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Carefully Compiled and Edited from the Best and Most Authentic Records Extant. LONDON. 1888. ^ V 0,1 Z I \ e fIDemoir of fIDiss Hnne Catle^ aP ^ CLi-^ SNNE CATLEY, the subject of the following Memoir, was one of the most celebrated actresses of the ^ latter half of the last century. Her personal beauty, her high vocal abilities, and her connection with certain well- known personages of the upper class, acquired for her a o notoriety that was certainly distinguished, if not altogether enviable. ^ Various writers having expressed themselves very differ- ently as to this lady's character, it will be interesting to gather together and present in a consecutive narrative such authentic facts as are procurable. N ^ An author living at the time she nourished speaks of her as "at present justly the most celebrated for her musical fl powers the British Theatre ever boasted," and says, " she is the daughter of a hackney coachman who lived near Tower Hill." All accounts of her seem agreed about this, and that she was born in the year 1745, as the writer says, "like a bright orient gem, when removed from the dark bowels of the earth, emerging from an obscure and gloomy alley in the neighbourhood of Tower Hill. Her father," he says, " if he could not boast of luxury himself, most essen- Q 26972 4 Life of Miss Anne Catley. tially contributed to the enjoyment of it in others. His courses were generally above the vulgar level, for he was in short, and in plain English, neither more nor less than a gentleman's coachman." As to the particular occupation of the mother, opinion is much divided, but the most preva- lent is that she was an humble washerwoman, and earned small sums in that way by keeping clean the officers upon the Tower duty. In her infancy the little Nancy displayed charms which attracted the attention of every beholder. Her complexion was as fair as alabaster, her eyes sparkling; she had vermilion lips, and nothing could equal the bloom which adorned her cheeks. In a word, Nature seemed in forming her to have meant to shew the world an abridgment of all human perfection. Not to dwell, however, too long on a subject which can afford our readers but little pleasure besides a first perusal, we shall proceed to relate the remarkable events of her younger years, observing only that her beauty increased with her age. Her education was such as persons who move in the same sphere of life with her parents usually bestow on their children. She imbibed the first rudiments of reading in a charity school. She passed her youth in childish amusements peculiar to that age, and in the company of her equals; whom, whether male or female she strove to xcel in the noble arts of spinning a top, playing at marbles, running down Tower Hill, jumping over posts, &c. She had reached her fourteenth year, when, as she v/as sitting one day in an alehouse, among her companions, she was desired to sing a song. A draught of beer soon gained her compliance, and a gentleman well known in the musical world happening to pass by the door at that Life of Miss Anne Catxey. 5 instant, was so much attracted by the angelic though untutored melody of the little Catley that he stopped to hear her song out. When she had done he went into the house, sat down, and with the bribe of a few halfpence prevailed on her to repeat it, and when she had finished he went away without saying anything to her at that time. He immediately enquired in the neighbourhood where her parents lived, and what business they followed ; of which particulars being informed, he went to them, told them how much he admired their daughter's musical talents, and offered to take her under his tuition, and perfect her in an art for which nature had so well qualified her. Her father and mother, overjoyed at a proposal which seemed so advantageous to their child, readily consented. Accordingly, she removed next day to the house of her patron, Mr. Bates, who put her to school very remote from the haunts of her former companions. Here she remained some time, wholly employed in learning to read and write. After she was taken from school she applied herself with so much assiduity to acquire a competent knowledge of music, that at the end of two years she was capable of occupying a distinguished position in a London orchestra. While living in the neighbourhood of the Tower, she became an object very much admired, and by the credulity of her unsuspecting parents was permitted to expose her budding beauties, and, as we have seen, her melodious cadences, in the commonest places of resort in that district. She was yet too young for serious love affairs, but the military heroes of the locality had their eyes upon her, as beasts of prey watch their destined victims until they 6 Life of Miss Anne Catlet. arrive at a proper time and place to spring upon them. They were all, however, disappointed ; Nan, before she arrived at her second teen, listened to the love-lore of a young linen draper in the Minories, and in a very short time returned his passion with equal ardour. And now that charming voice for which she afterwards became so justly celebrated began to increase in strength and melody ; insomuch that, at the recommendation of some friends, Mr. Bates gladly accepted her as an appren- tice by indenture, with a penalty of ,200 for the father in case of misconduct. Upon attaining proficiency she made her first appearance in public at Vauxhall in the summer of 1762 ; and on the 8th of October in the same year she appeared for the first time on the stage at Covent Garden, in the character of the Pastoral Nymph in Comus, and gained uncommon applause. Bates and Catley, however, soon found they could not agree. She had discovered a mortal dislike to her master, and her conduct became most irregular. It was in vain he solicited and threatened at one time he declared that he would turn her out of doors and sue her father for the .200 in vain also were her father's entreaties, her conduct became so irritating that at last Bates agreed to allow her 25 a year for her board and lodging, and take her salary to himself. This arrangement, however, did not long continue. The succeeding year she became an object of public attention from a very remarkable circumstance. Sir Francis Blake Delaval, one of the most notorious and abandoned characters of the times, being charmed with her beauty, and understanding that the master and his fair apprentice could not agree, resolved on releasing her Life of Miss Anne Catley. 7 entirely from the coercion of Bates, and making her his mistress. Accordingly, it was agreed that Sir Francis should pay Bates the penalty of the father's bond, and also give him <2Q0 more in lieu of what she might earn for him by the engagement that he had made for her with the managers of Covent Garden Theatre and Marylebone Gardens. In this purpose Mr. Fraine, an attorney, was ordered to draw up a proper transfer of her indentures from Bates to Sir Francis, and she and her mother were removed into lodgings, where she lived publicly with Sir Francis, was attended by his servants, and rode out with him every day. The attorney, having made the father a party to the articles, waited on him to have his signature and seal. Mr. Catley lived at this time with the very respectable Mr. Barclay, of Cheapside, and, having got possession of the articles, consulted his master on the nature of them. The honest Quaker, shocked at the wickedness of trans- ferring a girl by legal process, for the purpose of prostitution, advised with his Lawyer, who laid a case before Counsel, and the ensuing term two motions were made in the Court of King's Bench on these articles : the first of these motions was for Habeas Corpus, directed to Sir Francis Blake Delaval, to bring the body of Anne Catley into Court ; and the second was for a rule to shew cause why an information should not be filed against Sir Francis Blake Delaval, Bates the Master, and Fraine the Attorney, for a conspiracy to prostitute Anne Catley, under the forms of Law. On the following day, Catley, in consequence of the Habeas Corpus, appeared in Court, accompanied by Sir Francis, and was discharged out of his custody. The affidavits for the prose- cutor were read, and a day was fixed for cause to be shewn. 