, for your 
 benefit, that day was immediately allotted, and is kept for the 
 purpose ; and you will consequently name your play, that it may 
 be got ready, and other matters prepared in proper time. 
 
 It may be right to inform you that, in consequence of your 
 
82 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 choice of that day, all others have been settled and fixed for the 
 other subsequent performers, and that there is no other day 
 vacant till Easter." 
 
 And if she persists in her stubbornness till a few days before 
 the 16th of March, then to give her notice, that a play will be 
 performed in which she has a part, and which will be appropriated 
 for her benefit. Or, ought the managers to let the house be shut 
 up, and no play be performed ? Or, will this conduct of her's be 
 deemed a waiver of her benefit at night ? 
 
 COUNSEL'S OPINION. 
 
 " I think the managers should send a person not interested 
 in the house to inform her, that the managers, observing she 
 has made no preparations for her benefit, are desirous to know 
 whether she intends to take that night or not, as they wish to 
 prevent a disapoiiitment to the town, by .giving a play that 
 night if she declines her benefit. This will produce an immediate 
 answer ; whereas a notice may keep the managers in suspense. 
 If she declines a benefit that night, the managers may give a 
 play on their own account, without any danger of being re- 
 sponsible to her for the profits. It may be thought candid on the 
 part of the managers to make her an offer of any unappointed 
 night ; declaring they do it not fromaiiy obligation thay conceive 
 themselves under, but to convince her they have no design to 
 take advantage of her refusal to accept of her benefit as a 
 waiver of her right to one, which they apprehend it to be ; if 
 she refuses this offer, which is probable, then 1 think she will 
 have no colour to claim a benefit." 
 
 JA. WALLACE. 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 LEICESTER-FIELDS, MARCH 4TH, 1776. 
 
 Sir, As it has been for some time my fixed determination to 
 quit the stage at the conclusion of the present season and not 
 return to it again, I thankfully accept your very obliging 
 intention to play for my benefit in May ; you will therefore please 
 to dispose of Saturday the 16th inst. in any manner most 
 agreeable to yourself, 
 
 I am, Sir, 
 Your very much obliged and most humble servant, 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 
 " The above is a true copy of the letter, examined word by 
 word, of that worst of bad women Mrs. Abington, to ask my 
 playing for her benefit, and why ? 
 
 Endorsed, 
 
 " A copy of Mother Abington' s letter 
 about leaving the stage." 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 83 
 
 Garrick's note at the foot of the above letter shews how 
 
 exasperated he felt at Mrs. A -'s conduct and her pretence 
 
 that he had offered to play for her at her benefit ; however he 
 sent the following reply : 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 MARCH ?TH, 1776. 
 
 Madam, At my return from the country, I found your letter 
 upon my table. I read it with great surprise, and can yet scarce 
 believe that you are in earnest. It would perhaps be as vain as 
 impertinent in me to caution you against being too rash in 
 determining upon so serious a matter. My reasons for quitting 
 the stage are many, and too strong to be withstood ; you can 
 have none but will be easily conquered by your inclination. It 
 will therefore be worth your while to consider seriously ; and if 
 you have the least reason to repent of your late determination, 
 the best night for a benefit, which is the last night of acting 
 before the holidays, and which the proprietors have purchased, 
 is at your service. If you are still absolutely resolved to quit 
 the stage for ever, I will certainly, in May, do for Mrs. Abington 
 what I have done for others who have made the same resolution. 
 
 I am, Madam, 
 
 Your most humble servant, 
 
 D. GARRICK. 
 Endorsed, 
 
 " Mrs. Abington's letter, dated March 4th, and my answer to 
 it, sent by .Ralph, 7th do., 1776." 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON TO MR. GARRICK. 
 
 LEICESTER SQUARE, APRIL 7TH, 1776. 
 
 Sir, Upon reading the paragraph which you were pleased to 
 send me yesterday, two objections immediately started to me. 
 I thought it might carry an air of arrogance, and be liable to 
 expose me to censure, as making myself of too much importance 
 with the public : and next, the style might bethought rather 
 abrupt and impertinent. 1 wish for nothing more than to retire 
 in peace, without any pretensions to that eclat which must 
 necessarily attend your retreat. 
 
 Mr. Lodge assures me that you were perfectly satisfied with 
 the written declaration I sent you ; and that you were so far 
 from requiring any further condition, as to declare you were 
 ready to play for my benefit, even though my name should not 
 be announced in the bills. 
 
84 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Mr. Lodge waited on you a second time, to acquaint you that 
 I thankfully accepted of your offer to play for me': and I 
 confidently concluded, from the unfettered generosity of the above 
 declaration, that this business would not be farther embarrassed 
 by advertisements, or any other unnecessary conditions. 
 J. am, Sir, your humble servant, 
 
 FRANCES ABINGTON. 
 Endorsed, 
 "A fal-lal from Mrs. Abington." 
 
 MR. GARRICK TO MR. LODGE. 
 
 HAMPTON, EASTER MONDAY, 1776. 
 
 Sir, If I am not mistaken, I have received a letter written 
 by you, and signed by Mrs. Abington. Though this a little 
 carries an air of ill-will to correspond with me by her solicitor 
 yet, as you are a gentleman, I shall rather think she does me a 
 favour than an incivility. 
 
 Upon my word, I cannot conceive what fetters I have put 011 
 my generosity by any advertisement I have sent her; and if 
 you will be pieased to unchain the lady (though she is apt to- 
 behave a little unruly to me,) I shall be much obliged to you : 
 indeed, Sir, without a figure, I most sincerely am at a loss to 
 guess her meaning. If she does not choose to advertise as Mrs, 
 Pritchard and Mrs. Olive did, pray let us have no more trouble 
 about the matter, but let her please herself ; if she has any 
 more to say, or to unsay, about this business, I shall be in town 
 on Wednesday morning, and a note from you shall settle it 
 with me at least. 
 
 " Varium et mutabile semper." 
 
 Be assured that 1 am quite satisfied with the declaration she 
 has given me of her quitting the stage, and I am ready to fulfil 
 my part of the agreement on the 7th of May ; therefore I hope 
 that it will be impossible for the most refined and active 
 imagination to raise more doubts : though if they should give 
 me an opportunity of seeing you, I shall certainly be a gainer, 
 for I feel myself at this moment better for your recommenda- 
 tion of Dr. Miersbach. 
 
 I am, Sir, your much obliged humble servant, 
 
 D. GAERICK. 
 
 I have the gout in my hand, and must send you this scrawl. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 85 
 
 Jan. 27th, 1776, "The Discovery" performed (not acted for 
 twelve years). 
 
 Sir Anthony Braiiville GARRICK. 
 
 Lord Medway BENSLEY. 
 
 Sir Harry Flutter . f DODD. 
 
 Col. Medwav ... BRERETON. 
 
 Lady Flutter MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Mrs. Knightly MRS. KING. 
 
 Lady Medway MRS. HOPKINS. 
 
 Miss Richly Miss HOPKINS. 
 
 Louisa Medway Miss P. HOPKINS. 
 
 On this revival Garrick was the only original performer. 
 
 March 12th, for King's Benefit, " Woman's a Eiddle " (not 
 acted for ten years). 
 
 Sir Amorous Vainwit KING. 
 
 Courtmell SMITH. 
 
 Col. Manley REDDISH. 
 
 Aspin YATES. 
 
 Vulture MOODY. 
 
 Miranda MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Outside Miss YOUNGE. 
 
 Clarinda Miss HOPKINS. 
 
 All the pit but three rows turned into boxes. 
 
 March 20tk, Yates's benefit, " The Way to Keep Him," with 
 Mrs. Abington as Widow Belmour. 
 
 April 10th, Palmer's benefit, " Twelfth Night," with Mrs. 
 Abington as Olivia. 
 
 May 7th, Mrs. Abington's benefit, "The Stratagem," when 
 Garrick played Archer for the last time, Mrs. A. playing 
 
 Mrs. Sullen. 
 
 May 23rd, "The Suspicious Husband," Mrs. Abington as 
 Clorinda, 1st time. 
 
 "A few weeks after her benefit, it was announced, upon 
 undoubted authority that she had taken an hotel in Paris, which 
 was fitting up in a superior style, for the reception of the English 
 nobility of both sexes, on their travels ; and another week had 
 scarcely passed, before it was stated that she had given up going 
 to France, and meant at the close of the year to retire into 
 Wales for the remainder of her life; but the next season she was 
 
86 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 at her old post at Drury-lane. The following lines appeared on 
 the 18th October, 1776': 
 
 " Scarce had our tears forgot to flow, 
 
 By Garrick's loss inspired. 
 When Fame, to moralize the blow, 
 
 Said, " Abington's retired." 
 Gloom'd with the news, Thalia mourn'd 
 
 The Graces ioin'd her train ; 
 And nought but sighs, for sighs return' d, 
 
 Were heard at Drury Lane. 
 But see, 'tis false ! in Nature's style 
 
 She comes by Fancy graced ; 
 Again gives Comedy her smile, 
 
 And fashion all her taste." 
 
 At this period she set up her carriage ; which, as actresses* 
 carriages were not then so common as they have been of later 
 days, gave the papers an opportunity for scandal. A few 
 specimens of journalistic criticisms will be sufficient to show 
 that her style of dress was at this time the theme of admiration. 
 
 " Mrs. Abington's dress boasted that elegant simplicity, for 
 which she has so long been considered as the Priestess of 
 Fashion." 
 
 " Mrs. Abington having long.been considered in the beau-monde 
 as a leading example in dress, her gown 011 Saturday night was 
 of white lutestring, made close to her shape, sleeves to the 
 wrist, and a long train ; her hair was dressed very far back 
 on the sides with curls below, and not high above, nor did she 
 wear one of those tremendous hair frizzed peaks, which of late 
 have disguised the ladies, so probably they will no more appear 
 as unicorns with a horn issuing from their foreheads." 
 
 " Mrs. Abington is the harbinger of the reigning fashion for the 
 season a very beautiful style of petticoat of Persian origin 
 is among the last importations of this admired actress." 
 
 "Mrs. Abington, the pattern of fashion, has fallen into the 
 absurdity of wearing red powder: her influence on the ton is 
 too well known let her at once deviate from this unnatural 
 French custom, or if she is determined to continue a red head, 
 let her f rizeur throw a little brick-dust on her arches. (Eye- 
 brows.)" 
 
 In an Italian Journal, of 1786 : 
 
 Mrs. Abington. "Her figure is of the tallest of that order 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 87 
 
 which rises above the middle size ; her face naturally comic and 
 vivacious, but yet so educated in the habits of polite life, as to 
 render it difficult to delineate. Whether her forte lies in the 
 performance of "Women of Fashion" or " Soubrettes,"in both 
 she is excellent, and the alternate display of both constitutes 
 that powerful attraction which she holds on the stage." (New 
 Monthly Magazine, for 1838.) 
 
 November 19th, 1776, We find Mrs. Abington again at 
 Drury-lane, playing Letitia in the "Old Batchelor." (Not acted 
 for sixteen years.) 
 
 November 29th," Love for Love," Miss Prue by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 December 31st, " The Way of the World." 
 
 Mirabell SMITH. 
 
 Fainall EEDDISH. 
 
 Witwou'd KING. 
 
 Sir Witful Witwou'd YATES. 
 
 Petulant BADDELEY. 
 
 Waitwell PARSONS. 
 
 Millamant MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Lady Wishfort MRS. HOPKINS. 
 
 Mrs. Marwood Miss SHERRY. 
 
 Foible Miss POPE. 
 
 Mrs. Fainall MRS. GREVILLE. 
 
 IMPKOMPTU. 
 On seeing Mrs. Abington in the character of Millamant. 
 
 " Long had Beauty and Fashion, by argument try'd 
 
 Which did most for the sex ! Who was the best guide ! 
 
 The one talk'd of " natural roses and lilies," 
 
 And quoted her Chloes, her Patties and Phillis. 
 
 The other as loudly insisted that " Nature 
 
 Without her was nought, but a poor awkward creature : 
 
 That Beauty, mere Beauty, but little avails ; 
 
 ,Twas just like a ship, without rigging or sails " 
 
 At length after years spent in proving and jangling, 
 
 Without any victory gain'd by their wrangling, 
 
 They settled it so, (and each was contented) 
 
 That both by One Deputy be represented. 
 
 This treaty no sooner was published aloud, 
 
 Than Abington ! Abington ! echoed the crowd. 
 
 The Goddesses bow'd to so solemn a voice, 
 
 And Taste, as High Priestess, confirmed the choice." 
 
88 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 January 16th, 1777, " The Rivals," never acted there. 
 Lydia Languish MBS. ABINGTON. 
 
 February 24th, " The Trip to Scarborough," altered from 
 Yanburgh. 
 
 Lord Foppington. DODD. 
 
 Loveless SMITH. 
 
 Youn g Fashion ... REDDISH. 
 
 Sir Tunbelly Clumsy MOODY. 
 
 Col. Townley BRERETON. 
 
 Lovy BADDELEY. 
 
 Probe PARSONS. 
 
 BERINTHIA MRS. YATES. 
 
 Amanda MRS. ROBINSON. 
 
 Miss Hoyden MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 "When this play was first acted the newspapers abused it ; 
 and in 1779 Sheridan was asked in print, if he did not consider 
 this comedy as an illustration of what Dangle says in " The 
 Critic," that *' Vanburgh and Congreve are obliged to undergo a 
 bungling reformation." The editor of the B. D. likewise censures 
 it severely, but does not condescend to enter into particulars. 
 In spite of all that has been said, it may confidently be affirmed 
 that we have very few such good alterations of old plays as this. 
 Sheridan has retained everything in the original that was worth 
 retaining, has omitted what was exceptionable, and has improved 
 it by what he has added particularly the first scene in the fifth 
 act, which concludes that part of the plot which concerns 
 Loveless, &c., much better than it is concluded in the " Relapse." 
 It mus.t be confessed that it is highly improbable (as Collier 
 observed originally), that Sir Tunbelly and Lord Foppington 
 should negotiate a match through the mediation of such a 
 person as Coupler : this however is a fault radically inherent in 
 the piece ; and it certainly lies at Vanburgh's door and not at 
 Sheridan's. Sheridan makes Loveless say, " It would surely be 
 a pity to exclude the productions of some of our best writers for 
 want of a little wholesome pruning ; which might be effected by 
 any one who possessed modesty enough to believe that we should 
 preserve all we can of our deceased authors, at least till they 
 are outdone by the living ones." (Genest.) 
 
 We now reach May 8th, when was acted for the first time 
 that now world -renowned piece of Sheridan's, "The School for 
 Scandal," and in which Mrs. Abingtou played a part that gave 
 
LIFE OF MBS. ABINGTON. 89 
 
 her the name under which she is sometimes mentioned by 
 dramatic biographers. The cast stood thus : 
 
 Sir Peter Teazle KING. 
 
 Charles Surface SMITH. 
 
 Joseph Surface PALMER. 
 
 Sir Oliver Surface YATES. 
 
 Crabtree PARSONS. 
 
 Sir Benjamin Backbite DODD. 
 
 Moses BADDELEY. 
 
 Trip LAMASH. 
 
 Snake PACKER. 
 
 Rowley J. AIKIN. 
 
 Careless FARREN. 
 
 Sir Harry Bumper GAWDRY. 
 
 Lady Teazle ... MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Mrs" Candour Miss POPE. 
 
 Lady Sneerwell Miss SHERRY. 
 
 Maria Miss P. HOPKINS. 
 
 The play is described in the journals and magazines of the day as 
 having been admirably acted, all the actors doing great justice to 
 their respective characters, while Mrs. Abington, in Lady Teazle, 
 gave a fresh proof of her easy elegant manner, and her unri- 
 valled vivacity. Fifty years after, it was said, " this comedy 
 was so admirably acted, that though it has continued on the 
 acting-list at Drury-lane, from that time to this, and been 
 several times represented at Covent Garden and the Haymarket, 
 yet no new performer has ever appeared in any one of the 
 principal characters, that was not inferior to the person who 
 acted it originally." (Genest.) 
 
 Walpole writes of Mrs. Abington (letter to R. Jephson, Esq., 
 July, 1777) : 
 
 " To my great astonishment there were more parts performed 
 admirably in " The School for Scandal " than I almost ever saw 
 in any play. Mrs. Abington was equal to the first of her pro- 
 fession, Yates (the husband), Parsons, Miss Pope, and Palmer, 
 all shone. It seemed a marvellous resurrection of the stage. 
 Indeed, the play had as much merit as the actors. I have seen 
 no comedy that comes near it since " The Provoked Husband." 
 
 It was evidently the acting that charmed Walpole, for he 
 considerably moderates his transports in subsequent letters 
 written afcer he had read the play, in them he candidly admits 
 that he found it to contain far less than he had anticipated. 
 
90 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 So far as the performance was concerned there seemed little 
 to find fault with beyond the fact that the Lady Teazle of Mrs. 
 Abingtoii was wanting in youthfulness, she was in fact, then but 
 a very few years younger than King, who played Sir Peter. 
 Charmed, however, by the acting, this defect escaped the notice 
 of the public, or became a matter of comparative indifference in 
 the face of such an undeniable exhibition of talent. In addition 
 these two seemed peculiarly adapted to each other in their 
 performances, and it is said that "they each lost nearly half their 
 soul in their separation." King evidently admired her playing 
 exceedingly, for he said of her delivery, " every word stabbed." 
 
 Some years after the introduction of this comedy it was 
 proposed to change the character of Lady Teazle somewhat, 
 exhibiting her rather as a country girl than a woman of fashion. 
 It will be remembered she is described in the play as " the 
 daughter of a plain country squire, sitting at her tambour frame, 
 in a pretty figured linen gown, with a bunch of keys at her side; 
 her hair combed smooth over a roll, and her apartment hung 
 round with fruits in worsted of her own working." In this 
 respect Mrs. Jordan used to play the part, but however well she 
 did it, it was universally allowed that Mrs. Abiiigton, especially 
 in the screen scene, was superior, and it has never been disputed 
 that the latter actress " met with the full approval of Sheridan 
 and the playgoing public." The part was afterwards played by 
 Miss Farreii with considerable success, but the recollection of 
 Mrs. Abingtoii still lingered in the public mind, and Boaden 
 writes, " I found the younger part of the critical world little 
 aware how much Lady Teazle lost in being transferred to Miss 
 Farren. I am perfectly satisfied that Miss Farren, in comedy, 
 never approached Mrs. Abington nearer than Mrs. Esten did 
 Mrs. Siddons in tragedy." 
 
 " The dialogue of this comedy is easy and witty. It abounds 
 with strokes of pointed satire, and a rich vein of humour 
 pervades the whole, rendering it equally interesting and enter- 
 taining. The fable is well conducted, and the incidents are 
 managed with great judgment. There hardly ever was a 
 better dramatic situation than that which occurs in the fourth 
 act, where Sir Peter discovers Lady Teazle in Joseph Surface's- 
 study. The two characters of the brothers are finely contrasted, 
 and those of the Scandal Club well imagined ; the circumstances, 
 also of adding a duel to the report of the discovery made by 
 Sir Peter, and making Snake beg, that his having once, in his- 
 life, done a good action might be kept a profound secret, as he 
 had nothing to depend on but the infamy of his character, are 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 91 
 
 highly comic, and perfectly in nature. Upon the whole, " The 
 School for Scandal " justifies the very great and cordial reception 
 it met with ; it certainly is a good comedy, and we should not 
 at all wonder if it becomes as great a favourite as the " Duenna," 
 to which it is infinitely superior in point of sense, satire and 
 moral." 
 
 The prologue which was well spoken by Mr. King, is the 
 production of David Garrick, Esq. With great pleasantry it 
 adverted to the title of the play, and shot an arrow of pointed 
 satire at the too general proneness to detraction observable in 
 our daily and evening papers. 
 
 In the epilogue, (which was of Mr. Coleman's writing) Mrs. 
 Abingtoii humourously lamented her having, as the reformed 
 Lady Teazle, consented to quit the town, and its fashionable 
 pleasures, for retirement and a country life. (Universal Maga- 
 zine, 1777.) 
 
 December 4th, 1777, was acted " The Chances," Mrs. Abington 
 as usual playing 2nd Constantia. 
 
 April 9th, 1778, for Miss Pope's benefit, "Confederacy" 
 (not acted eight years). Corinna by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 April 19th, 1779, for the benefit of Hopkins, Prompter, and 
 Mrs. Hopkins, " The Double Gallant," Mrs. Abingtoii as Lady 
 Sadlife. 
 
 Sept. 28th, " The Stratagem," Mrs. Abington as Mrs. Sullen. 
 Nov. llth, " The Hypocrite," Mrs. Abington as Charlotte. 
 
 Dec. 2nd, Never-acted " Times," Mrs. Abington as Lady 
 Mary Woodley. 
 
 April 1st, 1780, Bensley's benefit, " The Suspicious Husband,'* 
 Mrs. Abington as Clarinda. 
 
 Jan. 21st, 1782, "Maid of the Oaks," Mrs. Abington as Lady 
 Bab Lardoon. 
 
 March 18th, Smith's benefit, "The Way to Keep Him," 
 Mrs. Abington as Widow Belmour. 
 
 Sep. 26th, Miss Farren acted Lady Teazle, first time. " Mrs. 
 Abington left Drury-lane at the close of the preceding season ; 
 for which Miss Farren was greatly obliged to her, as in conse- 
 quence of that circumstance she came in for all the first-rate 
 characters in comedy, and played little or no more tragedy." 
 (Genest.) 
 
92 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 First appearance at Covent GKrden, her Address Way of the World 
 All in the Wrong Capricious Lady Maid of Oaks at C. G-. Careless 
 Husband Rule a Wife Address at close of Season Hypocrite Way 
 to Keep Him Much Ado Suspicious Husband Beaux Stratagem 
 Double G-allant Mrs. A. as Scrub, her disgrace therein The West 
 Indian Conscious Lovers Visit to Ireland, Profitable and Successful 
 Engagement Vai-ious Plays at C.G. Absence from the Stage between 
 1790 and 1797 Plays for Charity in June, 1797 Return to Stage in 
 October Last Appearance on the Stage Death Tributes to her 
 memory. 
 
 Nov. 29th, 1782, Mrs. Abington made her first appearance at 
 Covent G-arden as Lady Flutter in " The Discovery," never 
 before acted there. 
 
 Between the first and second acts of the play, this accomplished 
 actress came forward and was immediately saluted by a thun- 
 dering applause from every part of the theatre ; all hands were 
 engaged, from the goddesses in the boxes to the gods in the 
 upper regions. With some difficulty the tumult at length sub- 
 sided, and Mrs. Abington then addressed her benefactors in a 
 very elegant poetical morqeau, the purport of which was to express 
 her sense of gratitude to the public for their goodness and 
 partiality to her, and to request a continuation of their favours, 
 which she considered the pride and happiness of her life. 
 
 When Mrs. Abington had finished this address, the audience 
 honoured her a second time with a congratulatory welcome as 
 loud, and of as long continuance as the former. Her dress was 
 simple, but perfectly characteristic ; the train and petticoat were 
 of white and silver stuff ; the body and sash of a dark carmelite 
 satin, with short white sleeves. 
 
 MRS. ABINGTON'S ADDKESS. 
 
 " Oft have I come, ambassadress in state, 
 From some poor author, trembling for his fate 
 Oft has a generous public heard my pray'r, 
 And shook, with vast applause, the troubled air 
 Then why should I a creature of your own 
 Born of your smiles, and murder'd by your frown, 
 On this occasion fear your hearts can harden, 
 Tho' a noviciate now at Covent Garden. 
 
 How oft in life thro' various scenes we range, 
 Yet still the heart's insensible of change ; 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 93 
 
 True to its point, it looks to that alone, 
 
 And thus converts all places to its home. 
 
 So to no spot the mimic art's confin'd, 
 
 It lives an active principle of mind 
 
 Or here, or there, my business still's the same, 
 
 Folly and Affection are my game. 
 
 Whether the Hoyden, rough from Congreve's lays, 
 Unknowing in French manners, or French phrase ; 
 Who, conscious of no crime in speaking plain, 
 Will bawl out Smock for CJteinise de la Heine. 
 
 Or modish Prudes, whose visions thro 1 her fan ; 
 Who censures shuns yet loves that monster man. 
 
 Or yet the brisk Coquette, whose spreading sail 
 Courts every wind that can bring in a male. 
 
 In short, gooi folks, tho' I have chang'd my school, 
 Alike you'll find me here to play the fool. 
 But when bright beauty, such as beams around, 
 With female dignity, and graces crown'd, 
 Thus group'd appear, our art seems at a ptand, 
 Or we but copy with a trembling hand 
 Yet if for fame or fortune we'd pursue, 
 Tin to attempt originals like you. 
 
 Now let me take a peep into the Pit 
 Are there none here mistaking spleen for wit ; 
 Or who, deep read in Aristotle's case, 
 Might say, she has broken unity of place 1 
 And thus, by critic logic, make it plain, 
 That Covent Garden is not Drury-Lane. 
 