8 Life of Miss Anne Catley. On the young lady's release, her father attempted to seize her, and carry her off by force. Sir Fletcher Norton, Counsel for Sir Francis, immediately complained to the Court, and the violent conduct of the father, was severely reprimanded by the Chief Justice, Earl Mansfield, who observed, that though the girl was not of legal age, she was at full discretion ; and the question being put, whether she would return with her father, or Sir Francis, she declared her attachment to the latter, put her hand under his arm, and making a curtsey to the Judges, and another to the Bar, walked with him out of Westminster Hall to his carriage, which waited at the gate, and carried them home. On cause being shewn, the Court were clearly of opinion that the information should be granted. Lord Mansfield observed, that the Court of King's Bench was custos morum of the country ; and had authority, especially where the offence was mixed with conspiracy, to punish every thing contra bonas mores. He called the money given by Sir Francis to Bates, premium prostitutions, and cited the case of Sir Richard Sedley, in the reign of Charles II. to support it. The consequence of this information against Sir Francis, Bates, and Fraine, was a trial, and all the defendants being found guilty by the Jury, were severely fined ; the whole expense of which, together with the costs to a very con- siderable amount, fell upon Sir Francis. The story of her conquest of Sir F. B. D. is told as follows, in a pamphlet published during her life-time and professing to contain many curious anecdotes never before published. She is thus described on the title page " Queen of Song, of Dance, of Sports, You scarce will meet her like again." Life op Miss Anne Catley. 9 Singing at Marylebone Gardens, her beauty, joined to her superior excellence in singing, could not fail of creating her a great number of admirers. Among the rest of her numerous votaries, Sir F. B. D. obtained the preference. He took her home with him in his chariot one night from the gardens. She was not ignorant of the conquest her charms had made, and was resolved to make the utmost advantage of it. The Knight who loved her to desperation, on their arrival at his house, asked her on what terms she would consent to live with him. She heartily replied, that the happiness of being loved by him was, in her opinion, a sufficient reward for any favours that she could bestow. Pleased with this answer, he presented her with a diamond ring which he took from his finger, worth a hundred guineas, as an earnest of what he intended to do in the future. Her conversation during supper was witty, spirited and enlivening ; she sung him several songs, all of which were on the subject of love and omitting nothing that she thought likely to increase his passion for her, the evening was passed in the most agreeable manner imaginable. The next day he sent for his coachmaker, and ordered him to make for her a very elegant equipage. He fixed her in genteel lodgings at two guineas per week, and assigned her an allowance of five guineas. Our heroine seemed now arrived at the pinnacle of her glory, her inamorata was too fond to deny her anything she asked him. She also, on her part resolved to give him every satisfaction in her power, and accordingly requested the favour of him to accompany her to a house near Hampstead, prepared by her appointment, to partake of an 10 Life of Miss Anne Catley. entertainment she had provided. She forgot nothing that might make everything agreeable to him ; the most delicate viands and the choicest wines were served up with a degree of elegance, which plainly shewed that the mis- tress of the feast was no novice in the art of doing the honours of the table with propriety. All the time they sat at table, two bands of music composed of the most celebrated vocal and instrumental performers, played and sung. The knight was in raptures, but his fair flame desired him to forbear being so lavish in his thanks till after supper, when she hoped to present him with a scene that would be more deserving of them. Miss Catley made a short meal, and retired somewhat abruptly. This behaviour surprised her lover, and he waited the issue of the event with impatience. When the things were removed she sent a servant to desire Sir F. to walk into a large hall below stairs, where a theatre appeared, representing a forest at a distance, with a beautiful valley stretching out towards it. Fields and orchards seemed in full bloom ; the rivulets wandered along, and their banks were decked with woodbines and roses. Here our heroine, who had only retired to dress, appeared as Celia asleep ; three shepherds came slowly forward, the music playing, and one of them sung as follows Soft advances let us make Towards my lovely enemy ; Let us, let us not awake Her sleeping cruelty. Then all three sang the following trio Sleep on, and take that sweet repose, Ye bright victorious eyes, Life op Miss Anne Catley. 11 Which the hard law that you impose To other hearts denies. Strephon. Silence, ye birds, ye zephyrs, peace, Let all a sacred silence keep ; Ye purling streams, your murmurs cease, For 'tis Celia that's asleep. Trio. Sleep on, and take the sweet repose, Ye bright victorious eyes, Which the hard law that you impose To other hearts denies. This was sung admirably well ; and when the shepherds had done, several shepherdesses came out of the wood. They advanced to the sleeping beauty in graceful measure, as the music played, and when they came to the bank of flowers she reclined on, one of them sang, incomparably fine, these words Come, Celia with your charms, Come view the innocent delights, To which, with smiles and open arms, Our peaceful wilderness invites. Here seek no grandeur of a Court, Love's alone our harmless sport : Love crowns the night, love crowns the day, And love's the burthen of the lay. Here Celia awakened, and, singing, said to Strephon, who stood gazing on and admiring the wonders of her face, O what cruelty you shew, To follow me where'er I go ! Strephon. Whom would you have me, fair, pursue, But she, alas ! I love but you ? 12 Life of Miss Anne Catley. Celia. What is it, shepherd, that you mean ? Strephon. Fair shepherdess, I mean to die ; Die at your feet and end my pain, Since at your feet I sigh. Celia. Hence, Strephon, hence, I fear that I shall prove Pity within my breast transform'd to love. Strephon. Or from pity or from love It is graceful to be tender ! Shepherdess, enough you've strove, To his flame yon must surrender. Or from pity or from love, It is graceful to be tender. Celia. Too long I've been, too long, severe, Your ardent vows have treated ill ; Here, take my heart, here, Strephon, here, Of just revenge here take your fill. Strephon. O heavens ! shepherds ! Celia, why Transport me thus ? If joy can kill, I die. Damon. This prize is worthy of thy fidelity ; Thus blest, who but must envy thee ! This scene of a comedy ballet was finely performed and beautifully improved by the conclusion taken from Shake- speare's Tempest ; that is, when the shepherds had done, Juno, Iris and Ceres appeared, descending in a machine of clouds, to bless this pair, and sung their blessings on them. Iris called the Naiads of the winding brooks, by Life of Miss Anne Catley. 13 command of Juno, summoned the sun-burnt sicklemen to put their rye-straw hats on and encounter those other nymphs in country footing. The nymphs and reapers appeared in a moment properly habited, and concluded the scene with a graceful dance. In this manner the time passed away till midnight, the next day was passed in much the same manner, and he stayed with her about a week, and she every day entertained him with some new species of diversion. At the end of that time he took his leave, and gave her fresh tokens of his affection. A writer in the " History of the English Theatre " (1789) says, " To the man of her choice she was faithful, loving and submissive." This opinion is certainly not borne out by facts, and another writer of her times says, " Though of a sprightly disposition and apparently of a volatile spirit, she never lost sight of her own interest." Sir Francis had possession of her person, but was never master of her heart, and there is no doubt, but that even while she resided with him, and appeared in public as his mistress, she privately engaged in intrigues with others for pecuniary consideration. A diamond to her was as inestimable an argument as to Madame Sc-l-e-g. It won her last favour as effectually as it gains the old German's interest. Her passions were strong, but she was totally destitute of sentiment and delicacy, and always gratified her appetite with a view to her interests as well as to her taste ; being attached to the whole sex without harbouring a particular fondness for any particular individual, she measured love by profit, and enjoyed indulgence without the least relish for mental satisfaction. Macklin was the person who first discovered her talents 14 Life of Miss Anne Catley. for the stage, and she cultivated thero under his tuition with assiduity and success; for notwithstanding she pleased most when least natural and most outre, yet there was great capability in her mind ; she could assume chaste acting, and executed many characters of difficulty with critical justice. Time, possession, and infidelity the capricious girl having confessed to an improper intimacy with no less a personage than the Duke of York himself, whom she declared to be the father of her third child, adding with her native pleas- antry, a hope that he might be wiser than his father having at last cooled the passion of Sir Francis, he effected an emancipation from the fascinating chains of his mistress, who, by the advice of her venerable instructor, the father of the stage, made a trip to Ireland. It is evident that while she was making her most fervent protestations of affection for Sir F., she could not confine her desires to him alone, but among other adventures listened to the overtures made her by a rich Portuguese Jew merchant. Her amour with him seemed to be founded more on in- terest, than any other motive, and was as follows. She had been kept by Sir F. about a twelve month, when returning home in a hackney chair from a visit pretty late in the evening, a foot-pad presented a pistol to the foremost man, commanding him in the usual phrase to stand. A voice at that instant cried out, " hold villain, on your life I charge you hold ! dare to repeat your insolence, and this moment shall be your last." The robber obeyed, and a gentleman, richly dressed, having ordered the chairman to carry the lady home, escorted her thither himself. As soon as she arrived at the door of her own house he handed her out of the chair, and being struck with her Life of Miss Anne Catley. 15 beauty he asked permission to pay her a visit, which she readily complied with. He then respectfully took his leave and went home ruminating all the way on the pleasure he was likely to reap from this happy encounter. Before we proceed any further in the relation of this adventure, it will not be amiss to give the best account we could learn of this new adorer of our heroine. He was a native of Lisbon, his name, Miguel Diaz Fernandes ; he was very rich, and a widower. He had no children, and was about fifty years old. As to his person, he was tall and meagre, of a sallow complexion, and had something rather forbidding in his countenance. Having given this description of him, we shall resume the thread of the story. As soon as he went home he retired to bed, but could not sleep. He lay awake the whole night, ruminating on what had passed ; he arose early in the morning, and despatched his servant with the following billet to Miss Catley. " Divine creature ! I am dying for love of you, and unless you take pity on me, and condescend to receive this declaration of my passion favourably, I must inevitably fall a victim to the ardent flame with which I am fired. I have sixty thousand pounds, besides a large estate in Portugal, which I here offer to make you sole mistress of. Deign therefore to give me permission to hope I am not disagreeable to you. My servant will deliver your answer to me. I am, charming miss, Your sincere admirer, M. D. Fernandes." 16 Life of Miss Anne Catley. To this passionate epistle our heroine, when she had perused it, thought proper to send the following answer " Sir, Your behaviour last night convinces me that you are a man of honour and a gentleman. As such I shall always esteem you. I know not how to look on you in any other light at present. An interview perhaps may determine me more in your favour. But oh ! I fear to trust my too credulous heart. You have therefore leave to visit me at my own house this afternoon, at six o'clock. Pray come alone. Yours, Anne Catley." The merchant's heart was filled with joy at the receipt of this favourable answer, and he waited with the utmost impatience for the happy hour which was to make him the most blest of all mankind. Time seemed to move with leaden wings, but at length the wished-for moment came, when he mounted his chariot, which soon conveyed him to the abode of his charmer. Being arrived at her house, she received him with an air of affected modesty, which, though it did not utterly discourage him, yet easily made him perceive that his success would cost him some pains. He was somewhat puzzled at the singularity of her behaviour, which was easy without betraying too much freedom. He was as anxious to turn the conversation on the topic of love as she seemed studious to avoid it. At length, after having, as she thought, thoroughly sifted her inamorata's inclination, she appeared all at once to comply with his wishes, and in order to give him the most exalted opinion of her virtue, invented the following tale Life op Miss Anne Catley. 17 "I am, sir," said she, "the daughter of an Irish gentle- man, a merchant, a native of Dublin, who, dying whilst I was very young, left me to the care of my mother, who was at that time about five-and-twenty years old. I was his only daughter, and he was so excessively fond of me that I was indulged in every reasonable wish my little heart could form ; I was sensibly afflicted at his death, and used to mingle my tears with those of my mother, who bewailed his loss in the most affectionate manner imaginable. This fond parent did not survive my father above three months, and left me an orphan, with ,10,000 to my portion, to the guardianship of a rich old uncle, who, when I had attained the proper age, endeavoured by threats and promises to force me to give my hand to his son, a dissolute youth, who had already deceived several young women by promising them marriage, only with a view to ruin them more easily. Finding me averse to his will, he forcibly kept from me the writings of my estate, and I, for want of friends, being unable to recover them, he gave them to his son, who in about two years squandered away all my fortune in extrav- agancies, and left me, a wretched being, reduced to the cruel necessity of earning my bread by the labour of my hands. Having received an education suitable to the large fortune I was born to possess, I was unacquainted with, as well as incapable of undertaking, any laborious employ- ment. The place, therefore, of governess to a young lady of quality, which fortunately happened at that time to be vacant, seemed the best adapted to my abilities. I applied four years in the family, where I gave such satisfaction that the lady's son, who, unknown to the whole family, had entertained a passion for me, obtained his mother's leave to c 18 Life op Miss Anne Catley. marry me. As he had a great deal of good sense and virtue, and was very agreeable in his person, I married him. We did not live together above two years before he died, leaving a beautiful daughter, and me mistress of a large fortune. My patroness