 If such there be, who thus by measure scan, 
 Against his liule I parry with ray fan 
 An instrument, presented by the Graces, 
 To bear me harmless from such Gorgon faces, 
 
 Yet let me look again avaunt my fear, 
 I see no Gorgons 'midst my patrons here. 
 
 To you, great gods, I make my last appeal 
 Long have I labour'd for your common weal 
 Long have I strove, unaided by the graces. 
 To spread good humour o'er your jolly faces. 
 
 In short to all it still shall be my pride, 
 Uncourtier like, tho' I have changed my side, 
 From Nature's source to act one fa" ou rite part, 
 To own your kindness with a gratrful heart. 
 
 Among other complimentary effusions evoked by her appear- 
 ance at Covent G-arden was the following : 
 
 While Siddons melts the admiring town 
 
 Each night without relief ; 
 Ah ! where's my favourite Abington, 
 
 To counteract this grief ! 
 Come then by kindred souls held dear, 
 
 Your talents all employ, 
 Siddons shall draw the pitying tear, 
 
 You laugh us into joy. 
 
94 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 December 6th, 1782, " The Way of the World," (not acted for 
 six years at Covent Garden) Mrs. Abington as Millamant. 
 
 Dao. 20th, "The Sultan" (never acted there) Mrs. Abington 
 as Roxalana. 
 
 Jan. 3rd, 1783, "All in the Wrong" (not acted for three 
 years), Mrs. Abington as Belinda. 
 
 Jan. 17th, " The Capricious Lady," altered from " The Scorn- 
 ful Lady." 
 
 Elder Loveless WROTJGHTON. 
 
 Young Loveless LEWIS. 
 
 Welford, a suitor to the lady... LEE LEWES, 
 
 Savil QUICK. 
 
 Morecraft (an usurer) WILSON. 
 
 Capricious Lady MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Abigail, her woman MRS. WEBB. 
 
 Martha, the lady's sister . . . MRS. LEWIS. 
 
 Widow MRS. MORTON. 
 
 EPILOGUE TO THE CAPRICIOUS LADY. 
 Written by G-. Colman, Esq.; and spoken by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 " In Fletcher's days it was the favourite plan 
 
 Of woman, to dethrone the tyrant man : 
 
 Our modern fashions vary yet their aim, 
 
 Howe'er pursu'd. appears the very same. 
 
 The starch'd ruff d maidens of Queen Bess's reign, 
 
 Were doomed a ntarch'd demeanor to maintain ; 
 
 Quill'd up like porcupines, they shot their darts, 
 
 Slaughter'd whole rows of knights, and wounded hearts : 
 
 Their virtue nought could shake, no siege could alter ; 
 
 A rock impregnable as Gibraltar : 
 
 In vain were sighs, and tears, and idle flattery, 
 
 Their red-hot balls laid low each hostile battery ; 
 
 While they bright stars, above all weak comparison, 
 
 Shone forth the female Elliots of the gurrison. 
 
 The modern maidens find things alter' d quite, 
 A hundred danglers, not one faithful knight ; 
 Nor coy, nor cruel, all her charms display'd, 
 Coldly she's seen ; and trusting, she's betray'd ; 
 Unfeeling coxcombs scorn the damsel's power, 
 And pass in Rotten-row the vacant hour. 
 The fair, her power thus lost in single life, 
 Reserves her policy till made a wife. 
 The humble married dames of Fletcher's day. 
 Thought wives must love, and honour, and obey ; 
 Bound in the nuptial ring, that hoop of gold 
 Enchain'd their passions and their will control'd. 
 Too oft the modern Miss, Scarce made a bride, 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 95 
 
 Breaks out at once all insolence, and pride : 
 Mounted in phaeton she courts the eye, 
 And, eats and games, and paints, and dresses high, 
 Who shall say nay ? Content to drink, and play 
 His lordship cries " My lady take your way, 
 I've fixt your box at the opera but am vext 
 That Polly brilliant could not get the next." 
 Such was the rigid line of ancient rule, 
 And such the freedom of the modern school ; 
 Choose which, ye fair, or else, to copy loth, 
 Compose a new Pajiccio out of both ; 
 Or smit with nobler pride, on Nature look, 
 And read the brightest pages of her book. 
 Would you a spotless maid, chaste wife be known, ^ 
 Shew the young virtues rip'ning or full blown, 
 Mark how they prop, and dignify the throne ; J 
 
 Eival their goodness, with a loyal strife, 
 And grace with royal virtues, private life. 
 
 According to accounts which have come down to us in the 
 magazines of the period, Mrs. Abington had expressed a wish 
 to appear in the character of the Scornful Lady in the play of 
 that name; a part in which Mrs. Oldfield had been much 
 celebrated, and which she is said to have performed with applause 
 to the last. This comedy was therefore altered and brought out 
 under the title of "The Capricious Lady," in which Mrs. 
 Abington undertook the principal part ; and though she had to 
 contrast the cold, refined manners of the prude of the last 
 century with the gay familiar habits of the present times (1783) 
 she shewed that deep acumen in her profession, with the powers 
 of exhibition so forcibly, that she rendered the Capricious Lady 
 highly acceptable to the audience ; who viewed it like one of the 
 pictures of Vandyke, where beauty continues to be ever beautiful, 
 however varied by the draperies of different ages. 
 
 The alterations which were made by Mr. Cooke, a lawyer, and 
 the omissions (for indeed there was much in the original which 
 rendered it altogether unfit for public exhibition), were most 
 judicious, and rendered the comedy tolerably well suited to the 
 stage. 
 
 " For a dearth of wit which pervades the piece, great amends 
 are made by comic humour. The dialogue is written with great 
 feeling, and can easily be traced to Beaumont's pen. Upon the 
 whole this comedy was favourably received and equally well 
 performed, particulurly the parts of Mrs. Abington and Mr. 
 Wroughton, who entered into the real spirit of the author. The 
 prologue was spoken by Mr. Lee Lewis, and the epilogue was 
 delivered by Mrs. Abington with her usual vivacity ; but they 
 
96 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 neither possessed any considerable share of merit to recommend 
 them to the audience, notwithstanding the executions of both 
 performers. 
 
 Feb. 19th, Mrs. Abiiigton acted Beatrice. 
 
 April 25th, " The Maid of the Oaks," never acted before at 
 Covent Garden, Mrs. Abington as Lady Bab Lardoon. 
 
 Jan. 23rd, 1784, " The Careless Husband," Mrs. Abington as 
 Lady Betty Modish. 
 
 March 6th, " E,ule a Wife," (not acted for four years) Mrs. 
 Abington as Estifania. 
 
 On the 2nd of June, Covent Garden theatre closed for the 
 season, when Mrs. Abington took leave of the town with the 
 following address, written by herself: 
 
 " The play concluded, and this season o'er, 
 When we shall view these friendly rows no more, 
 In my own character let me appeal*, 
 To pay my warmest, humblest, homage here ; 
 Yet how shall words (those shadowy signs) reveal 
 The real obligation which I feel ? 
 Here they are fixed, and hence they ne'er shall part 
 While memory holds her seat within my heart ! 
 This for myself. Our f rends and chief behind, 
 Who bear your favours with a grateful mind, 
 Have likewise bade me. as their proxy, own 
 Your kind indulgence to their efforts shewn ; 
 Efforts, which, wann'd by such a fost'ring choice, 
 Again shall doubly court the public voice ; 
 Till when, with duteous thanks, take our adieu, 
 'Tis meant to all, to you,* and you,f and you.J 
 Hoping to find you here in the same places, 
 With the same health, good spirits, and kind faces." 
 
 October 6th, "The Hypocrite " (not acted for twelve years) 
 Mrs. Abington as Charlotte. 
 
 Nov. llth, "The Way of the World," Mrs. Abington as 
 Millamant. 
 
 March 5th, 1785, " The Way to Keep Him," (not acted for 
 five years), Mrs. Abington as Widow Belmour. 
 
 Oct. 19th, " The Way to Keep Him," Mrs. A. as last time. 
 
 Nov. 2nd, " Much Ado," Mrs. Abington as Beatrice. 
 
 Nov. 7th, " The Suspicious Husband," Mrs. Abington as- 
 Clarinda. 
 
 Nov. 19th, "The Beaux Stratagem," Mrs. Abington as Mrs. 
 Sullen. 
 
 * Pit. f Boxes. J Galleries. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 97 
 
 Dec. 7th, "The Double Gallant," Mrs. Abington as Lady 
 Sadlife. 
 
 Feb. 10th, 1786, Mrs. Aldington's benefit. " The Beaux 
 Stratagem," Scrub (for that night only), Mrs. Abiugton ; with 
 " Three Weeks after Marriage." Pit and boxes were laid 
 together. Ladies were desired to send their servants by four 
 o'clock. Mrs. Abington is supposed to have acted the part of 
 Scrub for a wager, however that may be, it is evident that not- 
 withstanding the full house she had, her conduct met with a 
 deal of disapprobation. Almost universally she was considered 
 to have fairly disgraced herself, and we constantly come across 
 notices and criticisms in which she is roundly taken to task. 
 
 " Why am I obliged," writes Boaden, " to sully the fame of 
 Abington by commemorating the utter and gross absurdity which 
 led her to attempt the character of Scrub for her benefit ? The 
 metamorphosis of her person, the loss of one sex, without 
 approaching the other ; the coarse but vain attempt to vulgarise 
 her voice, which some of my readers remember to have been thin, 
 sharp and high-toned all this ventured and producing nothing 
 but disgust, I hope rendered the large receipt from the treasury 
 itself less palatable than it had ever been upon any former 
 occasion." 
 
 Then we have Mrs. Charles Mathews writing : " Mrs. 
 Abington (the original performer of Lady Teazle), in the latter 
 portion of her dramatic life, was tempted to throw aside feminine 
 grace and delicacy so far as to exhibit herself as Scrub in " The 
 Beaux Stratagem," for her benefit a character which, it may 
 be said, she acted but too well. Grotesque portraits of her as 
 this mau-of-all-work are extant, and which might pass for 
 tolerable likenesses of our inimitable Liston in the same 
 character." 
 
 Russell says Peter Pindar thus alludes to this performance: 
 
 " The courtly Abington's untoward star 
 
 Wanted her reputation much to mar, 
 
 And sink the lady to the washing tub 
 
 So whisper' d, ' Mistress Abington, play Scrub.' 
 
 To folly full as great some imp may lug her, 
 
 And bid her sink in Fitch and Abel Drugger." 
 
 In allusion to this propensity of actors to figure in parts 
 altogether unsuitable to them we cull the following from the 
 Book of Theatrical Anecdotes : 
 
 " Nearly all the great players have longed to figure in parts 
 that were not suitable to their talents. The " comic country- 
 
98 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 man " of the provincial theatres often envies his brother pro- 
 fessional in the part of Hamlet or Macbeth, and sincerely 
 believes that he could do it more justice. Mrs. Siddons believed 
 that she had great talents for comedy, acted the " Widow 
 Brady," and once made a piteous exhibition of herself in Nell 
 in " The Devil to Pay." She considered, too, that she could 
 give a comic song called " Billy Taylor," with particular 
 humour ; and those who have heard her perform in this line 
 declared that the grim and laborious solemnity was infinitely 
 diverting. Her brother fancied that he shone in lively Charles 
 Surface, which must have suggested something almost elephan- 
 tine. King, the beau-ideal of high comedy, insisted on appearing 
 as Richard the Third. The most outrageous exhibition of the 
 kind was that of Mrs. Abington, the original, and said to have 
 been the finest, Lady Teazle. At her benefit, to attract the 
 town by the novelty of a new character, she performed the part 
 of Scrub, in " The Beaux Stratagem." " At a very early hour," 
 says Angelo, " the house was quite full. That night I accom- 
 panied my mother to Mrs. G-arrick's box, when a general dis- 
 appointment ensued. With all her endeavours to give new 
 points to the character, she entirely failed. Her appearance 
 en cullottes, so preposterously padded, exceeded nature. Her 
 gestures to look comical could not get the least hold of the 
 audience, though they had seen her before in men's clothes, 
 when playing Portia, in " The Merchant of Venice," where her 
 figure, dressed as a lawyer in his gown, gave effect to her excel- 
 lent delivery on mercy, and the audience had always been 
 delighted." 
 
 On this same evening when Mrs. Abington played Scrub, she 
 also performed the part of Lady Racket in Murphy's " Three 
 Weeks after Marriage ;" she is said to have gone through the 
 part of Scrub with her hair dressed for that of Lady Racket. 
 
 Spoken by Mrs. Abington, in the character of Lady Racket 
 on her benefit night, Feb. 10th, 1786 : 
 
 " The world's a pantomime, and every man 
 
 Is Harlequin as much as e'er he can ; 
 
 Mask'd with hypocrisy, and arm'd with cunning, 
 
 In motley garb through endless mazes running 
 
 With Columbine along. And who is she ? 
 