dying soon after, I came over to England, together with my daughter, where I live retired, busied only in the care of my Charlotte's educa- tion." The merchant, who had listened with the greatest at- tention to this account which Miss Catley gave of herself, admired her great virtue, wisdom and prudence. It gave him infinite pleasure to find she was not married, and he could not help expressing his joy to her on that account. He then proceeded to make a formal declaration of his love, but how much was be chagrined, when this lady of pretended virtue, told him she was determined never to marry a second time, and therefore begged him to relinquish all thoughts of wedlock, as she had made a vow to remain single during the rest of her life. She told him that she should always rank him among her friends, and therefore begged he would honour her so far as to place her among the number of his. He politely thanked her and begged to see her daughter. This request our heroine expected he would make, and had accordingly procured a little girl about seven years old, who was to pass as her daughter. She rang the bell and ordered the maid to bring the child, and presently after, a beautiful girl about seven years old, richly dressed, entered the room. The supposed mother presented her to Fernandes, who after having caressed her, begged leave of Miss Catley to present her with what he called an earnest of his future good intentions towards her. Saying this, he put a pearl necklace into her hands and a Life op Miss Anne Catley. 19\ pair of ear rings mounted in gold, with diamond drops. These were delivered immediately to our heroine, who civilly thanked the gentleman for his ingenious present. After having drunk tea, he desired permission to retire, which having obtained, he went home, where we will leave him awhile to acquaint the reader with the reasons of Miss Catley's acting in the manner above related. She always held it a duty incumbent on her to get all she could, without rendering herself too cheap ; she therefore always made it a rule to make her lovers pay exorbitantly for the smallest favours, and she was never known to complete anyone's happiness till she had gratified her passion for money. This mode of conduct, which she ever most religiously observed, has long since convinced the world, that, as Peachum's daughter in the Beggar's Opera says, " She knows as well how to make the most of her man as any woman." But in the present case she had other motives, though all had the same tendency, i.e. interest, for behaving as she did. She was now in keeping by Sir F. B. D., who rewarded her supposed constancy with too much liberality to suffer her to give him the least room to suspect her capable of being guilty of a breach of it. On the other hand she seemed coy to her new lover, first, to prove the extent of his passion ; secondly, to raise in him a higher esteem for her ; and thirdly, to invent a scheme to prevent her two lovers from coming to the knowledge of her intimacy with either. We will now return to Fernandes, who by this time was arrived at his own house. He went to bed much chagrined, but could not get a wink of sleep during the whole night. He lamented his unhappy fate in having met with so cruel a fair one. Having passed a sleepless night, 20 Life of Miss Anne Catley. in the morning he sent a servant with the following billet. " Cruel Charmer ! How shall I find words to express the ardour of my passion for you, and lament the hardness of your heart in thus treating your humble slave ! Unless you relieve my pain, I shall inevitably fall a sacrifice to your beauty. I shall ever offer the incense of the purest praise of you at the altar of love. On your answer depends my life. If you continue to be cruel, I shall soon put an end to a wretched life. I am yours, M. D. Fernandes." To this passionate epistle our heroine returned the following answer. " Sir, I am not so cruel in my disposition as you imagine. I consent to alleviate your pain. I expect you this evening at my house. Come alone at seven o'clock. P.S. Let this be a profound secret. A. C Y." Fernandes received this letter with joy, he kissed it a thousand times, and waiting with the utmost impatience for the appointed hour, which had no sooner come than he flew at once to meet his charmer whom he found in perfect readiness to meet him ; when he took his leave he was so satisfied with the reception that had been accorded him that he presented her with a note of a hundred pounds. Whether Fernandes was not altogether quite as agreeable to Miss C y as could have been expected, or whether for other more cogent reasons, she did not judge it prudent to encourage a renewal of his visits, cannot be ascertained. It is however certain that she never gave him the pleasure of her company after. Life of Miss Anne Catley. . 21 She continued to revel for a considerable time in t all the pleasures which gallantry and dissipation afford, happy in the enjoyment of the affectionate indulgence shewn by her knight, till the golden stream of felicity was, for a short interval, turned into another channel, different from that in which it had so long run. This unexpected stroke of temporary unhappiness was occasioned by her father's taking upon him to vindicate the supposed injury done to his daughter's character by certain of these intimacies. He accordingly entered a process against Sir F. B. D., as principal agent, and also against B., the organist, for being an accomplice in the affair. The cause was tried at West- minster in 1764, when, it appearing to the judges that the knight's intimacy with our heroine was entirely with her own consent, and that Mr. B. could not in any manner be considered as an abettor or aider to the transaction, her indentures having been previously cancelled, her father, who doubtless expected to have gained considerably by the lawsuit, had the mortification to hear the jury pronounce a verdict for the defendant with costs of suit ; which, as they were considerable, and out of the plaintiff's power to pay, the knight generously discharged. This affair being thus settled, our heroine resumed her former gaiety, and shone with greater splendour than before at all places of polite resort. Her lover grew fonder of her every day, giving her frequent marks of his esteem. During the course of their intimacy, which lasted two years, two children were born, who both died in their infancy. They did not continue long together afterwards, an event hap- pening which caused a final separation between them. It was as follows : Miss C y had been one evening at Vauxhall in 22 Life of Miss Anne Catley. company with some ladies, from which place, filled with wine, a vice she was sometimes guilty of, she went with the rest of her company to W th by's, a well-known house of questionable repute, where she passed the night in mirth and jollity. Unluckily, Sir F. B. D. came there also, to pass an idle hour or two, and the waiter by mis- take shewed him into an apartment where our heroine was in company with a young attorney's clerk. The indignant knight, fired with rage, turned on his heel and departed. The next morning she returned home, where she found her lover, who awaited her arrival. He reproached her for her baseness, as he termed it, towards him, and giving her a bank-note of <50 desired her to take another lodging immediately. Miss C y, finding that all endeavours to please him were in vain, retorted his upbraidings on himself, and even went so far as to make herself merry at his expense. It must not be supposed by the reader that the fault was all on one side, a mistake very often made with regard to affairs of this particular nature. In order therefore to do justice to all parties and that the true position of things may be understood it is necessary to insert the following. Sir Francis Blake Delaval was a gentleman of high and respectable family, being son to a baronet and related nearly by blood and affinity to several of the nobility. His person was elegant, his face handsome, his manners pol- ished, his education liberal, his conversation sprightly and pleasing. Few ever possessed so many of those qualities which fascinate the ladies, and few ever succeeded better in obtaining their favours by humbling their proud hearts. When very young this gentleman dissipated his patrimony Life op Miss Anne Catley. 