 But each man's giddy mistress Vanity ! 
 
 For her assuming each fantastic shape, 
 
 No matter what of fopling or of ape. 
 
 Well ye have all your passions, and 'tis mine, 
 
 (Call it my hobby, or my Columbine) 
 
 Wrapp'd in your graciousness to play my part 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 99 
 
 Whilst honest gratitude expands my heart, 
 This is my dear delight, and, warm'd by this, 
 No shape of couiic humour conies amiss." 
 Pertness, absurdity, or affectation, 
 Are things alike of comic imitation ; 
 Be theirs the censure, but, if we excel, 
 Be ours the praise of imitating well ; 
 Let Shakespear shield us, he delighted more 
 To stoop at niirthf ul follies than to soar. 
 Well then, let writers print and malice grin, 
 This night we've boldly vied with Harlequin. 
 Changing (a change it seems of special note) 
 These lady vestments for a butler's coat, 
 But you approving, we defy each grub, 
 And Racket rises undebas'd by Scrub. 
 
 Feb. 22ud, " The West Indian," Mrs. Abington as Charlotte 
 Rusport. 
 
 March llth, "Conscious Lovers," Mrs. Abiugton as Phillis. 
 
 This season Mrs. Abington re-visited Ireland and made an 
 engagement to play for fifteen nights, for the sum of .500. In 
 July (1786) she published the following card at Dublin. 
 
 " The very flattering partiality Mrs. Abington has experienced 
 on her present visit to this kingdom, as well as upon every 
 former occasion, calls forth such warm sensations of gratitude, 
 a,s makes her anxious to seize the earliest opportunity of making 
 her acknowledgments in the most respectful manner, for such 
 repeated marks of favour from a generous indulgent public : she 
 takes occasion at the same time to acknowledge that every 
 endeavour was exerted on the part of Mr. Daly to make her 
 situation as agreeable in the theatre as could possibly result from. 
 the most friendly and polite attention." 
 
 Feb. 7th, 1787, " The Provoked Husband," Mrs. Abington as 
 Lady Townly. 
 
 March 15th, " The Way to Keep Him," Mrs. Abington as the 
 Widow Belniour. 
 
 March 31st, Lewis 1 benefit, "The Careless Husband," Mrs. 
 Abington as Lady Betty Modish. 
 
 April 30th, " The Miser," not acted ten years, Mrs. Abington 
 as Lappet. 
 
 Nov. 7th, " Much Ado," Mrs. Abington as Beatrice. 
 
 Dec. 5th, " The Tender Husband," never acted there, Mrs. 
 Abington as Biddy Tipkin. 
 G 
 
100 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Dec. 10th, "The Inconstant," not acted for eight years, Mrs, 
 Abington as Bisarre. 
 
 Jan. 2nd, 1788, " The Suspicious Husband," Mrs. Abington 
 as Clarinda. 
 
 April 14th, Mrs. Abington' s benefit ; she appeared as Kitty,. 
 in " High Life Below Stairs." A mock minuet by Ryder and 
 Mrs. Abington. 
 
 Jan. 8th, 1789, "The Hypocrite," Mrs. Abington's first 
 appearance this season. 
 
 Jan. 20th, " Much Ado," Mrs. Abington as Beatrice. 
 
 Jan. 23rd, Mrs. A acted Estifania. 
 
 Feb. 24th, "Conscious Lovers," Phillis, Mrs. Abington. 
 March 5th, " Old Batchelor," Mrs. Abington as Letitia. 
 April 2nd, " Sultan," Roxalana, Mrs. Abington. 
 
 May 8th, "School for Wives," Charlotte Eichmore, Mrs. 
 Abington. 
 
 May 18th, " Beggar's Opera," Lucy, Mrs Abington. 
 
 Nov. 5th, " Hypocrite," Mrs. A 's first appearance this 
 
 season. 
 
 Dec. llth, "Way to Keep Him," Widow Belmour, Mrs. 
 Abington. 
 
 Between 1790 and 1797 Mrs. Abington was absent from the 
 stage, and it was generally supposed her professional life was at 
 an end. Efforts however were made to induce her again to make 
 her appearance in public, though we believe it was her fixed 
 determination not to do so. 
 
 She had many allurements to this choice ; a first rate and 
 long established reputation in her profession ; a genteel in- 
 dependency ; and with these a circle of the most respectable 
 characters in literary and polished life, constantly soliciting her 
 society. In short, all the charms of the otium cum dignitate 
 presented themselves, when aacident, which perhaps determines 
 us more in the affairs of life than rules drawn from reflection, 
 decided otherwise. 
 
 The late Glorious Naval Victory, obtained by the Earl of St. 
 Vincent over the Spanish Fleet, at the same time that it revived 
 the well known ardour of the British nation, drew forth its 
 utmost liberality ; tbe widows and orphans of those men who so 
 bravely and nobly fell in the defence of their country, that 
 country felt for, honoured, and rewarded. Subscriptions were 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON.* 101 
 
 immediately opened for their relief, when all ranks of society 
 pressed forward as their benefactors. Amongst the rest, the 
 Manager of Covent Garden, with his usual liberality, gave a 
 free night, and the first performers of both theatres as liberally 
 offered their services. 
 
 In a contest of generous feeling, it was far, very far from the 
 character of Abington to be an idle spectator. Though she had 
 seemingly quitted the field of glory, and her suspended banners 
 triumphantly proclaimed her former services, she could not resist 
 the alluring bait of making her talents serviceable to the cause 
 of humanity. She wrote to his Grace the Duke of Leeds, as one 
 of the trustees for managing the charity, offering to speak an 
 Epilogue on the occasion, or to come forward in any other shape 
 where she could be of most advantage. The former was politely 
 and readily accepted, and she spoke the Epilogue amidst the 
 unbounded applause of a most numerous and brilliant audience. 
 This was on June 14th, 1797. 
 
 This circumstance of course occasioned an interview with the 
 manager, who took this opportunity to press her return to the 
 stage. Other incidents strengthened this solicitation : the death 
 of the late Mrs. Pope (who, as an actress or a woman, must be 
 ever mentioned with respect), with the retirement of Miss Wallis, 
 &c., created a chasm in the arrangements of the theatre, which 
 none but extraordinary talents could fill up : the manager saw 
 his remedy in Mrs. Abington ; and Mrs. Abington might have 
 seen from this and other circumstances, that she might accomo- 
 date herself more in the line of her business now than heretofore. 
 Whatever were her motives, after some hesitation, she accepted 
 the manager's offer, and soon after the opening of the theatre, 
 she made her appearance in Beatrice, introduced by a prologue, 
 written by Mr. Colman for that purpose, and spoken by Murray. 
 This was on the 6th of October. 
 
 " Whene'er the mind assumes a pensive cast, 
 
 And Memory sits musing on the past ; 
 
 When Melancholy counts each friend gone by, 
 
 True as Religion strings her rosary, 
 
 The eye grows moist for many in silence laid, 
 
 And drops that bead whteh Nature's self has made. 
 
 To friends alone, then, is the tear-drop due ? 
 
 Oh, no ! to public virtue Genius too : 
 
 Fondly we dwell on merit Death has cross'd, 
 
 On talent we have witness'd, and have lost. 
 
 Here, on this mimic scene, alas the day ! 
 
 How many fleeting time has snatch'd away ! 
 
 His fatal scythe, of late, the hoary sage 
 
 Has swung with ampler sweep along the stage. 
 
102 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 Tardy no more, he treads the Drama's ground, 
 
 But strides like Mars, and mows with fury round. 
 
 Companions of his course, on either hand, 
 
 Death glares and gentle Hymen waves his brand. 
 
 Here Death to a chill grave some actor carries, 
 
 Here Hymen beckons and au actress marries. 
 
 Thinn'd thus, of brilliant talent, and of worth, 
 
 Is then our Drama threaten'd with a dearth ? 
 
 Not so, we trust for judgment sure can find 
 
 Full many a favourite still left behind. 
 
 Many, whose industry and modest sense 
 
 Your smiles have mellow'd into excellence ; 
 
 Whose sparks of merit, fann'd into a flame 
 
 By Candour's breath, now kindle into fame. 
 
 And if, while glancing o'er Thalia's ground, 
 
 The critic eye some casual void has found, 
 
 Can she not fill the chasm in her train, 
 
 And lure some favour'd vot'ry back again ? 
 
 E'en now the Muse on high her banners rears; 
 
 Thalia calls and ABINGTON appears : 
 
 Yes, ABINGTON too long we've been without her, 
 
 With all the school of Garrick still about her. 
 
 Mature in pow'rs, in playful fancy vernal 
 
 For Nature, charming Nature, is eternal. 
 
 And, oh ! while now a favourite returns, 
 
 Whose breast for you with grateful passion burns, 
 
 Keep up Thalia's cause ! scorn, scorn to drop it ! 
 
 And cheer her Priestess, who now comes to prop it." 
 
 Her reception from the public was such as did honour to both 
 parties : she was welcomed with shouts of unbounded applause, 
 which she evidently felt with respect and gratitude. Those who 
 had never seen her before (for such is the fluctuating state of 
 human nature, that a few years make a considerable change in 
 the formation of audience) were surprised at the appearance of 
 an actress, whom the little pens of malice had been previously 
 endeavouring to sink into age and necessary retirement, in the 
 full possession of person, health, and talents ; whilst those of 
 her former dramatic admirers hailed her like the morn " after a 
 winter's return of light." They saw their favourite comic actress 
 again restored to them in the full meridian of abilities, with 
 Shakspearc, Congreve, Vanburgh, Wycherly, and " all the muses 
 in her train." 
 
 This celebrated actress was now, beyond doubt, getting into 
 years, though she was ever we are told, particularly desirous of 
 being thought younger than she really was, accordingly it is 
 not surprising to find her declining to recite in public the 
 following lines which a writer of the times composed for her on 
 her return to professional life : 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 103 
 
 " Yes, my loved patrons ! I am here once more, 
 
 Though many kindly say that I'm fourscore ; 
 
 Perhaps you think so, and with wonder see 
 
 That I can curtsey thus with pliant knee ; 
 
 That still without two crutches I am walking, 
 
 And, what's more strange, don't mumble in my talking." 
 
 She never took any formal farewell of the public, nor did she 
 have, as many others have had, a farewell benefit, but she made 
 her last appearance on the stage at Covent Garden, on the 12th 
 of April, 1 799, as Lady Eacket, in " Three Weeks after Marriage," 
 for the benefit of Pope, her old companion in many seasons. 
 
 She was afterwards solicited by a near relative of a gentle- 
 man who had done her much service in his newspaper, to act 
 for her benefit, to which she replied as follows : 
 
 AUGUST 26TH, 1801. 
 
 My dear Madam, The obligation. I am proud to say I owe 
 
 to Mr. for the indulgent partiality with which he has been 
 
 pleased to distinguish my exertions in my profession, call upon 
 me for every acknowledgment that gratitude and sensibility can 
 inspire. 
 
 It is, therefore, with infinite mortification that I find myself 
 under the necessity of refusing the request made to me in your 
 very polite and very interesting letter ; and I trust, my dear 
 Madam, that I shall stand excused in your opinion, when I 
 assure you that if it were given me to choose whether I would 
 go upon the stage or beg charity from my friends, for my daily 
 bread, 1. would embrace the latter condition, and think myself a 
 gainer in credit by the preference. 
 
 In this state of mind you cannot be surprised at my declining 
 a visit to Brighton ; but I must not conclude my letter without 
 saying that there is a passage in yours which I do not under- 
 stand : it seems to convey an idea that I have recently been 
 (somehow or other) of use to your father. I would to God it 
 had been in my power, either now or at any other preceding 
 period of my life, to show my gratitude for his infinite good- 
 ness and friendship to me ; but hitherto this power has been 
 denied to me and it is only in poverty of words, as well as 
 circumstances, that I have been able to acknowledge my many, 
 many obligati,ons. 
 
 My spirits are very much hurt while I am writing upon this 
 subject ; you must, therefore, permit me to conclude with my 
 
 acknowledgments to Mr. , and believe me, my dear Madam, 
 
 Your most obedient and very humble servant, 
 
 F. ABINGTON. 
 
104 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 She lived until the year 1815, when, on March 4th, she died 
 at her apartments in Pall Mall, in good circumstances, her 
 husband, to whom she allowed a handsome annuity, having 
 died some nine years previously, the money, in consequence, 
 reverting to herself. It is said, however, that she lost a good 
 deal of money by gambling with cards, a vice to which ladies of 
 fashion and quality were then much addicted. 
 
 With regard to Mrs. Abington's merits as an actress, Dibdin 
 in his "History of the Stage," thus writes : 
 
 " With Mrs. Abiiigton came a species of excellence which the 
 stage seems never before to have boasted in the same perfection. 
 The higher parts in comedy had been performed chastely and 
 truly, perhaps in these particulars more so than by this actress, 
 There was a peculiar goodness gleamed across the levity of: Mrs. 
 Pritchard, and by what one can learn of Mrs. Bracegirdle, who 
 seems to have possessed the same captivating sort of manner 
 which distinguished Mrs. Abington, she was in those characters 
 natural and winning ; but it remained for her successor to add 
 a degree of grace, fashion, and accomplishment to sprightliness, 
 which was no sooner seen than it was imitated in the politest 
 circles. 
 
 Mrs. Bracegirdle, let her merit have been what it might, did 
 not perform Gibber's Coquettes, and though that author waited 
 for Mrs. Oldfield before he accomplished Lady Betty Modish, 
 yet however admirable she might have been in the representa- 
 tion of those characters, they did not appear to be so exactly in 
 her way as Lady Townly and other parts which had a higher 
 degree of consequence attached to them. 
 
 Mrs. Abington kept critically to coquettes, and there can be 
 no doubt, take the round of them through, and it is pretty 
 extensive, that more uniform good acting never was manifested. 
 
 I have already spoken comparatively of Mrs. Abington and 
 Madame Bellcour, but with no views to associate them in 
 elegance and grace, which the characters Madame Bellcour 
 personated would not in the same degree admit of. The French 
 actress personated French coquettes to admiration, but I have 
 already observed, speaking of King and Preville, that everything 
 among the French is underwritten. They know nothing of 
 Beatrice, Lady Betty Modish, or Millamant. The likeness is in 
 those higher kinds of chambermaids who aped their mistresses, 
 and thus exactly as we have been accustomed to say King and 
 Abington, instead of Tom and Phillis, so it was impossible to 
 speak of Preville without assimilating the idea of Bellcour. 
 
LIFE OP MRS. ABINGTON. 105 
 
 In addition to the grace, the ease, and elegance with which 
 Mrs. Abingtou personated characters in high life, and aped 
 politeness in chambermaids, her taste for dress was novel and 
 interesting. She was consulted by ladies of the first distinction, 
 not from caprice as we have frequently seen in other instances, 
 but from a decided conviction of her judgment in blending 
 what was beautiful with what was becoming. Indeed dress 
 took a sort of ton from her fancy, and ladies both on the stage 
 and off, piqued themselves 011 decorating their persons with 
 decency and decorum, and captivating beholders by a modest 
 concealment of those charms, which, in imitation of the French 
 women, who never knew the sensation of a blush, the result of 
 English feminine rectitude, our females now, to the disgrace of 
 the age, make it their study to expose." 
 
 SHAKESPEARE AND ABINGTON. 
 
 " It is a matter of solid satisfaction to every friend to the 
 Drama, that Mrs. Abingtou has been brought back to the stage, 
 not merely on account of her own extraordinary and unrivalled 
 talents, but because her cast of parts lies chiefly in the dramatic 
 personse of those writers who have been uniformly deemed by 
 men of general learning, critical taste and acknowledged 
 judgment, the ornaments of the time in which they lived, and 
 the great supporters of the stage, by the force, variety, and 
 excellence of their dramatic productions. Shakespeare, Beau- 
 mont and Fletcher, and Congreve, are the authors, in whose 
 plays she has most powerfully evinced her knowledge of her 
 profession, and established her high character as a comedian. 
 In this age of frivolity and folly, when caricature and eccentricty 
 threaten to bear down truth and nature, and already almost put 
 common sense out of countenance, will not every friend to the 
 drama seriously rejoice that the return of Mrs.* Abington, in 
 its first instance, may be considered as an appeal to the audience 
 to an effect similar to that of Dr. Johnson, in the following lines 
 in his celebrated Prologue, spoken by Mr. Garrick on opening 
 the theatre in Drury-lane, in 1747 !" 
 
 " Tis yours this night to bid the reign commence, 
 Of rescued nature and reviving sense." 
 
 "Much Ado about Nothing" has some of Shakespeare's 
 richest bullion in it, blended with an alloy of base metal, but 
 neither one nor the other are unworthy of that great master 
 from whose mint they were issued, and who well knew that 
 without some alloy the purest one could not be rendered current. 
 
106 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 In Beatrice, Mrs. Abington shewed how thoroughly she 
 entered into the author's design, and that his rich vein of wit 
 was her familiar acquaintance, not a new one ; that they met 011 
 the terms of long friendship, and walked and talked together 
 with all the ease and elegance of persons of congenial minds, 
 and similar manners. No forced archness, no affectation of con- 
 ceiving more than the expression naturally conveyed, was 
 suffered to mar the beauty of a single scene. The auditor 
 merely read Shakespeare with his ear and not his eye, but he 
 read him more accurately, and, if possible, with better effect. 
 In point of figure Mrs. Abington is more en bon point than when 
 she last appeared as an actress, and she certainly is not younger, 
 but she has not lost one atom of her judgment ; on the contrary 
 it is evidently improved ; neither is her power of manifesting 
 her pretentious to an eminent superiority in skill, as well as 
 science in her profession, to most of her competitors, in the 
 smallest degree diminished. In fact she proved the truth of 
 the line applied to her with so much approbation in Mr. 
 Column's well written address, which announces her as 
 " Mature in powers, in playful fancy vernal." 
 
 She dressed Beatrice finely, and perhaps the critic may say 
 she was somewhat too fine ; but it must be remembered, the 
 dress of Beatrice is ad libitum, and Mrs. Abington could not 
 better pay her court to her best friends, than by appearing 
 parfaitement habile. 
 
 Mr. Lewis played the part of Benedick with great truth, 
 spirit, and character, a circumstance equally gratifying and 
 astonishing, considering how much within these few years, he 
 has lent himself to folly, and been the distinguished hero of 
 extravagance : in fact, he has seemed so happy, and exhibited 
 so much adroitness in breaking a chair and tossing up a candle- 
 stick, to the great danger of his fellow-comedians' pericraniums, 
 that the writer of this article, in common with others, thought 
 him not only a truant to Shakespeare, but should have imagined 
 him an absolute deserter from his standard, had not he occa- 
 sionally proved, by the pleasant energy of his Mercutio, and 
 some other of Shakespeare's characters, that he still paid due 
 homage to his liege Lord, and was eager to shew his zeal, when 
 occasion required. His Benedick was a full refutation of the 
 calumnies of those who made no scruple to assert that Lewis 
 was spoiled as a comedian. He played the character chastely, 
 forcibly, and with great effect. 
 
 The audience did themselves honour by their kind notice of 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 107 
 
 Mr. Hull, in Antonio : they could not act more liberally or 
 more creditably than by cheering an old servant, always respect- 
 able, both on the stage and in private life. 
 
 Mrs. Aldington's recent performances completely realize the 
 epigram of 
 
 " Ancient Phyllis has young graces." 
 
 Davies, in his " Life of G-arrick," says : 
 
 " It is with the greatest pleasure I speak of Mrs. Aldington's 
 action in Charlotte : though the part had been most excellently 
 performed by Mrs. Oldfield, and since her time with great 
 applause and approbation by Mrs.Woffington and Mrs. Pritchard: 
 yet it is impossible to conceive that more gaiety, ease, humour, 
 elegance, and grace, could have been assumed by any actress 
 than by Mrs. Abington in this part ; her ideas of it were entirely 
 her own, for she had seen no pattern. 
 
 But the various talents of Mrs. Abington will demand from 
 a stage historian particular attention, and a more accurate 
 description of them. Her person is formed with great elegance, 
 her address is graceful, her look animated and expressive. To 
 the goodness of her understanding, and the superiority of her 
 taste, she is indebted principally for her power of pleasing ; the 
 tones of her voice are not naturally charming to the ear, but her 
 incomparable skill in modulation renders them perfectly agree- 
 able : her articulation is so exact, that every syllable she utters 
 is conveyed distinctly and even harmoniously. Congreve's 
 Millamant of past times she has skilfully modelled and adapted 
 to the admired coquette and the lonely tyrant of the present 
 day. All ages have their particular colours and variations of 
 follies and fashions; these she understands perfectly and dresses 
 them to the taste of the present hour. In Shakespeare's Beatrice 
 she had difficulties to encounter and prejudices to conquer : 
 remembrance of Mrs. Pritchard' s excellence in that favourite 
 part, had stamped a decisive mark as her mode of representing 
 it; notwithstanding this, Mrs. Abington, knowing her own 
 particular powers of expression, would not submit to an imitation 
 of that great actress, but exhibited the part according to her 
 own ideas ; nor did she fail of gaining great applause wherever 
 her judgment directed her to point out the wit, sentiment, or 
 humour of Beatrice. 
 
 In the Widow Belmour of Murphy's " Way to Keep Him," 
 her disengaged and easy manner, familiar to one who had been 
 used to the company of persons distinguished by high rank and 
 graceful behaviour, rendered her the delight of a brilliant circle 
 
108 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 of admirers. In Lady Bab Lardoon, the author of " The Maid 
 of the Oaks " has, in a very delicate strain of panegyric, paid a 
 lasting tribute to her merit. When this lady of high life, to 
 impose on Dupley, a young travelling coxcomb, assumes a 
 character of great simplicity, and tries her skill at a little 
 naivete; she says to one who is a witness of the diversion; "You 
 shall see what an excellent actress I should have made, if fortune 
 had not unluckily brought me into the world an earl's daughter." 
 This elegant compliment needs no comment. 
 
 Though the theatre would have been almost deprived of the 
 accomplished and well-bred woman of fashion, without the 
 assistance of Mrs. Abington, yet so various and unlimited are 
 her talents, that she is not confined to females of a superior 
 class ; she can descend occasionally to the country girl, the romp, 
 the hoyden, and the chambermaid, and put on the various 
 humours, airs, and whimsical peculiarities of these under parts. 
 She thinks nothing low that is in nature ; nothing mean or 
 beneath her skill, which is characteristical. 
 
 The decency of her behaviour in private life has attracted the 
 notice and gained her the esteem of many persons of quality of 
 her own sex. Like another Oldfield or Gibber, she receives visits 
 from, and returns them, to ladies of the most distinguished 
 worth and the highest rank. Her taste in dress is allowed to be 
 superior, and she is often consulted in the choice of fashionable 
 ornaments by her female friends in high life ; but as it would be 
 absurd to confine her merit to so trifling an accomplishment, 
 she cannot be denied the praise of engaging and fixing the 
 regard of all her acquaintance by her good sense, elegance of 
 manner, and propriety of conduct. 
 
 EPILOGUE TO THE MINIATUEE PICTURE. 
 Spoken by Mrs. Abington, at Drury-lane. 
 
 The men, like tyrants of the Turkish kind, 
 
 Have long our sex's energy confin'd ; 
 
 In full dress black, and bows, and solemn stalk, 
 
 Have long nionopoliz'd the Prologue's walk. 
 
 But still the flippant epilogue was ours ; 
 
 It asked for gay support the female powers ; 
 
 It ask'd a stirring air, coquet and free ; 
 
 And so to murder it, they fix'd on Me. 
 
 Much they mistake my talents I was born 
 
 To tell in sobs and sighs, some tale forlorn ; 
 
 To wet my handkerchief with Juliet's woes, 
 
 Or tune to Shore's despair my tragic nose. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABTNGTON. 109 
 
 Yes, gentlemen, in education's spite, 
 You still shall find that we can read and write ; 
 Like you can swell a debt or a debate, 
 Can quit the card-table to steer the State ; 
 Or bid our Belle Assembler's rhet'ric flow, 
 To drown your dull declaiiners at Soho. 
 Methinks, e'en now, I hear my sex's tongues 
 The shrill, smart melody of female lungs ! 
 The storm of question, the division calm, 
 With " Hear her ! hear her ! Mrs. Speaker, Ma'ani ! 
 Oh, Order ! Order ! " Kates and Susaus rise, 
 And Marg'ret moves, and Tabitha replies. 
 Look to the camp Coxheath and Warley Common 
 Supplied at least for ev'ry tent a woman. 
 The cartridge-paper wrapped the billet-doux, 
 The rear and picquet formed the rendez-vous. 
 The drum's stern rattle shook the nuptial bed ; 
 The knapsack pillow'd Lady Sturgeon's head. 
 Love was the watchword, till the morning fife 
 Rous'd the tame Major and his warlike wife. 
 Look to the Stage. To-night's example draws 
 A female dramatist to grace the cause. 
 So fade the triumphs of presumptuous man ! 
 And would you, Ladies, but complete my plan, 
 Here would ye sign some " patriot petition," 
 To mend our " constitutional " condition. 
 The men invade our rights the mimic elves 
 Lisp and nickname God's creatures, ourselves ; 
 Rouge more than we do, simper, flounce, and fret, 
 And they coquet, good Gods ! how they coquet ! 
 They too are coy ; and monstrous to relate ! 
 Theirs is the coyness in a tete-a-tete. 
 Yes, Ladies, yes, " I could a tale unfold," 
 "Would harrow up your" cushions were it told; 
 Part your combined curls, and freeze pomatum, 
 At griefs and grievances, as I could state 'eui. 
 " But such eternal blazon must not" speak 
 Besides, the house adjourns some day next week. 
 This fair " Committee " shall detail the rest, 
 Then let the monsters (if they dare) protest ! 
 