23 on women and play, till at last his finances being reduced to the lowest ebb, necessity forced him to relieve them by fortune hunting, a resource truly despicable. The object fixed upon as the means of repairing his shattered fortune, was Lady Isabella Pawlet, daughter to the Earl of Thanet. This lady possessed a very considerable fortune, with a very plain person and face, and a character somewhat questionable according to evidence said to be given by Foote, though unstained by any actual charges. The truth is, Lady Isabella Pawlet (or Paulet") had a penchant for the humorist, and if he had not been restrained from matrimony, by having previously entered into the indissoluble noose of Hymen, there is scarcely a doubt that he would have refused the acceptance of a considerable fortune on any terms ; but this being impossible, he resolved to come in for a share, and fixed upon Delaval, with whom he had long lived on terms of intimacy, as a proper instru- ment. Lady Isabella was a dupe to superstition. The old gipsy woman at Norwood, whom she frequently visited, stood higher in her estimation than Boyle or Newton, and she put more confidence in the presages of an astrologer who resided up four pairs of stairs in the Old Bailey, than was ever placed in Copernicus. Foote having informed his friend Delaval of the lady's foible, they came to an agreement, by which the former was to have an annuity of five hundred pounds a year, and the principal to enjoy the remainder of the lady's fortune. A maid servant was bribed to betray her lady, and the conspirators having received information from her of a particular day when her ladyship was to consult a cele- brated conjuror, to whom, at that time, several women of 24 Life of Miss Anne Catley. the first fashion paid frequent visits, to this imposing rascal, Delaval and his friend Foote immediately repaired, and having secured his services by a few guineas, informed him of several of the most remarkable incidents in Lady Isabella's life, the conjuror at the same time taking an exact survey of Delaval's face and figure for a purpose which shall appear presently. Lady Isabella soon after arrived, accompanied by her treacherous attendant, who by a sign previously agreed upon, informed the impostor who his visitor was. The answers given to the interrogatories of her ladyship, and to the prepared questions occasionally slipped in by her cunning abigail, left no doubt on her mind of the conjuror's extraordinary and supernatural powers, and of course brought forward the material enquiry respecting marriage, which is generally the great end of all such applications. The impostor now pretended to consult a planetary system that lay before him on his table. Having delib- erately taken off a pair of large spectacles and turned up his eyes towards Heaven, he muttered over the names given to the signs of the zodiac and fixed stars, he drew a number of circles and lines with white lead upon black paper, and at last with a grave face described the person and features of Delaval. Lady Isabella, delighted at the description of her intended cara sposa, rewarded the conjuror liberally, and would now have retired, but her well-instructed companion, pretending a tender interest in the future fortune of her mistress, urged for further information, particularly as to the time when and the place where her lover was to be seen. The wizard answered that he could certainly com- Life of Miss Anne Catley. 25 municate such information, but must first consult his familiar spirit in an adjacent room, and immediately retired to Delaval and Foote, who sat in another room, where having waited a few minutes in consultation, he returned to the women, and found Lady Isabella almost maddened with anxious expectation. He told her that the gentleman to whom the fates had destined her hand would be walking the next day at twelve o'clock by the side of the canal in the Green Park, but cautioned her not to speak first, as that would break the charm, and having received another fee for his pleasing news, Lady Isabella returned home in rapture. The description of the charming man described by the conjuror had taken possession of this unfortunate lady's brain ; she could not eat during the day, nor sleep during the night. The morning sun, on rising, found her at her toilette, culling ornaments, painting, washing, and per- fuming ; and she involuntarily rambled to the place of appointment an hour before the time. During this hour this infatuated dupe to imposition kept her eyes rivetted (9a the park gate, and every time it opened trembled from head to foot with anxious expectation. Her repeater at last struck twelve, and at that instant Delaval appeared, dressed in every point exactly as the conjuror had described. The sudden appearance of the gentleman extorted the ejaculation of " heavens ! " from the lady, which was followed with " Lord preserve us ! " from the maid ; but Delaval continued to pass and repass them several times without turning his eyes towards the seat, which was indeed a necessary precaution, as he was ready to burst into loud laughter every instant. At last, looking full at Lady Isabella, he bowed respectfully, and, she returning 26 Life of Miss Anne Catley. the salute, he walked towards her, and commenced a conversation. The surprise of the lady having by degrees subsided, she discovered on recovering her senses that the stranger held her hand; she reluctantly drew it from him, at the same time heaving a deep sigh, which he returned with all the softness of sympathetic tenderness. Before they parted an assigna- tion was made for a future meeting at the same place, and the swain took leave with an affected warmth of passion and respect that totally threw the lady off her guard, and expelled from her mind all considerations but those of romantic love. Delaval, on separating, flew to inform Foote of his success, and then retired to indulge in tender conversation with a favourite in King's Place. Lady Isabella locked herself within her chamber, there to contemplate with rapture the conquest she had made, or rather, indeed, on the lover, who, in her opinion, Heaven in its bounty had created for her specially. The more she thought the more she became enamoured, and the second meeting totally overturned every idea that prudence suggested. Delaval " Could impart The loosest wishes to the chastest heart." And Lady Isabella was now at an age when the heart is tender, though not over young. She was approaching towards that grand climacteric which brings despair to maidens, and having long regretted her situation she was resolved not to lose the present opportunity of doing all within her power for the good of her generation, and to remove from herself that most horrid of all horrid epithets to a woman's ear an old maid. Life of Miss Anne Catley. 2T The marriage, therefore, was soon celebrated, much to the satisfaction of the bride ; but Sir Francis felt himself rather uneasy on the occasion, which, however, he attempted to put off with a laugh, and having been asked how he could think of marrying so ordinary a woman, answered "I married her for weight and paid nothing for fashion." Had Lady Isabella been a Venus in beauty, and endowed with the wisdom of Pallas, she would have found her charms of body and mind unequal to fix the heart of Delaval, ever on search for variety, and never satisfied with any single object. But in truth her ladyship was destitute not only of personal charms but of mental allure- ments her conversation was as plain as her face. A young lady named Roche lived at this time under the protection of a near female relative to Delaval, and was supposed by many to be a natural daughter to one of the family. In the leading astray of this girl he soon suc- ceeded. Her mind was weak, her constitution meretricious, and instead of retreating from him, and repelling his overtures, she met his affections with ardour, and lived with him as his mistress for a considerable time indeed it was a doubtful point which of the two was most in the wrong. This inconstancy on the part of Delaval naturally excited resentment in the lady. Female pride could not patiently submit to so gross an insult. She saw her fortune bestowed upon a courtesan ; she felt that the husband to whom she had administered the means of indulging his pleasures affronted her by publicly appearing and living with his mistress, and privately treating her, his wife, with neglect, and even contempt that evinced disgust. This roused her to revenge. She upbraided her husband with bitterness, 28 Life of Miss Anne Catley. he answered with cutting coolness, and in the height of one of their disputes discovered the secret of the conjuror. Lady Isabella consulted her friends on this occasion and they brought in the aid of the law. A case was drawn and a suit of divorce was determined on, upon the grounds that Delaval had committed adultery with Miss Roche. Of the truth of this charge there could not be a doubt, but Lady Isabella failed in the proof. The witnesses gave evidence of the parties having rode out together, having dined together, having lodged in the same house together, but they failed in legally proving the offence on the ground of which she sought relief and release from her marriage contract. Delaval thinking he had no offence to make, resolved upon obviating the effect of his wife's complaint, which if established would have materially injured his fortune, and therefore he set up a charge of recrimination. This charge states that a person named Craig took a woman with him to Haddock's, at Charing Cross, on the evening of a day when Delaval had invited some company to meet him at the Cardigan's Head Tavern, Charing Cross, among whom was the late Mr. Robert Quaime. To this company he communicated that he had long believed his wife to be inconstant, and had received information that she was to be that night at Haddock's with a man who went by the name of Brown, that he intended to be convinced of the truth, and requested that the company would go to the house with him in order to see if they could detect her in the act. One Dupree was then des- patched to Haddock's, and soon sent back a messenger to inform Delaval that his wife was arrived. The company then went to the place, when Dupree opened the door of a Life of Miss Anne Catley. 29 room where Lady Isabella was said to be, and where they saw a man and woman, the latter of whom one of the witnesses swore was Lady Isabella, but in this he was not corroborated by any of the other witnesses. It was also deposed that her ladyship passed by the name of Brown and met Craig, who also assumed that name, at a lodging in Beaufort Buildings, where they passed for man and wife ; but the general opinion was, that the whole of the evidence against Lady Isabella was fabricated and false and that her witnesses had been tampered with and suborned. This suit in the commons of course terminated all connubial connection between Delaval and his wife, nor did his intimacy with Miss Roche continue much longer. As there is something particular and interesting in the story of this lady, though it is not immediately connected with the memoirs of Nan, yet the reader will find enter- tainment from the perusal. Sir Henry Echlin an Irish baronet, who possessed a very considerable estate at Rush, near Dublin, having seen Miss Roche became enamoured of her beauty, and indeed it must be allowed her charms were attractive. Sir Henry was a young man of very weak intellect in worldly matters, extremely dissipated, naturally extrava- gant and totally devoid of foresight. He had been a dupe to gamblers, money lenders, bullying captains, the keepers of low houses, sang in alehouses for hire. Nell when almost a child was decoyed from the path of virtue by a merchant; Nan suffered similarly soon after entering her teens, at the hands of a linen draper. Nell was remarkable for smart- ness of conversation, so was Nan. Nell was an actress in great vogue, so was Nan. To Nell, lords and dukes paid their addresses, so they did to Nan. Nell was the mistress of a king, Nan that of a prince of the blood royal. " This shews that sultans, emperors, and kings, When blood boils high will stoop to meanest things." Nell was of a gay frolicksome disposition, so was Nan ; of Nell many droll passages have been reported, so of Nan, but in respect to both ladies, some of their sayings should be suppressed as being too loose for the public ear. Nell's air was free and degagee, so was the carriage of Nan. Nell had spirit and pleasantry, so had Nan. She had professed more charity and generosity than most women of her situation in life, so did Nan, and here an instance may be given, which illustrates this part of our Life op Miss Anne Catley. 65 heroine's character. Mr. Linton, a musician belonging to Covent Garden Theatre, having been inhumanly murdered by footpads, Mr. Harris the manager, gave his widow and children a free benefit. A short time previous to the benefit night, Nan went to a masquerade in the character of an orange girl, with several dozen box tickets in her basket, these she disposed of among the company for a very considerable sum over their usual price, which with ten guineas added by herself, she sent the next day to the unfortunate family. As in their lives, so in their deaths, there was a strong similarity between Nell Gwynne and Ann Catley, except that Nell lived to be much older than Nan. But she certainly died with a moral and religious mind, or Dr. Tenison, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, would not have preached her funeral sermon. And this was the opinion of Queen Mary, who, when the Earl of Jersey urged the circumstance to prevent the doctor's preferment to the diocese of Lincoln, answered, " It was a sign that this unfortunate woman died penitent, for if I can read a man's heart through his looks, had she not made a truly pious and christian end, the doctor wonld never have been induced to speak well of her." Just such an end did Catley make, dying in charity with the world, and in lamenting that the early parts of her life had not been equally virtuous and honourable with her latter days. A writer in the History of the English Stage says, " Her goodness of heart and benignity of disposition appear in many charitable works which would have done honour to more high-born dames ; her wanderings cannot be called errors, but misfortunes, the common result of a bad education. Though she came into the world without I 66 Life op Miss Anne Catley. reputation, she left it with a good character, a sufficient proof that all her levities proceeded from inexperience and not from natural depravity." The following eulogium was paid to her memory in the public prints : "She was the favourite of Thalia, the favourite of the Town, and the favourite of Fortune. Her theatrical representations will be remembered as long as the fame exists of the poets that pourtrayed them. The discussion of her professional merit should be the subject of a volume ; we shall therefore only add, that her voice and manner were, perhaps, never equalled in the same style. Her person all but equalled her accomplishments, and nearly to her death she was the centre of attraction. Beauty is a captivating syren, and to resist her enchant- ments man must possess something more or something less than the usual portion of humanity. The allurements a theatrical life holds out to lovely women, admit, the same observation, and justify the application with tenfold force. All that can be said is, Alas poor human nature ! She possessed many virtues, and the greatest of all humanity. The generous hand often lightened the heavy heart. Feelingly alive by nature to every impression of sensibility, this amiable virtue accompanied her elevation to rank and riches, and joined others that adorn the first stations in society, and which alone make them respectable. She was the good mother, the chaste wife and accomplished woman. Prudery certainly formed no part of her character, but where is the prude that ever owned half her merit ! Her openness, goodness, knowledge and generosity, added to her personal accomplishments, rendered her an acquisition of which the worthiest might be proud. This Life of Miss Anne Catley. 67 morality of players, like that of princes, is exempt from the precision of vulgar rules." INSCRIPTION Engraved on a tree at George Stainforth, Esq's., in Hertford- shire, formerly the cottage of Anne Catley. Catley, the once famed Syren of the stage, Melodious heroine of a former age, Her labours o'er, here fix'd her glad retreat ; These her lov'd fields, and this her fav'rite seat. Hither at early dawn she bent her way, To mark the progress of the new mown hay ; Partook the toil, joined gaily in the throng, And often cheer' d the rustics with a song; Nor with a song alone, her liberal heart In all their little sorrows bore a part, And as they simply told their tale of grief Her head gave counsel and her hand relief. Let not the wedded dame who wanders here, Disdain o'er Catley's turf to shed a tear ; Nor the fond virgin, sheltered by this tree, Withhold the drop of sensibility. What though stern Hymen may no sanction give In nature's tenderest page the tear shall live ; An anxious parent, to her offspring just, True to her promise, sacred to her trust ; Firm in her friendship, faithful in her love, Who will the mourn'd remembrance disapprove ? The celebrated Anne Catley, formerly a member of Covent Garden Theatre, died the beginning of this season (Oct. 14, 1789), at General Lascelles' house, near Brentford, to whom it is said she was married. This lady was a striking example of what merit can do, unaided by birth or interest. She was born in 1745, in an 68 Life of Miss Anne Catley. Alley, near Tower Hill, " of parentage obscure," her father being a hackney coachman (afterwards the keeper of a public house near Norwood), and her mother a washer- woman. Her extraordinary vocal abilities soon discovered themselves, for at the early age of ten years she sung at public houses in her father's neighbourhood, and for the officers on duty at the tower ; her situation of course exposed her to seduction but who that considers her then helpless condition of life, will not curse the seducer, and pity the seduced ! Her musical talents soon spread their own fame ; and one Bates, a musician, who lived in the west end of the town, entered into an article with her father and took her apprentice ; but Bates and Catley could not agree, and the former, it is said, was once so provoked as to threaten to turn her out of doors, and sue her father for 200, the penalty of the bond executed when she was bound. Her first appearance was at Vauxhall, in the summer of 1762, and on the 8th of October in the same year she appeared for the first time on the stage at Covent Garden, in the character of the Pastoral Nymph, in Comus. The succeeding year she became the object of public attention from a very remarkable circumstance : Sir Francis Blake Delaval, being smitten with her beauty, and under- standing that the master and fair apprentice could not agree, resolved on releasing her entirely from the coercion of Mr. Bates, and making her his mistress. Accordingly it was agreed that Sir Francis should pay Bates the penalty of the father's bond, and also give him two hundred pounds more in lieu of what she might earn for him, by the engage- ment he had made for her with the managers of Covent Garden Theatre and Marybone Gardens. For this purpose Life of Miss Anne Catley. 69 Mr. Fraine, an attorney, was ordered to draw up a proper transfer of her indentures from Bates to Sir Francis ; and she and her mother were removed into lodgings, where she lived publicly with Sir Francis, was attended by his servants, and rode out with him every day. The attorney having made the father a party to the articles, waited on him to have his signature and seal. Mr. Catley lived at this time with the very respectable Mr. Bar- clay, of Cheapside, as private coachman, and having got possession of the articles, consulted his master on the nature of them. The honest quaker, shocked at the wickedness of transferring a girl, by legal process, for the purpose of prostitution, advised with his lawyer, who laid a case before counsel, and the ensuing term two motions were made to the court founded on these articles. The first of these motions was for a habeas corpus, directed to Sir Francis Blake Delaval, to bring the body of Anne Catley into court. The second was for a rule to shew cause why an information should not be granted against Sir Francis Blake Delaval, Bates the master, and Fraine the attorney, for a conspiracy to prostitute Anne Catley, under the forms of law. On the ensuing day, our heroine, in consequence of the habeas corpus, appeared in court, accompanied by Sir Francis, and was then discharged out of his custody ; the affidavits for the prosecutor were read, and a day was fixed for cause to be shewn. On the lady's release, her father attempted to seize her and carry her off by force. Sir Fletcher Norton, counsel for Sir Francis, immediately complained to the court, and the violent conduct of the father was very severely reprimanded by the Chief Justice, Earl Mansfield, who observed that, though the girl was not of legal age, she was at full years 70 Life of Miss Anne Catley. of discretion ; and the question being put, whether she would return with her father or Sir Francis, she declared her attachment to the latter, put her hand under his arm, and making a curtsey to the Judges, and another to the bar, walked with him out of Westminster Hall, to his carriage, which waited at the gate, and carried them home. On cause being shown, the court was clearly of opinion that the information should be granted. Lord Mansfield observed that the court of King's Bench was custos morum of the country, and had authority, especially where the offence was mixed with conspiracy, to punish everything contra bonos mores. He called the premium given by Sir Francis to Bates premium prostitutionis, and cited the case of Sir Richard Sedley in the reign of Charles II. to prove it. The consequence of this information against Sir Francis, Bates, and Fraine, was a trial, and all the defendants being found guilty by the jury, were severally fined, the whole expense of which (with the costs to a very considerable amount) fell npon Sir Francis. After this she sung at Marybone Gardens, and became a pupil of Mr. Macklin, who procured her an engagement at Dublin from Mossop, where she met with great success and brought crowded houses. Many anecdotes are related of her while on her visit to Dublin; the following are the most remarkable. A merchant, with a wife and family, having been smitten by her charms, sent her a billet-doux requesting an appointment to supper, and accompanied his request with a large hamper of champagne. Catley returned the wine untouched, with a direction to the amorous trader's spouse, enclosing his note under a cover. At supper the wife declared she had a longing for cham- pagne, and must have a glass ; the husband reprobated such extravagance. " But I will treat you, my dear," said Life of Miss Anne Catley. 71 the wife, "you may see I have received a present," on which she put Catley's note into his hands. It is easy to conceive the domestic quarrel that ensued, and the person here alluded to has for years back lived in London in the most indigent circumstances. When Dean Bailey was a principal superintendent to the public charities of Dublin, it was determined by the governors that a concert should be performed for the benefit of the Lying-in-Hospital, whereupon the Dean took it upon hi in to engage Catley as a singer, and wrote her a card requesting that she would give him a night, and mention when she should be disengaged. The answer was that Miss Catley was specially engaged for a week, but after that time, as the Dean was a charitable man, she would give him a night gratis. Our heroine kept her word, to the great emolument of the hospital, and told the story, which produced a general laugh against the ecclesiastic. She paid another visit to Dublin during Ryder's management, when her Juno, in the Golden Pippin, was highly applauded, and her song of " Push about the Jorum " universally encored. Perhaps the manner of performing burlettas there, where the recitative is generally spoken as dialogue, afforded her a greater opportunity of displaying that peculiar vivacity which scorned all bounds, except those of decorum. In 1770 she appeared again at Covent Garden, and continued to perform a stated number of nights for many succeeding years, much to her own and the manager's advantage. In 1773, she sung at the oratorios at Covent Garden, by which she added to her fortune more than her fame, for her natural vivacity was not well suited to the solemnity of such performances, and had to contend with 72 Life op Miss Anne Catley. the more chastised deportment of Mr. Sheridan at the rival theatre. Being always attentive to economy, in a course of years she had amassed a considerable fortune, and when her attractions failed, she was enabled to retire to indepen- dence. Her last performance was in 1784. Her goodness of heart and benignity of disposition appear in many charitable works, which would have done honour to more high-born dames ; her wanderings cannot be called errors, but misfortunes, the common result of a bad education. Though she came into the world without reputation, she left it with a good character, a sufficient proof that all her levities proceeded from inexperience, and not from natural depravity. Though she was no wit, she possessed a considerable share of humour, several bon mots, however, have been made for her, such as she would be ashamed to utter, for good nature and decency were inseparable companions of her mirth. To the man of her choice she was faithful, loving, and submissive, though on the stage the best Juno that ever boxed a Jupiter. Life of Miss Anne Catlet. 73 Cbaractets performed bs fllMss Catlep. 1763. Covent Garden. April 26th " Sally," in Love makes a Man. 1763. Dublin. Mossop invited her to Dublin ; she arrived in December, and made her first appearance as " Polly Peachum." 1764. Smock Alley, Dublin. October 15th " Polly " and " Macheath." "Patty," in the Maid of the Mill. 1765. Smock Alley, Dublin. As " Polly " and " Lucy." 1769. Smock Alley, Dublin. March As " Euphrosyne," in Comus. Oct. 11th As "Polly," also "Euphrosyne." 1770. Covent Garden. October 2nd As " Rosetta," in Love in a Village. 23rd As " Leonora," in Venice Preserved. Novem. 8th As " Jenny," in Lionel and Clarissa. 22nd As " Isabella," in The Portrait. (Never before acted.) Decern. 13th As "Rachel," in the Jovial Crew. 1772. Smock Alley, Dublin. As " Rosetta," several times. As " Polly " once. As " Euphrosyne " once, when she took a benefit. 1772. Covent Garden. Sept. 30th First appearance for two years in " Rosetta." Oct. 13th As "Polly," in the Beggars' Opera. 17th In Chorus of British Virgins, in Elfrida. (Never before acted.) k 74 Life op Miss Anne Catley. 1773. Covent Garden. February 6th As " Juno," in the Golden Pippin. Septem. 16th As " Euphrosyne," in Comus ; also in the West Indian. Decern. 16th As "Theaspe," in Achilles in Petticoats; also as " Earl of Essex." 1774. Covent Garden. Septem. 5th As "Lucy" (1st time), in Beggars 1 Opera. Novem. 1st As " Rachel," in the Jovial Crew. 1775. Covent Garden. January 21st As "Harriet," in the Two Misers ; also in Henry II. 1776. Covent Garden. Septem. 27th As " Polly," in the Beggars 1 Opera. 30th As " Lucy," do. October 25th As " Rachel," in the Jovial Crew. 1780. Covent Garden. Feby. 17th As " Euphrosyne," in Comus. Septem. 20th As " Clara" (1st time), in The Duenna. 21st As "Lucy," in the Beggars 1 Opera. Novem. 15th As "Aunt Deborah " (by desire, and with a Song in character). Decern. 12th As "Dorcas," in the Spanish Friar. (By desire.) 1781. Covent Garden. January 13th As "Fanny," in the Maid of the Mill. October 17th As " Macheath," in the Beggars 1 Opera. 1782. Covent Garden. March 18th As "Margery," in the Mourning Bride (for Miss Younge's benefit.) Life op Miss Anne Catley. 75 fl&iss Catley as /Hbacbeatb. To the Printer of the Town and Country Magazine. Sir, The different Metamorphoses which the Beggars* Opera has lately undergone, clearly prove that burlesque and ridicule may be carried too far. It is more than probable that Mr. Colman took his idea of transposing the characters from males to females, and vice versa, from the success Mrs. Kennedy had met with in "Macheath;" the thought, however, appeared novel, and it succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. The managers of Covent Garden Theatre, unwilling to be outdone in invention, judged, that in representing all the characters by females they would improve upon Mr. Column's thought, and Miss Catley was chosen, at a very extravagant salary, to perform Macheath; but her greatest admirers must own, that she neither looked, dressed, or spoke the character, so as to convey the idea of a bold, enterprising gentleman highway- man. For what cause is best known to herself, she never changed her dress, but appeared in boots the whole time, as if she were just come off the road ; whereas Macheath always dressed previous to his going to Marybone, as it is to be supposed he was there to meet some of the politest company about town, to whom he would take every pre- caution of not giving the slightest suspicion of his being a highwayman. The consequence was natural, and, as might be expected, the town was nauseated with the same un- natural hodge-podge, though dressed different ways, and they repaired to another table that was better served. In a word Miss Catley has been fairly foiled at her own weapons. She judged that by brazening out the part she 76 Life op Miss Anne Catley. was sure of success ; whilst Mrs. Cargill, by studying nature, and pursuing the intention of the poet, not only succeeded in the same character beyond her friends' most sanguine expectations, but, it is said, that she looked so much " the youth in a cart who has the air of a lord," that she made some conquests amongst her own sex, who were unapprized of the deception. Theatkicus. 'Ikeeffe ant> /IDiss Catley O'Keeffe says " The first time of my venturing into a theatre after the ill success of my ' Banditti,' Miss Catley accosted me from a front now of the lower boxes, loud enough, as I was many rows back, to be heard by all and everybody, ' So, O'Keeffe you had a piece damned the other night I'm glad of it the devil mend you for writing an Opera without bringing me into it. ' A few minutes after she had thus accosted me, Leoni entered the box, with a lady leaning on his arm Miss Catley catching his eye, called out, 'How do you do Leoni ? I hear you're married is that your wife ! bid her stand up till I see her.' Leoni, abashed, whispered the lady, who, with good humoured compliance stood up Catley after surveying her a little, said, ' Ha ! very well indeed I like your choice.' The audience around seemed more diverted with this scene in the boxes than that on the stage, as Miss Catley and her oddities were well known to all." Life op Miss Anne Catley. 77 H)eatb of flDiss Gatles. The family of Catley coming from Yorkshire, I am reminded of the decease of a favourite of that name, the celebrated Anne Catley, whom I could only know, when a visible decline was sapping the vital power that bore her once triumphantly above all humorous singers. Miss Catley, was, I think, married to General Lascelles, and left a large family by him, four sons and four daughters however her will was signed Anne Catley, and was written entirely in her own hand. The good sense that she unquestionably possessed, appears eminently in the final settlement of her property. She makes General Francis Lascelles sole executor, and bequeaths him ten pounds for a mourning ring. 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