 EPILOGUE TO ZENOBIA. 
 
 Written by D. Garrick; Spoken by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 [STie peeps thTough the Curtain.^ 
 
 How do you all good folks ? In tears for certain 
 I'll only take a peep behind the curtain; 
 You're all so full of tragedy and sadness ! 
 For me to come among ye, would be madness 
 
110 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 This is no time for giggling when you've leisure, 
 Call out for me and I'll attend your pleasure; 
 As soldiers hurry at the beat of drum, 
 Beat but your hands, that instant I will come. 
 [She enters upon their clapping.'] 
 
 This is so good to call me out so soon 
 
 The Comic muse by me intreats a boon; 
 
 She call'd for Prichard, her first maid of honour, 
 
 And begg'd of her to take the task upon her ; 
 
 But she, I'm sure you'll all be sorry for't, 
 
 Resigns her place and soon retires from court : 
 
 To bear this loss we courtiers make a shift, 
 
 When good folks leave us, worse may have a lift. 
 
 The Comic muse whose every smile is grace "} 
 
 And her Stage sister, with her tragic face, > 
 
 Have had a quarrel each has writ a case } 
 
 And on their friends assembled now I wait, 
 
 To give you of their difference a true state 
 
 Melpomene, complains when she appears, 
 
 For five good acts, in all her pomp of tears, 
 
 To raise your souls, and with her raptures wing 'em; 
 
 Nay wet your handkerchiefs that you may wring 'em. 
 
 Some flippant hussey like myself comes in ; 
 
 Crack goes her fan, and with a giggling grin, 
 
 Hey ! Presto ! pass ! all topsy turvy see, 
 
 For bo, bo, bo ! is chang'd to be, be, be ! 
 
 We own the fault, but 'tis a fault in vogue, 
 
 'Tis theirs, who call and brawl for Epilogue ! 
 
 O ! Shame upon you for the time to come, 
 
 Know better, and go miserable home. 
 
 What says our Comic goddess ? With reproaches, 
 
 She vows her Sister Tragedy encroaches ! 
 
 And spite of all her virtue and ambition, 
 
 Is known to have an am'rous disposition ; 
 
 For in False Delicacy wondrous fly, 
 
 Join'd with a certain Irishman O fye ! 
 
 She made you, when you ought to laugh, to cry. 
 
 Her sister's smiles with tears she tried to smother, } 
 
 Rais'd such a tragi-comic kind of pother, 
 
 You laugh'd with one eye, while you cried with t'other, j 
 
 What can be done ? sad work behind the scenes ! 
 
 These comic females scold with tragic queens ; 
 
 Each party different ways the foe assails, 
 
 These shake their daggers, those prepare their nails. 
 
 'Tis you alone must calm these dire mishaps, 
 
 Or we shall still continue pulling caps. 
 
 What is your will ? I read it in your faces ; 
 
 That all hereafter take their proper places, 
 
 Shake hands, and kiss, and friends, and burn their cases. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. Ill 
 
 IMPROMPTU. 
 
 See the bills once more grac'd with an Abington's name ; 
 
 Is she led into public by interest or fame ? 
 
 Their dictates this offspring of Nature has scorn'd 
 
 For her cot is by taste and contentment adorn'd ; 
 
 They have breath'd soft tranquility's charms on her mind 
 
 And the mask of Thalia she long has resigned. 
 
 Then what has induc'd her again to engage 
 
 In theatric toils and appear on the Stage ? 
 
 Meek Charity came and the Nymph thus addrest 
 ' O wouldst thou by widows and orphans be blest ! 
 ' Behold with compassion this sorrowing train : 
 ' O Abington ! can they solicit in vain ? 
 
 Sad relics of those who by Jervis the brave, 
 ' Were embalni'd with his sighs e're they sunk in the wave ; 
 ' He saw them, undaunted, fight long by his side, 
 'And his heart felt a pang for each hero that died, 
 ' To their meru'ry by thee let a Tribute be paid j 
 ' Forego thine own ease, and this night deign to aid 
 ' The endeavours of those who benignly come forth, 
 ' And from Penury's hand strive to extricate worth ; 
 ' Exert thy known talents in pleading a cause 
 ' So glorious that Heaven will give thee applause." 
 
 ODE 
 On Mrs. Abington's Return to the Stage. 
 
 As at reviving morn the Persian bows, 
 
 Drops his white hand and offers up his vows, 
 
 While glowing Phoebus marching through the skies, 
 
 Gilds the bright mosque, and glitters in his eyes ; 
 
 Should some dark cloud obscure the blue serene, 
 
 Damps chill the air, or tempests intervene, 
 
 No more the eye of Joy emits a ray, 
 
 Sad is the hour and listless is the day. 
 
 But if again the glorious sun appears, 
 
 Lost are his sighs, and fruitless are his fears ; 
 
 Fervour anew reanimates his breast, 
 
 And all his hopes, his passions, are confess'd. 
 
 Thus, thus, when wit and native beauty shone, 
 Depicted to the world in Abington, 
 The all that Fancy from her stores could shew 
 That Wit might ask for, or that Wit bestow ; 
 Ease, elegance, the artless charm to please, 
 The elegance of art, the art of ease : 
 Such were her powers, by judgment such confess'd, 
 And those that knew them most, rever'd them best. 
 Lost for a while, no more can Shakspeare glow, 
 Thalia weeps the vivifying bow 
 
112 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 No promis'd hope the age of Wit is o'er, 
 Genius is lost, and Fancy is no more. 
 Desponding Care, and Caution, hence away, 
 Again returns reiterated day. 
 Once more the Queen of smiles her seat assumes, 
 And every face that boasts of sense illumes. 
 Hail her kind Genius, Guardian of the Stage, 
 The test of thought, the pleasure of the age. 
 Hail her, hail her ! Nymphs attend, 
 Hail her, sweetest Shakspeare's friend; 
 Bard that wrote from Nature's eye, 
 To clothe her with his livery. 
 What was plaintive, solemn, sad, 
 What in cheerful garb was clad, 
 Thoughts at first obscure in meaning, 
 Or lost from inattentive gleaning, 
 By Abington are richly dress'd, 
 And what seem'd poor appear the best. 
 The linsey garb, the ermin'd fur, 
 Alike are costly robes on her ; 
 Sole empress on Thalia's throne, 
 For Nature deigns to put them on. 
 When through the drear opaque a ray is seen, 
 Clouds break on clouds, and light is caught between, 
 Hope brings a comfort with the beaming ray, 
 Again to gild the honorary day; 
 Once more a prospect to the Stage is shewn, 
 When Abington resumes Thalia's throne ! 
 
 TASTE . 
 
 To Mrs. Abington. 
 Say my blythe Frances whither must I go 
 To meet respect or extirpate my woe, 
 See how my Ministry neglected lie, 
 Now you've receded from the publiok eye, 
 Let reciprocity our wills combine, 
 I will be your ally, and you be mine, 
 Like correspondent benefits we'll live, 
 You shall bestow, while I am proud to give. 
 Then come, ah ! come, and cheer me with thy voice, 
 That fashion may exult, and social life rejoice. 
 
 Thalia droops, and weeps amid her bowers, 
 
 See vulgar arrogance annoys her hours, 
 
 Say shall that Nymph who dignified your name 
 
 Be smote by worthless hands or lose her fame, 
 
 Ere you departed, she was proud to own, 
 
 My cheerful race, and led them to her Throne, 
 
 Then Phoabus beam'd all glorious on the throng 
 
 While you upheld my rights, and sanctified my song, 
 
 Then all the sister Muses gladly blest, 
 
 Their infant offspring and their arts carest. 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 113 
 
 On Mrs. Abington's excellent Performance of Lady Rentless, 
 in the new Comedy of Dissipation . 
 
 Would you know what is fashion, ye young and ye fair, 
 Who think it consists in fine clothes and fine hair, 
 Or singing, or dancing, without ear or taste, 
 Or drawling the language, or lacing the waist, 
 Let Abington teach ! Tis that happy skill, 
 To exhibit a grace when you move or stand still, 
 To attract by the choice of your dress, not by glaring ; 
 To hear without wonder, and see without staring ; 
 To speak from the passions, by manners refined, 
 Nor noisy, nor mincing, nor coarse, nor confined, 
 In short, if of fashion, you'd have a full sample, 
 'Tis that the best shews, by her own great example. 
 
 To MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 STRAWBERRY HILL, JUNE HTH, 1780. 
 
 You may certainly always command me and my house. My 
 common custom is to give a ticket for only four persons at a, 
 time ; but it would be very insolent in me, when all laws are 
 set at naught, to pretend to prescribe rules. At such times there 
 is a shadow of authority in setting the laws aside by the 
 legislature itself ; and though I have no army to supply their 
 place, I declare Mrs. Abington may march through all my 
 dominions at the head of as large a troop as she pleases I do 
 not say, as she can muster and command ; for then I am sure 
 my house would not hold them. The day, too, is at her own 
 choice; and the master is her very obedient humble servant, 
 
 HOR. WALPOLE. 
 
 EPILOGUE, 
 
 Written by Mr. Garrick, and spoken by Mrs. Abington. 
 
 [Enters in a hurry. ,] 
 
 Forgive my coming thus our griefs to utter 
 I'm such a figure ! and in such a flutter- 
 So circumstanced, in such an awkard way 
 I knoiv not what to do, or what to say. 
 Our Bard, a strange unfashionable creature, 
 As obstinate as savage in his nature, 
 Will have no Epilogue ! I told the brute 
 If, Sir, these trifles don't your genius suit; 
 
114 LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 
 
 We have a working Prologue-smith within, 
 
 Will strike one off as if it were a pin. 
 
 Nay, Epilogues are pins, whose points, well plac'd, 
 
 Will trick your muse out, in the tip-top taste ! 
 
 ' Pins, madam ! (frown'd the Bard) the Greeks us'd none, 
 
 * Then mutt' ring Greek something like this went on 
 
 ' Pinnos, painton, pa beros, non Grceco Modon.' 
 
 I coax'd, he swore' That tie him to a stake, 
 
 ' He'd suffer all for decency's fair sake ; 
 
 ' No bribery should make him change his plan.* 
 
 There's an odd mortal. Match him if you can. 
 
 Hah, Sir ! (said I) your reasoning is not deep, J 
 
 For when at Tragedies spectators weep, > 
 
 They oft, like children cry themselves to sleep. ] 
 
 And if no jogging Epilogue you write, 
 
 Pit, Box, and Gallery may sleep all night. 
 
 ' Better (he swore) a nap should overtake ye, 
 
 ' Than folly should to folly's pranks awake ye : 
 
 ' Rakes are more harmless nodding upon benches, 
 
 ' Than ogling to insnare poor simple wenches ; 
 
 ' And simple girls had better close their eyes, 
 
 ' Than send 'em gadding after butterflies. 
 
 ' Nay, should a Statesman make a box his nest, 
 
 ' Who, that his country loves, would break his rest ? 
 
 'Let come what may, I will not make 'em laugh; 
 
 ' Take for an Epilogue This Epitaph ; 
 
 * For as my lovers live I would not save, 
 
 ' No pois'nous weeds shall root upon their grave.' 
 
 'Tis thus these pedant Greek-read poets vapour 
 
 Is it your pleasure I should read the paper ? 
 
 Here, in the arms of death, a matchless pair, 
 A young-lov'd hero, and beloved fair, 
 Now find repose Their virtues tempest-tost. 
 Sea-sick, and weary, reach the ivish'd-for coast, 
 Whatever mortal to this spot is brought, 
 O may the living by the dead be taught ! 
 May here Ambition learn to clip her wing, 
 And Jealousy to blunt her deadly sting; 
 Then shall the Poet every wish obtain, 
 Nor Ronan and Rivine die in vain. 
 
 VERSES, 
 
 On seeing Mrs. Alibinqton perform Lady Bab Lardoon, at the 
 Request of her Grace the Duchess of Harlborough. 
 
 Behold, illustrious Marlborough appears, 
 Whom Virtue honours, and whom Taste reveres ; 
 She comes with Youth and Beauty at her side, 
 To see the Comic Muse in all her pride; 
 
LIFE OF MRS. ABINGTON. 115 
 
 By elegance her fav'rite handmaid drest, 
 Sportive Thalia meets her noble guest; 
 With native dignity she trips along, 
 Attendant graces round her person throng; 
 By her with modish gaiety's display'd 
 The polish'd manners of the high born maid : 
 The rustic playfulness, and artless ease, 
 Her Philly Nettletop is sure to please; 
 Simplex munditiis charms throughout the whole, 
 And more than Lady Bab enchants the soul. 
 
 If, when at Blenheim, lovely Spencer deigns 
 To grace, with sprightly mirth, these mimic scenes, 
 In the first character herself she'll find. 
 At home, in all, but errors of the mind : 
 And in the rural beauty of the vale, 
 Such charming innocence can never fail ; 
 If nature's easy dictates she'll pursue, 
 A perfect model we in each shall view ; 
 Thalia will the wreath of fame resign ; 
 And round fair Spencer's brows the chaplet twine. 
 
 IMPEOMPTU, 
 
 On seeing Mrs. Abinglon in the very contrasted Characters of 
 
 Lady Bab Lardoon and Philly Nettletop, in 
 
 " The Maid of the Oaks" 
 
 Nature and Fashion now no more 
 Shall disagree as heretofore, 
 
 But both their force unite, 
 Convinc'd one female can display 
 Th' extended pow'rs of either's sway, 
 
 And variegate delight. 
 
 Where is the female ? Envy cries, 
 Lo, Abington ! she'll teach your eyes 
 
 And heart this truth to know : 
 In Lady Bab such graces aid, 
 In Nettletop just such a maid 
 
 As Arcady could shew. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ABINGTON. Her Ancestors, 5 ; Parentage, 5 ; Early Poverty, 6 ; 
 Gives Recitations in Coffee Houses, 6 ; Birth of, 6 ; Known as 
 ft Nosegay Fan," 6 ; As a Servant, 7 ; Early Taste for .Dress, 
 7 ; First Appearance, 8 ; Her early Performances, 8 ; At 
 Batli, 9 ; Left by her Friend, 8 ; Plays at Richmond, 9 ; 
 Engaged for Drury Lane, 9 ; First Appearance at Drury 
 Lane, 9 ; Announced as a Young Gentlewoman, 9 ; Plays Mrs. 
 dive's Characters, 12 ; First Performance with Garrick, 12 ; 
 As Maria in The Arden of Fever sham, 12 ; First Appearance 
 under the name of Mrs. Abington, 13 ; Engagements very 
 irregular, 13 ; Her Salary Thirty Shillings Weekly, 13 ; 
 Separates from her Husband, 14 ; GarricKs indifference to her 
 merit, 15 ; Engages to go to Dublin, 17 ; First Appearance 
 in Dublin, 20; Rapid Success, 21 ; Taste in Dress, 
 21 ; Great Success in High Life Below Stairs, 22*; 
 Abington Cap becomes popular, 24 ; Her Appearance at 
 Crow Street, 26 ; Her Benefit. Speaks an Epilogue against 
 Woodward, 30 ; Her Career in Dublin brought to a close, 31 ; 
 CP Keefe's Description of her Acting, 31 ; Boaden's Description 
 of her Acting, 32 ; Wilkinson's Account of her, 33, 34, 35 ; 
 Abington and Mrs. Dancer, 35 ; Admiration excited in 
 Ireland, 37 ; Abington and the M.P.for Newry, 38 ; Garrick 
 makes her an Offer to Return to Drury Lane, 38 ; Provision 
 made for her, 39 ; Accepts Mr. Gar rick's offer, 39 ; Difficulty 
 of finding her parts, 39 ; Murphy's Inscription of The Way to 
 Keep Him, 40 ; Re-appearance at Drury Lane, 39 ; Visit to 
 Paris, 49 ; Correspondence with Horace Walpole, 49 ; Her 
 Return to Drury Lane, 50 ; Her Performances at Drury Lane, 
 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 55; Abington and thf* 
 Revival of The Chances, 51 ; Epilogue spoken by, to The. 
 Gamesters, 53 ; Prologue spoken by, to A Ibumazer, 55 ; rrt- 
 tability of, 56 ; Her Agreement with Garrick, 57 ; Her Corres- 
 pondence with Garrick, 57, 58 ; Her acting of Lady Bab 
 Lardoon, 59 ; Prologue spoken by, to The Maid of the Oaks, 61 ; 
 Epilogue written by Garrick and spoken by Mrs. Abington, 63; 
 Lines on her after an absence of two years, 64 ; further Corres- 
 pondence with Garrick, 65, 66; Letters to and from Garrick, 
 Mutual Recriminations, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77; 
 Dr. Johnson and her 'Benefit, 77; Further Correspondence, 80, 
 81; Law Proceedings projected, 81; Counsel's Opinion, 82; 
 Threatens to leave the Stage, 82; More Correspondence, 82, 83, 
 84; Returns, however, to Drury Lane, 85; Sets up as a Woman 
 of Fashion, 85, 86; Tlie Public Press on the Style of her Dress, 
 86; Lines on her in the cliaracter of Millamant, 87; Performs 
 at Drury Lane, 87, 88; In tJie School for Scandal, 89; Notices 
 of her Acting in, 89, 90, 91; Leaves Drury Lane, 91; First 
 Appearance at Covent Garden, 92; Her Reception, 92; Her 
 
118 INDEX. 
 
 Address, 92; Epilogue to the Capricious Lady, 94; Takes Mrs. 
 Oldjield's Character, 95; Performances at Covent Garden, 96, 
 97; Address at the close of the season, 96; As Scrub, her Dis- 
 grace therein, 97; Visits Ireland, 99; Various Plays at Covent 
 Garden, 99, 100; Absence from the Stage for Seven Years, 101; 
 Performs for a Charity, 101; Return to the Stage, 101; Speaks 
 a Prologue written by Colman, 101; Her Reception after her 
 Absence, 102; Her Last Appearance, 103; Her Death, 104; 
 Her Merits ns an Actress, 104; Abington and Shakespeare, 105; 
 Tributes to her Memory, 105, 106, 107. 
 
 ABINGTON Mrs., her Characters : 
 
 ,, ,, as Alton (Lady) in The English Merchant... 43 
 
 Arabella, in The Fair Quaker of Deal ... 53 
 
 Arabella, in Foote's Cato 9 
 
 ,, Araminta, in The School for Lovers 43 
 
 Aurelia, in The Twin Rivals 49 
 
 ,, ,, Beatrice, in Much Ado About Nothing, 
 
 20, 79, 96, 99, 100, 101 
 
 Becky 23 
 
 Belinda, in All in the Wrong 43, 94 
 
 Belmour (Widow) in The Way to Keep 
 
 Him.. .27, 39, 43, 44, 50, 85, 91, 96, 99, 100 
 
 Betty, in The Clandestine Marriage 41 
 
 Bisarre, in The Inconstant 100 
 
 Cadwallader (Mrs.), in The Author ...49, 51 
 Capricious Lady, in the Comedy of the 
 
 same name 94 
 
 Catherine, in Romeo and Juliet 42 
 
 ,, Charlotte, in The Mourning Bride 12 
 
 ,, Charlotte, in The Hypocrite, 44, 45, 77, 
 
 91, 96, 100 
 
 ,, ,, Cherry, in The Stratagem 13 
 
 Chloe 27 
 
 , Clarinda, in The Suspicious Husband, 
 
 21, 85, 91, 96, 100 
 
 ., Columbine, in Queen Mab 27 
 
 ,', Comedy in The Jubilee 46 
 
 ,, Comic Muse 47 
 
 Constantia, in The Chances ...51, 52. 54, 91 
 
 Corinna, in Confederacy 21,23.47, 91 
 
 ,, Country Girl, in the Comedy of the 
 
 same name , 43, 50 
 
 Crotchet, (Miss), in Epilogue 41 
 
 ,. ,, Desdemona 8 
 
 ,, Dorcas, in Romeo and Juliet 13 
 
 ,, Dorcas, in Mock Doctor 11 
 
 Dotterel (Mrs.), in The Winter's Tale ... 10 
 
 ,, ,, , Edging, in The Careless Husband 12 
 
 Estifania,in Rule a Wife, 30,31,41, 47,55.96, 100 
 Fanciful (Lady), in Provoked Wife, 
 
 21, 41, 42, 45, 46, 65, 79 
 
 ,, Fatima, in Cymon 42,48, 49 
 
 Flora... 21 
 
INDEX. 
 
 119 
 
 PA OK. 
 
 ABINGTON, Mrs., as Flutter (Lady), in The Discovery 85, 92 
 
 Foible, in The Way of the World 11, 13 
 
 Ford (Mrs.), in The Merry Wives 47 
 
 Froth (Lady), in The Double Dealer 54 
 
 Honeycombe (Folly) 27, 28 
 
 ,, Harriot, in The Heiress, disguised as a boy 11 
 
 ,, ,, Harriot (Lady), in the Funeral 44, 49 
 
 ,, Hoyden (Miss), in The Man of Quality ... 57 
 
 ,, Hoyden (Miss), in The Trip to Scarborough 88 
 
 Inis, in The Wonder 12 
 
 ,, Jenny (Miss), in The Provoked Husband. 8 
 
 Kitty, in High Life Below Stairs 22, 23, 49, 1 00 
 
 Lace (Lady), in The Lottery 44, 50 
 
 Lastitia. in The Choleric Man 65 
 
 Lambton (Lady Betty), in False Delicacy 44 
 
 Languish (Lady), in The Rivals 88 
 
 Lappet, in The Miser 99 
 
 Lardoon (Lady Bab), in The Maid of the 
 
 Oaks 59, 91, 96 
 
 Letitia, in The Old Batchelor 87, 100 
 
 Lettice, in Merope 54 
 
 Lucetta. in The Suspicious Husband 13 
 
 Lucinda, in The Conscious Lovers 13 
 
 Lucinda, in The Englishman in Paris ... 26 
 
 Lucy, in Beggar's Opera 12, 26, 42, 100 
 
 Lucy, in The Virgin Unmasked... 13, 41, 42 
 
 Lucy, in the Guardian 12 
 
 Lucy, in The Old Man Taught Wisdom 12, 13 
 
 Maria, in The Arden of Feversham 12 
 
 ,, Melantha 54 
 
 ,, Melissa, in Beggar's Opera 12, 13 
 
 Millamant, in The Way of the World. ..42, 
 
 49, 57, 87, 94, 96 
 
 ,, ,, Miranda, in The Busy Body 
 
 ,, ., Miranda, in Woman's a Riddle 85 
 
 Modish (Lady Betty), in The Carless 
 
 Husband 8, 47, 96, 99 
 
 Narcissa, in The Widow'd Wife 43 
 
 Notable(Miss) in the Lady's last Stake 27, 50 
 
 Oakley (Mrs.), in Jealous Wife ...30, 47, 53 
 
 Olivia, in The Twelvth Night 50, 85 
 
 Ophelia, in Hamlet 50 
 
 ,, , Penelope, in The Gamesters 53 
 
 Phillis, in The Conscious Lovers ...78, 99, 100 
 
 Plyant(Lady), in The Double Dealer 9.10, 11 
 Portia, in The Merchant of Venice, 
 
 21,23,44.45, 47 
 
 ., Prettyman (Prince) in The Rehearsal ... 8 
 
 Prue (Miss), in Love for Love 27, 48, 87 
 
 , Pry (Kitty), in The Lying Valet 8 
 
 Eacket (Lady;, in Three Weeks after 
 
 Marriage 98, 103 
 
 Rhodamintha, in Zara 11 
 
 Richmore (Lady Charlotte), School for 
 
 Wives 100 
 
120 INDEX 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 ABINGTON, Mrs., as Roxalana, in The Sultan 79,94, 100 
 
 Ruth, in The Committee 53 
 
 Rusport (Charlotte), inTheWestlndian 48, 99 
 
 ., Sadlife (Lady), in the Double Gallant, 
 
 47,50,54,91, 97 
 
 ., Scrub, in The Beaux Stratagem 97 
 
 Sullen (Mrs,), in The Stratagem 20. 46, 
 
 58,^79, 85, 91, 96 
 
 ., ,, Sulpitia, in Albumazer 54 
 
 Sylvia, in The Eecruiting Officer 8 
 
 Tatoo (Mrs.), in Lethe 8 
 
 Teazle (Lady), in The School for Scandal 89 
 Termagant (Mrs.), in the Squire Alsatia 10, 30 
 
 Tipkin (Biddy) 99 
 
 Tittup (Miss), in the Bon Ton 77 
 
 ,, ,, Townley (Lady) in The Provoked Hus- 
 band 26, 43, 45, 49, 99 
 
 Vintage (Mrs.), in No Wit like a Woman's 45 
 
 Violante 21 
 
 ,, Walsingham fMiss), in School for Wives 55 
 
 ,, Wishwell in The Double Gallant 13 
 
 ,, Woodley (Lady Mary), in The Times .. 91 
 
 ABINGTON (Mr.), Account of, 13; Jealousy of 14 
 
 ACTORS, Poor Pay of 19, 20 
 
 AIKEN 43, 47, 48, 50 
 
 AIKEN (J.) 43, 59, 60, 89 
 
 ALBUMAZER, Account of 54 
 
 ANDREWS (Mr.) 76, 80 
 
 APREECE (Mr.), Ridiculed by Foote 10 
 
 ARDEN OF FEVERSH AM, Account of 12 
 
 ARNE (Mrs.) 42 
 
 BADDELEY 30, 48, 79, 88 
 
 BADDKLEY (Mrs.) 44, 48, 59, 87, 89 
 
 BANNISTER 50, 79 
 
 BARTON (Christopher) 5 
 
 BARRY 23, 26, 29, 32, 33, 35, 36. 48 
 
 BARRY (Mrs.) 47, 73, 74 
 
 BEARD, as Mackheath 12 
 
 BEAUMONT 95, 105 
 
 BEAUX STRATAGEM, her disgrace therein ; criticisms on her 
 
 performance of the character of Scrub 97 
 
 BELLCOUR (Madame) 104 
 
 BENNETT (Mrs.) 11 
 
 BENSLEY 42, 76, 79, 85, 91 
 
 BETTERTON 6 
 
 BLARES (Mr.) 10 
 
 BOADEN 32, 90, 97 
 
 BOSWELL, Johnson and Mrs. Abington 78 
 
 BRACEGIRDLE (Mrs.) 104 
 
 BRADSHAW (Mrs.) 10, 11, 14, 42, 43, 57, 79 
 
 BRANSBY 9 
 
 BRERETON 47, 59, GO, 79, 85, 88 
 
 BROWN, of the Irish Stage, 15, 16, 20; his characters, 21, 
 
 23, 30, 31 
 
INDEX. 121 
 
 dAGE. 
 
 BUCKINGHAM (Villiers, Duke of) 52 
 
 BURGOYNE (Gen.) 59 
 
 BURTON (Mr.) 11 
 
 CAPRICIOUS LADY (The), Description and Cast of 94, 95 
 
 Epilogue to 94 
 
 CATO (Written by Foote), Cast of 9 
 
 CAUTHERLEY 44, 47, 48 
 
 CHAMPNESS 42 
 
 CHARLES II 18 
 
 CHOLERIC MAN (The), Epilogue to 65 
 
 CIBBER (Colley) 6; on Betterton 6 
 
 CIBBER (T.), 8 ; obtains a License for the Haynmrket 8, 16 
 
 CIBBER (Mrs.) 19, 40, 41, 52, 108 
 
 CLIVE (Mrs.) 9,10,12,13,14,19,39,40,43, 85 
 
 COLMAN 42, 43, 91, 94, 101, 105 
 
 CONGREVE 88, 105, 106 
 
 CROSS (Miss) 10, 42 
 
 CROW STREET THEATRE (see Irish Stage.) 
 
 CUMBERLAND 48, 56, 57 
 
 CYMON, Cast of 42 
 
 DALY (Mr.) 99 
 
 DANCER (Mrs.) 22, 27, 30, 32, 33, 35 
 
 DAVIES 43, 51, 106 
 
 DEXTER 33 
 
 DIBDIN 104 
 
 DISCOVERY (The), Cast of 85 
 
 DODD 43, 53, 57, 59, 61 
 
 DRYDEN 78 
 
 DYER 20 
 
 EGERTON (Mrs.) 48, 50 
 
 ELIZABETH (Queen) 17 
 
 ELRINGTON 20 
 
 ESTEN (Mrs.) 90 
 
 FARREN 32, 89, 90, 91 
 
 FAWCETT 42 
 
 FITZHENRY (Mrs.) 29, 32 
 
 FLETCHER 105 
 
 FOOTE, 7, 9 j gets in trouble with his Play of Cato, 10, 21, 
 
 23, 35, 45, 46 
 
 FOX 42 
 
 GAMESTERS (The), Cast of 53 
 
 GARRICK 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25, 38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 
 
 48, 50, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 
 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 
 
 85, 91, 105 
 
 GARRICK (Mrs.) 98 
 
 GATES 22 
 
 GAWDREY 89 
 
 GEORGE II 51 
 
 GREVILLE (Mrs.) 79, 87 
 
 GRIFFITH 27 
 
 HALIFAX (Earl of) 30 
 
 HAUGHTON (Miss) 52 
 
122 INDEX. 
 
 HAVARD (Mr.) 
 
 HEAPHY ' 30 
 
 HEATON 22, 23 
 
 HEIRESS, Description and Cast of the Play n 
 
 HENRY VIII 18 
 
 HIDON 60 
 
 HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS, the Farce of 21 
 
 HIPPISLEY (Miss) 11 
 
 HOGARTH 51 
 
 HOLLAND 43, 47 
 
 HOPKINS (Mrs.) 48, 50, 85, 87, 91 
 
 HOPKINS (Miss P.) 85, 89 
 
 HORTON (Mrs.) 52 
 
 HULL 106 
 
 HURST 57 
 
 HYPOCRITE (The), Cast of 44 
 
 IBBOTT (Mrs.) 23, 24 
 
 IRISH STAGE. Distressed Condition of, 15, 16; Account of the 
 Irish Stage, 17 ; The First Dublin Theatre, 18; Irish Stage 
 during the Civil War, 18; Building of Smock Alley Theatre, 
 18; Its Destruction, 19; Origin of the Name of Smock 
 Alley, 19; Opened by Brown, 20; Secures the services of 
 Mrs. Abington, 20; Arrival of Wilkinson, 21; Crow Street 
 Opposition to Smock Alley, 23, 24, 25 ; Woodward endeavours 
 to ridicule Mrs. Abington, 25, 26 ; Mrs. Abing ton's success, 
 with account of her various Performances, 26, 27; Suicidal 
 Policy of the two Theatres, 27, 28; Rival Productions of the 
 Orphan of China, 28, 29 ; New Theatre opened at Cork, 29 ; 
 Further opposition of the two Theatres, 30; Decline of both 
 Theatres, 30, 31 ; Obstinacy of Mossop, and ruin of the rival 
 houses, 36. 
 
 JARRATT (Miss) 79 
 
 JEFFERSON 30, 33 
 
 JOHNSON (Dr. Samuel) 77, 105 
 
 JORDAN (Mrs.) 34, 35, 90 
 
 KELLY 43, 76 
 
 KENNEDY (Miss) 30, 33 
 
 KENRICK 43 
 
 KING 9, 42, 43, 47, 48, 50, 53, 59, 60, 61, 69, 77, 85, 87, 89, 
 
 90, 91, 98, 104 
 
 KING (Mrs.) 79, 85 
 
 LAMASH 89 
 
 LEWIS (Lee) 94, 95 
 
 LEWES 94, 106 
 
 LEWIS (Mrs.) 94 
 
 LILLO 12 
 
 LOVE 43, 47 
 
 MACARTNEY (Miss) 30 
 
 MACKLIN 33, 35 
 
 MACKLIN ('Miss), 10; as Polly 12,13, 52 
 
 MAID OF THE OAKS, Description and Cast of, 59; Descrip- 
 tion of, by a writer in The Sentimental Review 59 
 
 MAN OF QUALITY, Cast of 57 
 
INDKX. 123 
 
 I'UH . 
 
 MATHEWS (Mrs. C.) -.7 
 
 MISTAKE (The), Description of 44 
 
 MMUERE 45 
 
 MOODY 45,48, :>!, sr>, 88 
 
 MOKTON (Mrs.) 94 
 
 MOSSOP 9, 12, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36 
 
 MINORS (Miss) , 10 
 
 MURPHY (A.) 23, 28, 30, 72, 73, 74 
 
 MURRAY 101 
 
 NORTH (Lord) 7 
 
 O'GILBY (John) 18, 19 
 
 O'KEEFE 31 
 
 OLDFIELD (Mrs.) 44,52,95,104,106, 108 
 
 ORPHAN OF CHINA, An Account of its Production 28, 29 
 
 OSSORY (Earl of) 18 
 
 PACKER : 11, 4S, 80 
 
 PALMER 9, 10, 11, 42, 45, 57, 79, 80, 85, 89 
 
 PALMER (J.) 43, 44 
 
 PALMER (Mrs.) 42, 43 
 
 PA K'SONS 42, 48, 50, 53, 87, 88, SO 
 
 PHILLIPS 22 
 
 PINDAR (Peter) , 97 
 
 PINKETHMAN (W.) 52 
 
 PLA IN DEALER (The ), Altered by Bickerstaff 41 
 
 PLYM(Miss) 42 
 
 POPE (Miss) 47, 50, 87, 89, 91, 101, 103 
 
 PRITCHARD (Mrs.) 9, 11, 13, 39, 43, 44, 52, 85, 104, 106 
 
 PRITCHARD (Miss) 13 
 
 PROVOKED WIFE, Cast of 42, 79 
 
 QUICK 94 
 
 QUIN 19 
 
 READ 30 
 
 REDDISH 43, 44, 47, 50, 53, 67, 68, 87, 88 
 
 REYNOLDS (Miss) 42, 44 
 
 REYNOLDS (Sir Joshua) 78 
 
 RICH i 25 
 
 ROBINSON (Mrs.) 88 
 
 ROSS 9 
 
 KYDER (Mr.) 22, 23, 30 
 
 SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, Notes Mrs. Abington's Acting in, 
 
 SO, 90, 91; Cast of Characters 89 
 
 SHAKESPEARE'S Jubilee, 45, 46; Characters in the Pageant 47 
 
 SHAKESPEARE and ABINGTON 105 
 
 SHAW 80 
 
 SHERIDAN 15, 16, 19, 25 
 
 SHERIDAN (R. B.) 88, 90 
 
 SHERRY (Miss) 87, 89 
 
 SHUTER 9, 29 
 
 SIDDONS (Mrs.) 90, 98 
 
 SIMPSON, Proprietor of Bath Theatre 9 
 
 SIMPSON (Mrs.) 11 
 
 SLINGSLEY 60 
 
 SMITH 58, 85, 87, 88, 89, 91 
 
124 INDEX. 
 
 SMOCK ALLEY THEATRE (see Irish Stage.) 
 
 SPARKS (Isaac) 20 
 
 SQUIRE OF ALSATIA, Cast of 10 
 
 STRATAGEM (The), Cast of 58, 79 
 
 STEVENS 47 
 
 SULTAN (The) Description and Cast of 70 
 
 TANS WELL 51 
 
 THRALE (Mr.) 78 
 
 THUROT (Mons.) 24 
 
 TRIP TO SCARBOROUGH, Description and Cast of SS 
 
 USHER 9 
 
 VANBURGH 44, 88 
 
 VERNON 33, 42, 47, 79 
 
 VICTOR (Mr.) 15, 16 
 
 VINCENT (Earl St.) 100 
 
 VOLTAIRE 42 
 
 WALLIS (Miss) 101 
 
 WALPOLE (Horace) 49, 89 
 
 WAY TO KEEP HIM, Description of her Acting in 107 
 
 WAY OF THE WORLD, Cast of 87 
 
 WEBB (Mrs.) 94 
 
 WEST INDIAN (The), Cast and Description of 48 
 
 WESTON 45, 57, 59, 60, 61 
 
 WIDOW'D WIFE, Cast of 43 
 
 WILKES 19, 52 
 
 WILKINSON (Tate) 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 32 
 
 WILSON 94 
 
 WINTER'S TALE, Cast of 10 
 
 WOFFINGTON (Peg) 19, 44, 100 
 
 WOMAN'S A RIDDLE, Cast of 85 
 
 WOODWARD (Henry, Comedian) 9, 10. Account of his Life, 
 
 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36 
 
 WRIGHT (Miss) , 42 
 
 WRIGHTEN (Mrs.) 79, SO 
 
 WROUGHTON (Mr.) 94, 95 
 
 YATES (Mr.) 9, 10, 11, 23, 40, 42, 79, 85, 87, 89 
 
 YATES (Mrs.) 69, 88 
 
 YOUNGE (Miss) 32, 50, 53, 79, 81, 85 
 
 ZARA, Description and Cast of the Play 11 
 
YB 75282 
 
 784350 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY