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 LETTERS AND POEMS, 
 
 BY THE J- AT 
 
 Mr. JOHN HENDERSON, 
 
 Price 45. fewed. ]
 
 LETTERS AND POEMS, 
 
 BY THE LAT 
 
 Mr. JOHNHENDERSON. 
 
 WITH 
 
 ANECDOTES OF HIS LIFE, 
 
 B Y 
 
 JOHN IRELAND. 
 
 i If a man do not erett in this age his o*wn tomb 'ere 
 
 he dies, he Jhall li*ve no longer in monument than the bell rings t 
 and the imidonu weeps* 
 
 SHAK-SPEARE. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, NO. 72, ST. PAUI/S 
 CHURCH-YARD. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXXVI.
 
 Z.51 
 
 es 
 
 CO 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 OU R Second Charles, of pleafant 
 and good-natured memory, obferving 
 Gregorio Leti, the Italian hiftoriari, attending 
 his levee, afked him how his book went 
 on ; for, faid the King, " I am informed 
 you intend publiming Anecdotes of the En- 
 glim Court. Take care there be no ofrencd 
 m it" " Sire," anfwered the Italian, " I 
 am collecting materials for fuch a work, 
 A 3 and 
 
 445307
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 .and will be careful as poffible ; but, unlefs 
 a man be wife as Solomon, he cannot 
 publifh Anecdotes without giving fome 
 offence." Why then, replied the Monarch 
 " cannot you be wife as Solomon ? write 
 Proverbs and let Anecdotes alone." 
 
 The counfel was good, and counfel have 
 I alfo received. 
 
 * 
 
 I was told, he that wrote of thofe who 
 were living, or Jlept upon ajhes which were 
 not yet cold, ought not to infert his name in 
 the title page ; for it was committing him- 
 felf, and might create enemies. The advice 
 had influence, but not the influence which 
 was intended. Confcious of meaning to 
 
 publi/h
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 publifh truth, and truth only, I venture to 
 prefix my name to this book* 
 
 The perfon of whom I write^ had once 
 my warmeft partiality, and living with him 
 in habits of the moft unreferved intimacy, 
 I knew him well. The motives which 
 actuated his conduct, are explained in his 
 letters ; that I now pofiefs them, and the 
 fragments of poetry which he gave me, is 
 owing, in fome meafure to accident, and, 
 in fome degree, to a habit I have of pre- 
 ferving any thing, however trifling, which 
 is the production of a friend. On my once 
 mewing a number of little fketches by the 
 late Mr. Mortimer, a gentleman afked me, 
 if I had hoarded up the cuttings of his 
 pencils * 
 
 A 4 From
 
 viii PREFACE. 
 
 From Mr. Henderfon's letters, I have en- 
 deavoured to feledl fuch as tend to explain 
 his theatrical ftory, or fuch as from their 
 rtafoett, pleafantry, and good fenfe, place 
 his powers in a light, which, I think, gives 
 them a diftinguifhed rank in that clafs of 
 writing. It is fcarce necefTary to premifc, 
 that they were not intended for the prefs, 
 and therefore exhibit, not the writer and his 
 labours, but the man in his natural cha- 
 radler. 
 
 I am apprehenlive it may be thought that 
 fome of them are unimportant, and relate to 
 private tranfadtions, with which the public 
 have no concern, and that I might have 
 comprefTed the volume, by omitting the in- 
 trodu&ions and conclufions of thofe to my-
 
 PREFACE. lx 
 
 , which frequently contain merely a re- 
 petition of the fame profeffions of friendship, 
 only expreffed in different words ; but I 
 think, that originality of turn which he fre- 
 quently gives to the moil trifling circum- 
 fiance, fuch a mark of his mind, as ought 
 not to be withheld by him who profeffes to 
 publifh his letters ; and I am inclined to 
 look upon that editor who lops off, at his 
 own difcretion, any branches with which he 
 happens to be diffatisfied, as fometimes doing 
 more than his duty warrants. 
 
 There are forrie mifcellaneous epiflles 
 written at a very early period of his life : 
 the few which I have inferted that were ad- 
 drefTed to him, need not any apology for 
 their publication, 
 
 The
 
 i PREFACE. 
 
 The poems which are fubjoined, con- 
 fidered as hafty effufions rather than finifhed 
 compofkions, as the productions of a 
 man who had received few aids from 
 education,* and whofe only guides were a 
 claffical tafte, formed by having read, with 
 
 a power 
 
 * It is not intended to infinuate this as an apology. 
 I thought they had merit, or I would not have publifhed 
 them. Nothing can be more contemptible than pefter- 
 hig the public with reams of nonfenfe, by young gentle- 
 men under fourteen years of age, black women, men- 
 mercers, ofllers who cannot fpell ; and efquires, who 
 tan do little more* 
 
 If a work has merit enough for the public eye, that 
 public will generally protect and encourage it ; and if it 
 has not, its being written while the author was (landing 
 upon one leg, or {landing upon his head ; written with 
 
 his
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 a power of difcrimination, fome of the beft 
 Englifh writers, prove that he pofTefled ima- 
 gination, and aptitude of poetical expreffion, 
 which might, had he made poeiy the objecl: 
 of his purfuit, have been cultivated into 
 excellence. 
 
 Attached to his previous reputation, they 
 may excite curiofity, and, I hope, gratify it, 
 by exhibiting his talents in a new point of 
 view. 
 
 The high eftimation in which his abilities 
 were held by men of diftinguimed rank- 
 in literature, the ample teflimony which 
 
 was 
 
 his fingers, or written with his toes ; written in feveri 
 days, or feven months, are very insufficient re x afons to 
 give for its appearance, in an age when the prefs teems 
 with hourly births, of which we only know, that " they 
 were born y and died"
 
 3di PREFACE 
 
 was given to his merit as an a&or, and 
 the eminent honours which were paid to 
 his memory as a man, firft fuggefted the 
 idea of publifhing his letters and poems i 
 J reviewed what had my early approbation, 
 and time has not much funk them in my 
 opinion. 
 
 It has been fiiggefted to me, that my 
 notes are too numerous, and too long, 
 but I could not well abridge, or incor^ 
 porate them with the work* 'Tis the error 
 of inexperience ; for this is the firrt 
 book I ever ventured before the awful 
 tribunal of the public. If I have pardon 
 from my readers, and mould ever publiffo 
 another, that fault mall be avoided* 
 
 ANE CD OT
 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 Mr. JOHN HENPERSON. 
 
 AC L A I M of literary honours, for 
 men who have not received a fcho- 
 laftic education, is, I am confcious, liable 
 to be contefted.* The avenues to that 
 portal of the Temple of fame, are guarded 
 by the giants of learning, who, mounted 
 upon pedeilals, compofed of huge tomes 
 
 B of 
 
 * It feems a general axiom, that he wh has never 
 felt birch) fliould never wear bays.
 
 of folios, quartos, and duodecimos, which 
 only prove, that men were dull in ancient 
 days, look down with fallen contempt on 
 the adventurer who is hardy enough to 
 attempt gaining accefs, through any other 
 than the preicribed and beaten pitth. 
 
 This temple, as was that of the Druids, 
 is kept facred from the intrufion of the un- 
 hallowed multitude, and the unanealed man, 
 who attempts to fnatch a fprig of the holy 
 mifletoe, is in fome danger of being facri- 
 ficed upon the altar, as a propitiatory offer- 
 ing to the offended deity of the place, 
 
 Of thofe whofe eminence hath been 
 thought worthy of Biography, we frequently 
 read, that they received the rudiments of 
 their education from one learned man, and 
 were aflifled by the inftructions of another, 
 
 then
 
 obtain many advantages. He was indeed 
 Very ill ufed. Part of his employment 
 
 was 
 
 was a " cooking animal^ ;" he draft and fold alamode 
 beef j and I am told, that the truffles and morrels which 
 he ufed in making up this competition, led him to the 
 ftudy of natural hiftory. At one period of his life he 
 kept a chandler's fhop, and could metamorphofe a fprat 
 into an anchovy, fubftitute dried willow leaves for tea, 
 and mix fine fand with his Liibon iugar ; he was a good 
 carver, a tolerable button-maker, and, I was near faying, 
 not a contemptible buffoon j but with the utmcit fub- 
 miffion to thofe ingenious gentlemen, who excel in 
 imitating the noife a horfe makes when he is drinking, 
 the purring of a cat, braying of an afs, croaking of a 
 raven, or lowing of a cow ; fuch qualifications would 
 have entitled him to no higher a clafs than, an imitating 
 
 f- The beafts, have memory, judgement, and all the faculties and 
 paffions of our mind, in a certain degree j but no beaft is a cook. 
 
 BOSWELL'S Journal, p. 25.
 
 ( I* ) 
 
 was to drive his mafter in a one horfc 
 chaife to fome academies where he taught, 
 in the neighbourhood of London, and tQ 
 feed and rub down the horfe, on his return 
 to town, 
 
 During his ftay with Fournier he made 
 a pen and ink drawing from a print of a 
 fimerman fmokjng his pipe, with fundiy 
 
 accompaniments 
 
 fnimal, rather more cunning than a monkey, and rather 
 more adlive than an oyfter ; but Fournier would bear 
 the teft of Dr. Franklin's definition. He was a tool- 
 making animal^ ; he made gravers ? and modelling in-. 
 ftruments. 
 
 When we confider the number of profcflions he at- 
 tempted, can we wonder that he did not attain very 
 great excellence in any? 
 
 t N'o animI but man mikci a thing, by mealM^ of which he cm mike 
 nether thing.
 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 o P 
 
 Mr. JOHN HENDERSON, 
 
 * - QJJ M DOCTUS ROSCIUS EGIT. 
 
 HOR. EP. AD AUG. 82. 
 
 AC L A I M of literary honours, for 
 men who have not received a fcho- 
 lafiic education, is, I am confcious, liable 
 to be contefted. * The avenues to that 
 portal of the Temple of Fame, are guarded 
 by the giants of learning, who, mounted 
 B upon 
 
 * It feems a general axiom, that he who has never 
 felt birch, fhould never wear bays.
 
 upon pedeflals, compofed of huge tomes 
 of folios, quartos, and duodecimos, which 
 only prove, that men were dull in ancient 
 days, look down with fullen contempt on 
 the adventurer who is hardy enough to 
 attempt gaining accefs through any other 
 than the prefcribed and beaten path. 
 
 This temple, as was that of the Druids, 
 is kept facred from the intruiion of the un- 
 hallowed multitude, and the unanealed 
 man, who attempts to fnatch a iprig of 
 the holy mifletoe, is in fome danger of being 
 facrirked upon the altar, as a propitiatory 
 offering to the offended deity of the place. 
 
 Of thofe whofe eminence hath been 
 thought worthy of Biography, we frequently 
 read that they received the rudiments of 
 their education from one learned man, and 
 were affifled by the inflructions of another, 
 
 then
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 then configned to an univerlity, where they 
 added to their claffic knowledge, and rich 
 In the ftores of ancient Greece and Rome 
 buril into fociety, where they were gazed at 
 with the eye of expectation, and gratified 
 with reiterated praife. 
 
 Indeed thefe gentlemen do not always 
 give indications of having obtained many 
 advantages by their fludies, yet are they 
 fpoken of, as men who from their educa- 
 tion mufl be in poffeffion of great powers, 
 if they could but be prevailed upon to exert 
 them. 
 
 Very different was the introduction of 
 Mr. Henderfon; of Greek he was totally 
 ignorant, and little acquainted with Latin.* 
 
 He 
 
 * A fhort time before he went to Bath, a clergyman, 
 
 by whofe partiality I am honoured, and who has kindly 
 
 B 2 permitted
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 He had no claim to hereditary honours, nor 
 title to any paternal inheritance, -f- He was 
 the builder of his own fame, and the 
 founder of his own fortune, for had not 
 his talents brought him into celebrity, 
 and given him the power of acquiring inde- 
 pendence, it is not probable that any one 
 would have enquired who was his grand- 
 father. 
 
 permitted me to enhance the value of this volume by 
 the publication of one of his letters, pointed out the 
 courfe of his ftudies, and gave him fome afliftance in 
 an attempt to attain that language j but Henderfon's 
 mind was too volatile for the gradus adParnaJJum. 
 
 f It has been faid he was defcended from Doctor 
 Alexander Henderfon, of Fordyll ; for this there is no 
 authority, except the name being fpelt in the fame 
 manner. He believed his family were originally Irifh, 
 but whether they were or not, he neither knew nor 
 cared. He thought, with Sir Thomas Overbury, that 
 die man who has nothing to boaft of but his illuftrious 
 anceftry, is fomewhat like a potatoe, the only good 
 thing is under ground.
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 father. Of his grandfather, however, 
 thofe who wifh it may read in the Me- 
 moirs of an unfortunate young Nobleman, 
 by which Memoirs, and fome collateral 
 evidence, it appears that he was a Quaker, 
 and a warm adherent to the caufe of Mr. 
 Annefley. That in conjunction with fe- 
 veral others, he adventured a confiderable 
 fum in fupport of the Anglefey law- 
 fuit, which being loft, the money ad- 
 vanced was never recovered by himfelf 
 or Henderfon's father, who was an Irifh 
 factor in Goldfmith - ftreet, Cheapfide, 
 where Mr. John Henderfon was born in 
 February 1746-7, 
 
 By his father's death in 1748, his mo- 
 ther was left with a very flender pittance, 
 and two fons totally dependent upon her. 
 She retired to Newport Pagnell, where a 
 clofe attention to ceconomy enabled her to 
 B 3 fupport
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 fupport herfelf and family upon the interefl 
 of lefs than a thoufand pounds. * 
 
 In this place, with no other tutor than 
 his mother, Henderfon patted the early 
 part of his life. She taught him to read, 
 pointed out the proper authors, and in- 
 duced him to imprint upon his memory, 
 and recite, felecl paflages from Shakefpeare, 
 Pope, Addifon, or any other Englifh claffic 
 in her poffeflion. 
 
 The 
 
 * The eldeft fon fhe apprenticed to a Mr. Clee, 
 an ingenious engraver, in Oxendon-ftreet, and the 
 young man gave early promife of great profeffional 
 talents j but being of a very delicate habit, fell into a 
 decline, and was removed to Paddington, where hap- 
 pening to lodge in the fame houfe with the afterwards 
 celebrated Kitty Fiflier, and being fuddenly feized 
 with a violent fit of coughing, the good-natured girl ran 
 to his ailiftance, and he died in her arms.
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 The wonder-working magic of the old 
 bard inchanted his imagination, * opened 
 a new creation to his fancy, and prompted 
 him to enquire how thofe characters were 
 reprefented which afforded him fo much 
 delight in the perufal. The defcription 
 promoted a moft eager wim to fee a play, 
 a wim which could not then be gratified, 
 for in Newport- Pagnell there were no 
 players. 
 
 Learning and reciting the fpeeches im- 
 proved a memory naturally tenacious, and 
 gave him an early relifli for polite literature. 
 B 4 By 
 
 * The firft play which attracted and delighted him, 
 was, The Winter's Tale^ and he often declared it was 
 fortunate for him, the commentators had not been about 
 his mother's edition. It was without notes ; which, 
 faid he, confufe, perplex, and embarrafs me now. God 
 help me, what would they have done then ? I fuppofe 
 they would have crazed me> as they have other people.
 
 ( 8 > ; ' 
 
 By this was his tafte formed, and as the 
 writer of thefe anecdotes has frequently 
 heard him declare, by this he acquired 
 what knowledge he had of the Englim 
 language, for of the rules of grammar he 
 was totally ignorant. * 
 
 It would be defrauding his memory of 
 a debt due from juftice, mould I omit 
 to remark that he not only always fpoke of 
 his mother's attentions with filial gratitude, 
 but when his lituation enabled him to fol- 
 low the impulfe of his mind, made her 
 happinefs his firft care.-f- She lived to fee 
 her inflruclions matured by time, and the 
 
 public 
 
 * I think it is faid, that Cowley's fchool-maiter could 
 never prevail upon him to learn the rules of grammar i 
 yet, from the profe- writings of Cowley, who that has 
 read them will \vith-hold praile. 
 
 | This will appear by feverai letters in this volume.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 public diftinguifh and proted what me had 
 planted and foftered. 
 
 At about eleven years of age he went 
 to a fchool at Hemel-Heinftead, taught 
 by the late Doftor Stirling, where he -did 
 not remain above twelve months, but fhort 
 as the period was, contrived to enlarge his 
 acquaintance with the Englifh clafHc?, to 
 acquire ibme knowledge of French, and 
 learn the common rules of Arithmetic. 
 
 from, this place he returned to London, 
 and having {hewn an early propenfity to 
 drawing, was placed as a kind of houfe 
 pupil to the late Mr. Fournier, who was 
 then a Drawing-Matter, a man pofTeffed 
 of great verfatility of talent, but deftitute of 
 that prudence which might have rendered 
 his abilities ufeful to himfelf or family,* 
 
 * Fournier 's conduct, of rather want of conduft, 
 to have been very ilmilar to what the Duke of 
 
 Buckingham's
 
 From a perfon of this defcription it is 
 not to be fuppofed young Henderfon could 
 
 obtain 
 
 Buckingham's would probably have been, had his Grace 
 ranked with plebeians. Fournier was, 
 
 " In the courfe of one revolving moon, 
 " Engraver, painter, fidler, and buffoon.'* 
 
 His grand ambition was being able to do what any 
 other man could, and having a happy facility, in the 
 courfe of a few years he diftinguifhed himfelf as an en- 
 graver, painter, mufician, carver, modeller in waxf and 
 teacher of drawing and perfpeclive, with which he was 
 fo well acquainted as to compofe a book on the fubjecl, 
 upon the principle of Doctor Brooke Taylor, which has 
 confiderable merit. In the firft edition, is an etching 
 from an early defign of Mr. Gainfborough's, which 
 Henderfon told me was etched by himfelf, without any 
 afliftance from his matter. 
 
 If we try Fournier by Mr. Bofwell's definition of 
 man, he will be found to have had fome merit. He 
 
 was
 
 obtain many advantages. He was indeed 
 very ill ufed. Part of his employment 
 
 was 
 
 was a " cocking animal^;" he dreft and fold alamode 
 beef; and I am told, that the truffles and morrels which 
 he ufed in making up this compofition, led him to the 
 fludy of natural hiftory. At one period of his life he 
 kept a chandler's fhop, and could metamorphofe a fprat 
 into an anchovy, fubftitute dried willow leaves for tea, 
 and mix fine fand with his Lifbon fugar ; he was a good 
 carver, a tolerable button-maker, and, I was near faying, 
 not a contemptible buffoon ; but with the utmoft fub- 
 miilion to thofe ingenious gentlemen, who excel in 
 imitating the noife a horfe makes when he is drinking, 
 the purring of a cat, braying of an afs, croaking of a 
 raven, or lowing of a cow, fuch qualifications would 
 have entitled him to no higher a clafs than, an imitating 
 animal^ rather more cunning than a monkey, and rather 
 more a&ive than an oyfter ; but Fournier would bear 
 
 the 
 
 J- The tcafti, have memory, judgement, and all the facukie ; and 
 paflions of our mind, in a certain degree ; but no bead is a cook. 
 
 BOSWILL'S JOURNAL, p. 15.
 
 was to drive his mafter in a one horfe 
 chaife to fome academies where he taught, 
 in the neighbourhood of London, and to 
 feed and rub down the horfe on his return 
 to town. 
 
 During his ftay with Fournier he made 
 a pen and ink drawing from a print of a 
 fiiherman fmoking his pipe, with fundry 
 
 accompaniments 
 
 the teft of Dr. Franklin's definition. He was a tool- 
 making ammal\ ; he made gravers, and modelling in- 
 ftruments. 
 
 When we confider the number of profeflions he at- 
 tempted, can we wonder that he did not attain very 
 great excellence in any ? 
 
 An longa, vita brevis eft. 
 
 J No animal bat man makes a thing, by means of which he can maks 
 Mother thir.g.
 
 accompaniments in the flile of Teniers. 
 This, as the production of a boy under 
 fourteen years of age, obtained him the ho- 
 nour of the fecond premium from the fo- 
 ciety for the encouragement of arts, and 
 the ftile in which it was executed fhews an 
 accuracy of eye, and power of imitation, 
 very rarely the lot of one fo young. 
 
 As this boyifh production was higher 
 in my eftimation than his own, in the in- 
 fancy of our friendfhip he gave it me, but as 
 it was the only fpecimen of his drawing, I 
 prefented it to Mrs. Henderfon on her mar- 
 riage, and am informed it is now in the 
 collection of Sir John Elliot. 
 
 Soon after this time he came to live with 
 Mr. Cripps, a working filverfmith in St. 
 James's-ftreet, to whom his mother was 
 related, and her intention was that he 
 
 hould
 
 ( H ) 
 
 mould learn that trade, but the death of 
 Mr. Cripps put an end to this fcheme, 
 and he was left at about twenty years of 
 age with very few connections, and with- 
 out any determinate purfuit. 
 
 His only refource feemed to be that of 
 becoming an afliftant in a filverfmith's mop, 
 but even this fituation, humble as it may 
 feem, was not very eafy to obtain ; for, on 
 application to a perfon of the trade, the 
 higheft terms offered were twenty-five pounds 
 a year. A propofal was foon after made him 
 to become out-door clerk to a banker, upon 
 a falary little better than the foregoing. 
 Both thefe offers he communicated to a 
 friend, who warmly oppofed his accepting 
 terms fo very inferior to what his abilities 
 ought to command, and advifed him to turn 
 his attention to the ftage, for which he 
 thought him eminently qualified; but Hen- 
 
 derfon
 
 ( 15 ) 
 
 derfon heiitated at this advice, declaring his 
 circumftance did not enable him to wait the 
 tedious delays of managers. Being, how- 
 ever, aflured, that he might confider the 
 houfe, intereft, and purfe of his friend, at 
 his fervice, until he was fituated to his own 
 fatisfadlion, he directed his endeavours to 
 an introduction amongft the Dramatis Per- 
 fonte ; endeavours in which he encountered 
 difficulties, delays, and mortifications, which 
 cannot be conceived by thofe who have not 
 been in fimilar fituations ; which would 
 have abated the vigour of purfuit, and 
 cooled the ardour of expectation in almofl 
 any other man ; but he feems to have pof- 
 feffed, even at that time, a confcioufnefs of 
 talents that when feen, would force them- 
 felves into notice, and when noticed muft 
 be encouraged. 
 
 He
 
 He however pafled his time eafily and 
 chearfully, in the fociety of a family where 
 he was treated with all the attention that 
 friendship could prompt, by whom his 
 interest was confidered as conne&ed with 
 their own, who fincerely* efteemed him, 
 were pleafed with his talents, and gratified 
 by his pleafantry j and perhaps it would 
 not have been eafy to point out a man who 
 poflefTed fuch convivial powers as he did in 
 die younger part of his life. His obfer- 
 vation was quick, his comprehenfion am- 
 ple, his manners moft lively and concili- 
 ating ; but the ludicrous light in which he 
 faw and frequently exhibited any object 
 that prefented itfelf, created him enemies, 
 who, though they were pleafed with his 
 wit had no great relifh for his fatire, when 
 cxercifed upon themfelves*. 
 
 * A city dealer in little trinkets, whofe ever fmiling 
 &ce beaxs foruc refcmblance to Lord Monboddo's
 
 The Ode to the memory of Shakefpeara 
 being at this time popular, Henderfon at^ 
 
 tempted 
 
 Aborigine^ became ambitious of being enrolled an 
 srtift in an exhibition catalogue, made a copy of 
 the Duke of Leinfter's arms in human hair, and 
 brought it for Mr* Henderfon's approbation, telling 
 him he wifhed a pat infcription written under, that it 
 might be noticed in the exhibition room. " Sir, (fays 
 Henderfon) I will give you one, that had you known 
 and confidered the advice of the Delphic oracle, you 
 would have chofen for yourfelf: it (hall be allufive." 
 Thank you, Sir," fays the other. <* You obferve, 
 (continued Henderfon) the fupporters are two monkies 
 rampant, proper, and very pretty they are indeed ; lend 
 me a pen, Sir, and I will write you an infcription from 
 the great Milton* Here it is : read it aloud, Sir.'* 
 
 ]n their looks divine^ 
 
 " The Image of their glorious Maker fane." 
 
 Happening to fee a manufcript, which one of his 
 friends was preparing for the prefs, entitled, " Original
 
 ( '8 ) 
 
 tempted it in Mr. Garrick's manner, and 
 with fuch fuccefs, that it muft have been a 
 very accurate ear which could diftinguifh 
 one fpeaker from the other*. 
 
 Some of the confequences which refulted 
 from this talent, he defcribes in the follow- 
 ing letter to a young divine : 
 
 Tales for the Inftru&ion of Young Gentlemen and 
 Ladies," he infcribed in the title page the following 
 quotation : 
 
 "TALES! 
 
 " Told by an ideot^ full of found andfury, 
 " Signifying nothing." 
 
 The book was not publifhed. 
 
 * His firft public exhibition was in a barn, or fome 
 fuch place, at the polite village of Islington, where he 
 recited the Ode for the benefit of a few unfortunates, 
 who called themfelves a company of comedians. 
 
 One of the audience, who had retired from the plains 
 of Dcvonfhlre to breathe die pure air of Iflington, in his 
 
 later
 
 ( '9 ) 
 
 London^ ift Jan. 1770. 
 
 To the Reverend MR. P . 
 
 I Find T - has written to you. I 
 fuppofe you will correfpond with him. He 
 fent me his farce with a meflage, begging 
 me to offer it to Dibden, which I have de- 
 clined, as thinking it more propers to pre- 
 fent it either to Garrick or Colman. I 
 wifh it may anfwer his expectations. Does 
 not a wifh fometimes imply a doubt. 
 ******* and I fat in judgement upon 
 it the other night, and brought in our 
 
 I am glad you told me of the thirty ma- 
 
 nufcript fermons, I mould elfe have roie 
 
 C 2 early, 
 
 later years, declared he was certain, the fpeaker naift fo, 
 either Mr, Garrick, or Antichrift,
 
 early, and late took reft, to tranflate Fle- 
 chier's and Bourdalon's for you. L 
 thinks you are dead; for afking me how you 
 did, I replied, you flept with your fathers, I 
 made him happy by telling him it was a me- 
 taphorical fleep, and that you would awake 
 a profound theologifl. 
 
 It was a very ram propofal I made to you 
 of commenting upon authors. I thought it 
 might have been done, but wjien I go about 
 it I feel myfelf ftrangely confined in my 
 powers, like thofe who do not apprehend the 
 danger of a precipice till they are on the 
 brink. I think I will give up the thought 
 
 'till you are more at leifure. R I fel- 
 
 dom fee. L never. Thole hours 
 I am not with L are pafTed in 
 
 Jdrinking, and writing ferious reflections on, 
 and bitter invectives againft, dr.mkennefs, 
 both in vcrfe and profe. If this contra- ! 
 
 ij-iety
 
 riety continues, and heaven only knows 
 how long it may continue, you may exped: 
 a fa tire againft fornication written from 
 Marjoram's.' Is not this in your lan- 
 guage the character of one buffeted by Sa- 
 tan ? B , in the fimplicity of his heart 
 told me, one day, after much bewailing 
 the redu&ion of his circumilances, " that 
 it was a great mercy he had not taken to 
 drinking," feeling himfelf, I fuppole, to- 
 tally unable to refill any impulfe which it 
 mould pleafe Lucifer to embarrafs him with. 
 
 J faw your letter to E , wherein I fland 
 
 recorded as a fool for quoting Macbeth upon 
 fuch a fubjecl: as your lazinefs and this is 
 owing to my modefty, that would rather 
 talk in other people's words than my own. 
 But 
 
 " Hence ye vain fears of criticifm, hence, 
 By caution nurs'd, at happinefs' expence j 
 
 C 3 To
 
 ( 22 ) 
 
 To prove my pen in trite quotations run, 
 Thine own the quibble, and thine own the pun ; 
 Take thine full fwing, and in the critic's fpite, 
 If nonfenfe urge thee, freely nonfenfe write.'* 
 
 I will make you repent the reproof, for 
 talk I muft and if it is all my own. But 
 you have brought it upon yourfelf, and fo 
 
 are lefs to be pitied. E writes with 
 
 me. His will be a good letter, and I am 
 glad I have found the way of diverting your 
 indignation. He will put you into fpirits, 
 and you will read mine with better temper. 
 
 I wifh we could form a triumvirate at 
 
 T 's ; he has written me a very genteel 
 
 and prefling invitation. I have traces upon 
 my memory of much happinefs with him, 
 and it was a happinefs that I like, indepen- 
 dent of auxiliary hogflieads. There is a 
 natural feflivity in him that will always 
 
 entertain,
 
 ( 23 ) 
 
 entertain, and I have known him ftart much 
 excellent wit and good-natured fatire. I 
 believe matrimony draws off a man's genius ; 
 his letters to me are not near fo pleafant, 
 nor fo brilliant as they were wont to be. 
 I fuppofe you will rebuke me for that me- 
 taphor, and therefore you may erafe genius, 
 and infert attention, which is the fame 
 thing with thofe like you, with whom deiire 
 is power. 
 
 There is a burlefque parody of Garrick's 
 Ode published, on Le Stue, cook to the 
 Duke of Newcaftle, and teflimonies to his 
 genius and merit prefixed. 
 
 I wifli Garrick's had been ilill at the bot- 
 tom of Avon, from whence I am fure he 
 fimed up fome of it ; for it has ruined my 
 constitution in fpeaking it. I have been up 
 till three in the morning, four nights a 
 C 4 week.
 
 week, for this month pail. Inftead of 
 fleep, I get flattery ; and inftead of dream- 
 ing of Mifs -, claret. 
 
 I wim I could convey to you a few founds 
 which the boobies about me fay are exceed- 
 ingly like Garrick's, but they would have no 
 melody mixed with the poftman's horn. If 
 I could get a cake of Rabelais' ice, in which 
 to mix them, they would thaw by your 
 veftry fire, and give you fome idea of Lon- 
 don flummery. But our air is not intenfe 
 enough to make fuch a cake -, therefore you 
 muft take it on my word, that I am flat- 
 tered, inebriated, fpoiled Yet, as a bon 
 vivant I owe it fomething, for it has 
 brought me acquainted with dimes I ne- 
 ver before heard off* wines I never before 
 tailed and fruit I never before faw, ex- 
 cept through the fruiterer's windows. * 
 I tat pine-apple the other day, and if 
 
 that
 
 that be the fruit the Devil offered Eve, I 
 don't fee how me could refift it. Otvvay 
 has dealt a little unfair in his bitter in- 
 vedtive againft women 
 
 " And for an apple damn'd mankind." 
 
 He fhould have added that it was a pine- 
 apple ; with all my dramatick faith, I ne- 
 ver could believe it was worth her while 
 to tranfgrefs for a mere apple, even though 
 it had been a nonpareil. 
 
 SHANDY. 
 
 At
 
 At this time he belonged to an even- 
 ing fociety, confifling of about twelve or 
 fourteen members, who wimed to unite 
 to the feflivity of Anacreon, the humour 
 of Prior, the harmony of Pope j and, above 
 all, the fenfibility and pleafantry of 
 Sterne*. 
 
 Fart of the plan of this club, who met at 
 a houfe in Maiden-lane once a week, was, 
 to fubftitute fome toaft, in the place of a 
 health to the political idol of the day, or the 
 premier of the . month, about whofe real 
 principles their different partizans are fome- 
 times a little in the dark, and whofe very 
 names are the roots from whence fpring up 
 diiputes, 
 
 u About it, goddefs, and about it." 
 
 that 
 
 * The name they adopted was the Shandean fociety.
 
 ( 27 ) 
 
 that do not much tend to inform, or en- 
 liven the unfortunate hearers, and frequently 
 end in 
 
 " Contention fierce, endlefs debate, and hate irrecon- 
 cileable." 
 
 To avoid which evils, it was a rule, that 
 when the fociety meet, the Prefident pour 
 a libation, and drink to the memory of fome 
 departed genius, with whofe merits every 
 perfon prefent either was, or might be 
 acquainted, under the denomination of a 
 SKULL ^ after which, the next man gave 
 a fentimenty and the next a Jkull. If for 
 inftance, they had drank the memory of 
 Shakefpeare, it was expected that he who 
 was next in progreffion, mould give a fen- 
 timent, which mould have fome alluiion to 
 the bard, or his writings, and be new. One 
 equally appofite, was, to follow the names 
 
 of
 
 of Rabelais, Cervantes, or Sterne. But, 
 alas ! it was foon found that fuch a rapid 
 fucceflion of fkulls to fentiments, and fen- 
 timents to fkulls, promoted fo quick a cir- 
 culation of the glafs, as to clafh with part 
 of the plan of the inftitution, which was 
 to go home tolerably fober*. 
 
 To correct this inconvenience, it was or- 
 dained in council, that each member mould 
 bring with him a volume of his favourite 
 writer, and read fuch part aloud as he 
 thought would moil contribute to the amufe- 
 ment of the fociety. Henderfon produced a 
 volume of Sterne, the god of his idolatry, 
 
 entered 
 
 * It was obferved by a theatrical veteran, who fome- 
 times honoured this fociety with a vifit, that " though 
 it was a very plea&nt and chearful thing to get drunk, 
 it was a very difagreeable bufinefs to get fobcr."
 
 ( 29 ) 
 
 entered fo fully into the fpirit of his author, 
 fo happily difcriminated the characters, and 
 fo forcibly exhibited them, jhat his com- 
 panions rinding more gratification in hearing 
 him than themfelves, which I believe will 
 be acknowledged as flrong a tefKmony of 
 approbation as could be given by a fociety 
 compofed of reading men, conitituted him 
 reader to the club, and without an act of 
 parliament, confirmed his right to a name 
 which had been given him by a friend a 
 fhort time before; decreeing that from, 
 and after that time, he mould be diftin- 
 guifhed by the name of SHANDY, an ap- 
 pellation he retained many years. 
 
 The manner in which he read Sterne's 
 works, threw new light upon maqy paf- 
 
 fages,
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 fages-f-, and was the fource of much in- 
 formation as well as pleafantry. In the 
 humorous paflages it called forth flafhes of 
 merriment, and drew tears from every eye 
 in the pathetic. Never mall I forget the 
 effect he gave to the ftory of Le Fevre. It 
 kindled a flame of admiration, and pro- 
 moted a propofai to devote a day to the 
 memory of the author, pour a libation over 
 his grave, and fpeak a requiem to his 'de- 
 par ted {pirit*. 
 
 This 
 
 t It was firft obferved in this fociety, that until the 
 appearance of the four afterifks (****) with which 
 Sterne has fo frequently embellifhed his volumes, the 
 two following lines were totally mifconceived : 
 
 " If weak women go aftray, 
 
 " Their/far* are more in fault than they." 
 
 * A rainy day prevented the full completion of the 
 
 plan.
 
 ( 3' ) 
 
 This was the determination of a moment, 
 and affented to with enthufiafUc eagernefs. 
 Shandy was appointed to feledl what he 
 thought moft fit for the occafion, and the 
 next week produced an Ode, on which the 
 candid critic will look with fome allowance, 
 when he confiders it as the hafty production 
 of a man little more than twenty years of 
 age. The ardour with which the fubjed 
 is treated, will, I hope, be confidered as 
 an adequate apology for the inaccuracies in 
 fome of the lines. 
 
 The occafion of its being written, the 
 idolatry with which the name of Sterne was 
 venerated by the company who attended the 
 recital, and, above all, the energy, and pa- 
 thetic 
 
 plan. The Ode was, therefore, read to a fele& party 
 in a private houfe,
 
 ( 3* ) 
 
 thetic feeling which was difplayed by the 
 fpeaker, gave it a mod powerful efTecl:, 
 and it has furely too much merit to be 
 buried in oblivion. 
 
 ODE.
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 ODE. 
 
 INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SPOKEN AT THE f OMB 
 
 OF THE LATE LAWRENCE STERNE, 
 
 ON HIS BIRTH DAY. 
 
 THIS day be facred, let no hoftile found, 
 Prophane tWe honours deftin'd to his (hade, 
 Hence ye unhallow'd from this votive ground, 
 No gueft improper on our rites pervade. 
 Before his name let wanton fa tire fly, 
 The ftoic's rancour melt before his beams, 
 Let fpleen avoid the lightning of his eye, 
 And fink for flielter in oblivion's ftreams. 
 Hence too, unfeeling and cold blooded gueft, 
 Dull ignorance, in folemn garments dreft. 
 
 But come thou Goddefs fair and free, 
 On earth y'clep'd Philanthropy, 
 Fill our bofoms, crown our board 
 With all thy fpirit can afford. 
 Thy fon, thy elder born we fingj 
 Sound the hautboys, tune the ftring, 
 
 P Nced%
 
 ( 34 ) 
 
 Need'ft thou, goddefs, need'fl thou Icarr*, 
 All our notes are rais'd to Sterne. 
 To him our grateful notes afcend, 
 Him we folicit to attend. 
 
 If 'midft the fpheres, 
 
 Tun'd by the bright angelic choir, 
 Thy fpirit hears 
 
 The tribute of a mortal lyre, 
 
 Deign, oh deign to fhed thy power, 
 Thy mighty magic on this feftive hour. 
 Nor, when my grateful verfe reveals, 
 What every fon .of candour feels, 
 Let thy gentle foul difdain, 
 What alive had given thee pain ; 
 Our motives thou may'ft try above, 
 
 And know our praife the tribute of our love* 
 
 Shame to the man, and to his memory fhame, 
 Whofe tongue licentious robs thee of thy fame. 
 Oh hadft thou liv'd when critics learn'd and wife, 
 To juftice faithful, own'd no other ties ; 
 Dupes to no party, and no flaves to fear, 
 In fcntence candid, yet in judgment clear, 
 
 Feeling
 
 ( 35 ) 
 
 Feeling like men, like men their fentence own'ct 
 Nor honour'd dullnefs, though by dunces throned, 
 T^hen had thy facred buft in triumph rofe, 
 And twining laurel fcreen'd thee from thy foes* 
 But he unhappy fell on evil days, 
 When barren fentiment ufurp'd his praife. 
 When folly bore the honours and the crown, 
 Which (hould have deck'd his temples with renown* 
 When he from virtue greateft honour drew, 
 And held philanthropy to public view, 
 Adorn'd with all that can fecure efteem, 
 The monarch's glory, and the poet's theme, 
 That balm of blood and confidence of mind, 
 Impell'd to pity, to fufpicion blind, 
 That bofom, open to each focial claim, 
 In virtue ardent, negligent of fame j v 
 That heart, unable to repel relief, 
 In courage manly, feminine in grief. 
 In pleafure, harmlefs, innocent, and mild, 
 Warm as a man, forgiving as a child, 
 Ev'n then they dar'd to violate his page ; 
 In virtue barren, fruitful in their rage, 
 Vex'd, inly vex'd, that on infpeclion clear^ 
 They feirch'd their hearts and found no Toby there. 
 JO 2 Stung
 
 Stung, inly ftung, they fnatch'd the p? n, 
 And told the taftelefs fons of men, 
 That he whofe fpirits warm and full, 
 Could charm the gay, and wake the dull, 
 Could fix a fmile on forrow's brow, 
 And fteal his grief he knew not how. 
 Could give new courage to the brave, 
 And bid his fame furvive the grave, 
 Could give religion frefher charms, 
 And lead the ftoic to her arms, 
 Could bid, (on touching fancy's firing,) 
 Profufion in a defart fpring, 
 Benign vibrations ftir the trees, 
 And chearful rapture fwell the breeze, 
 That he, with all thefe powers fraught, 
 Was loofe in language, and impure in thought ; 
 Believing virtue, their 'monition took, ' 
 And thank'd his ftars he had not read the book. 
 
 The idle crew, 
 Who never knew 
 
 More than thefe mighty critics chofe, 
 Soon caught the found, 
 And echoed round, 
 The friends of Sterne were virtue's foes ; 
 
 Errcc
 
 ( 37 ) 
 
 Error confirm'd, what malice had begun, 
 Till fool and critic, loft their name in one. 
 
 Some there arofe who fpurn'd the flavifh tie, 
 And if they cenfur'd, would at leaft know why j 
 But all too indolent, or all too dull, 
 His fruits to gather, or his flowers to cull, 
 
 The loofer parts 
 
 Attach'd their hearts, 
 
 But when they hop'd fome grofs defect to clafp, 
 His wit, like Mercury, efcap'd their grafp. 
 
 If high in blood, voluptuous in thought, 
 Some beam of beauty's emanative fire, 
 As fwift the meteor glided by he caught, 
 It play'd perhaps around his heart, 
 But urg'd not foul defire. 
 Some kindred tendernefs it warm'd, 
 Which ftraight to other themes he drew, 
 No longer virtue flood alarm'd, 
 But join'd his paflage as he upward flew. 
 Too weak ef wing, or impotent of fight, 
 Thefe readers loft him in the daring flight : 
 Thus envy ftung, or dullnefs veil'd his worth, 
 *Till nature, warm and zealous in his caufe, 
 
 D 3 . Snatch'd
 
 ( 38 ) 
 
 Snatch'd him at once from this ill-judging earth, 
 To realms where angels hail'd him with applaufe. 
 Cervantes gaily grave, with accent fweet, 
 And laughing Rabelais led him to his feat j 
 Yorick, in flaQies of wild tranfport roar'd, 
 As when in Denmark's court he" fhook the board. 
 The focial (hades of tendernefs and love, 
 Spread the glad tidings through the courts above. 
 
 All heard, all flew on wings of joy, 
 And welcom'd him to peace fincere, 
 Tp blifs whofe raptures never cloy, 
 And happinefs unknown to fear. 
 
 To us bejpngs to vindicate his fame, 
 To pluck the nettle from his facred grave, 
 To turn the darts of malice from their aim, 
 Arid point his virtues to the good and brave ; 
 Nor this a taflc which indolence would fliun, 
 'Tis half-accomplim'd when 'tis once begun j 
 Obvious and full they ftrike upon the fight, 
 J$oi afk affiftauce from collected light, 
 
 Okl
 
 ( 39 ) 
 
 Oh ! when ye hear htf memory defam'd, 
 His wit mifconftrued, or his heart bely'd, 
 Loud be his warm benevolence proclaim'd, 
 'Till rage and error bluming turn afide. 
 Whate'er their motive, ignorance, or whim, 
 They flander'd nature when they flander'd him. 
 
 For me, I own, with gratefiil tranfport mov'd, 
 I love his memory, as the man I lov'd. 
 Dear to my eye, but dearer to my heart, 
 Ne'er felt my foul more agonizing fmart, 
 Than when that fpirit from its bondage fled, 
 And gave a fecond Yorkk to the dead. 
 
 D 4 Befides
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Befides Sterne's works, he fometimes read 
 feleft paflages from Milton, Pope, Prior, 
 Swift, Gray, and Junius. 
 
 The verfification of Pope was too fmooth 
 for him, the fame found fo perpetually re- 
 burring upon the fame fy liable, gave a flat- 
 nefs which fatigued the ear. The meafure 
 became vapid and lifelefs. From this cen- 
 fure I except his manner of reading the 
 Dunciad, to which he gave the full force 
 of its fatire. 
 
 Gray's Elegy he always miftook ; by en- 
 deavouring to exprefs energy, he deftroyed 
 that plaintive folemnity w r hich is furely its 
 peculiar characteriftic. Indeed, the fpecies 
 of poetry in which this Elegy claims the 
 firft place, did not feem to be his forte. 
 If he attempted the pathetic it became a 
 whine, and his ear being too correct to 
 
 bear
 
 bear the founds of his own voice, he changed 
 his tones, and quitted his author's manner, 
 preferring impropriety to difTonance. In 
 the light airy tales of Prior, where laugh- 
 ing whimficallity is the predominant feature, 
 he was on his proper ground. To " the man- 
 ly vigour of one fterling line " of Churchill, 
 he added a thoufand beauties. Junius, he 
 efleemed the moft perfect model of Engli/h 
 profe, and although unacquainted with the 
 politics of the day, gave full effect to every 
 fentence of that moil fplendid writer. Pa- 
 radife Loft he deemed a dramatic poem; 
 ftrongly varied the different manners of Mo- 
 loch, Belial, and the other fallen angels, 
 and entering with fublime energy into the 
 fpirit of the various characters, became, as 
 was faid of his author, as a chariot-wheel 
 wrought into a blaze by its own motion. 
 It was grand, forcible, terrific. 
 
 But
 
 But his talents as a reader are fo well 
 known from the fpecimens he exhibited at 
 Freemafons-Hall, that it becomes unne- 
 ceflary to expatiate upon them here. I am 
 not afraid to aver, and it is an opinion 
 grounded upon fome reflection, that he read 
 better in Maiden -lane than he did in Queen- 
 ftreet: it was lefs theatrical, and more 
 chafte. 
 
 It is not very ufual for the Dramatis Per- 
 fbnas to diftinguifh between acting, reciting, 
 and reading ; when reading they attempt to 
 act, and imitate the pafllons which they are 
 only required to enumerate. 
 
 In reading a letter to an audience, they do 
 not always think it neceflary to change their 
 intonation. It is dtted, and uttered with all 
 the bufkined pomp of heroic emphafis. Of 
 this error Henderfon was never guilty. 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( 43 ) 
 
 Mr. Garrick was, I believe, efteemed to 
 have approached very near perfection in 
 playing, that he was above mediocrity in 
 reciting or reading, no man will, I think, 
 aflert, who has heard him read, or recite 
 his Jubilee Ode. 
 
 The great requisites neceflary to conftitute 
 a reader, feem to be, a good ear, a voice 
 capable of inflexion, an understanding of, 
 and tafte for, the beauties of the author, and 
 a feeling, an ardour, an enthufiafm, which 
 will warm the mind to difplay them; 
 to all this muft be added a judgment that 
 will guard againft extremes. Whether Mr. 
 Henderfon was, or was not, in poflerlioa of 
 all thefe requifites, is a queftion I will not 
 prefume to decide. I think he read better 
 than any man I ever heard. 
 
 He
 
 ( 44 ) 
 
 He ufed to fport an opinion, that the 
 great difference of reading confifted in under- 
 ftanding, or not underftanding, the author's 
 meaning. I mentioned inftances where men 
 had written with great knowledge of their 
 fubjedr, and exprefled their fentiments in 
 glowing and brilliant colours, who yet fo 
 totally mangled and weakened their own 
 works when they attempted to read them, 
 as to obfcure the brighteft pafTages, and dif- 
 guife the moft obvious fentences. " Sir, faid 
 he, reft afTured, they did not fully under- 
 ftand what they read. Some men have a 
 trick of ftringing words together, fo as to 
 impofe upon the underftanding, but they do 
 not wholly conceive what they are about. 
 Let any one be fully and powerfully im- 
 prefled with an author's meaning, and if his 
 voice and articulation are not defective, he 
 cannot fail imprefling that meaning upon 
 his hearers. A female mendicant under- 
 
 ftands
 
 ( 45 ) 
 
 ftands what me wants, and therefore her 
 entreaties are uttered in the tones Ipefl cal- 
 culated to reach the heart, and with an em- 
 phafis that rarely offends the car. A tho- 
 roughly enraged fcold is infinitely more 
 pointed in her oratory, than is a gentleman 
 in a wig and band at Weftminfter-hall. 
 
 " She is animated from conceiving her 
 fubject, and feeling the paffion, me re- 
 prefents it. An infant is perfect matter 
 of the art of fupplication before he can 
 fpeak, and when he attains that power 
 never afks for any thing with an impro- 
 per emphafis until he is taught to read, 
 when he is harraffed about points, con- 
 founded by a multitude of infractions, 
 and fent to a Demojlbenes maker, who 
 gives him rules for utterance, and modes 
 of fpeech, and a manner of delivery, that 
 enables the well inftructed young gentle- 
 man
 
 ( 46 ) 
 
 man to torture the ears of all within com- 
 pafs of his voice, whether he is doomed 
 to exhibit in the pulpit, or the fenate, at 
 the bar, or upon the ftage. The human 
 voice is in a great degree artificial, and 
 whatever any one chufes to make it. You 
 find general fimilarity in the tones of peo- 
 ple of one profefiion. One fet of tones 
 are appropriated to the bar, another to 
 the pulpit. I have heard that moft fu- 
 blime compofition, the burial fervice, flo- 
 vened over in fuch a manner that I could 
 fcarcely underftand two words in a fentence, 
 and yet the voice has had a kind of' fo- 
 lemn found, a pious noife, that has given 
 great effect. 
 
 " Sounds have infinite powerwitlioutwords. 
 This mould feem to extend to mufic, but 
 with me it does not. I have little grati- 
 fication from what I am told is exquifite. 
 
 Some
 
 ( 47 ) 
 
 Some one fays, it is become the art of exe- 
 cuting difficulties. It was a good wifh, 
 would to heaven thefe difficulties were im- 
 poffibilities . 
 
 <( When I recited Mr. Garrick's Ode in a 
 private room, I felt what I faid, and I 
 believe gave it fome effecl:. Very diffe- 
 rent was it upon the flage. My feelings 
 were weakened and confounded by the band, 
 my voice loft its fcale, and was overpower- 
 ed by the mufic in the orcheflra." 
 
 This, it muft be acknowledged if a 
 rhapfody, and as fuch was fpoken, but 
 there are fome truths in it. 
 
 Mr. Pope exhibited an inftance, that a 
 man may have the mod delicate ear for 
 the harmony of numbers, and yet have no 
 fort of tafte for the harmony of founds. 
 
 Swift
 
 Swift is another example, and I am inclin- 
 ed to fufpedt from Mr. Garrick's man- 
 ner of finging, that he had not, whatever 
 he might chufe to profefs, much know- 
 ledge of, or tafle in, mufic. 
 
 Would it be fuppofed from the meafured, 
 harmony of Dr. Johnfon's periods, that he 
 had fcarcely any perception of it. He knew 
 a drum from a trumpet, and a bagpipe from 
 a guittar, which he owned was about the 
 extent of his knowledge in mufic*. 
 
 Mr. Henderfon had great delight in pe- 
 rufmg books that abounded in the marvel- 
 lous. Sir John Mandeville's Travels, Pon- 
 toppidan's Norway, Peter Wilkins' Voyage 
 to the Moon, or Wanley's Wonders of the 
 
 Little 
 
 * Bofwell's Journal, ift edition, page 363.
 
 ( 49 ) 
 
 Little World were in delicti*.* With equal 
 eagernefs he fought for and read the ac- 
 counts 
 
 * We fay Nofdtur a tea May we not, with equal 
 truth, fay, Nofcitur a Libris* 
 
 A knowledge of the particular fpecies of books which 
 attract men of genius and ftudy in their hours of de- 
 fultory reading, would be curious and worth fpeculation ; 
 fuch knowledge might fomefimes enable us to develops 
 the bias of their characters with more truth than ck> 
 ./their graveft biographers. 
 
 For the gratification of the curious I have fubjoirusd 
 the titles of a few books in Mr. Henderfon's ftudy, iri 
 feme of which the ludicrous and the horrible, " for 
 mafterlhippe do ftrive."- The lamentable and true Tra- 
 gedie of Maifter Arden of Feverfham, who was mofte 
 wickedlie murdered by means of his wantonne Wife, 
 who hired two defperate Ruffians, Blacke Will and 
 Shakbagge, to kill him. Life and Death of Lewis 
 Gaufredy, with his abominable Sorceries, after felling 
 hwnfelf to the Devil. A bloody Newe Yeares Gifte. A 
 true
 
 ( 50 ) 
 
 counts of murders, battles, maflacres, mar- 
 tyrdoms, earthquakes, the death of Re- 
 
 gulus, 
 
 true Declaration of the cruel and mod bloody Murther 
 of Maifter Robert Heath, in his own houfe at High 
 Holborne, being the figne of the Fire Brande. A true 
 Relation how a Womtfh at Atherbury having ufed divers 
 horrid Imprecations, was fuddainlie burned to Aflies, 
 there being no Fire neare her. Hellifh Murder com- 
 mitted by a French Midwife. Hiftories of Apparitions, 
 Spirits, Vifions, and other wonderful Illuflons of the 
 Devil. The Surey Demoniaq or Satan, his dreadful 
 Judgements upon Richard Dugdale. A Pleafaunte 
 
 \ 
 
 Treatife of Witches, their Impes and Meetings. Newes 
 from Italic, or a moft lamentable Tragedie lately be- 
 fallen. Phylomithie^ wherein outlandifh Birds, Beafts, 
 and Fifhes, are taught to fpeak Englifh. Tarquatua 
 Vandermer, his feven Yeares Studie in the Arte offe 
 " Magicke upon the twelve Monthes of the Yeare. The 
 Devil Conjured, by Thomas Lodge : a Difcourfe of 
 the fottille Praatfes of Divelles by Witches. The 
 Miferies of inforft Marriage. Lavaterus of Ghoftes 
 and Spirits walking by Night, and of ftraunge Noyfes, 
 
 Crackes,
 
 gulus*, or burning of Cranmer, particulars of 
 a criminal's behaviour when broken upon the 
 
 wheel, 
 
 Crackes, and fo forthe. Baylie, his Wall Flower, as 
 it grew out of the ftone Chamber in Newgate. Ad- 
 mirable Hiftorie of a Magician, who feduced a pious 
 Womanne to be a Witch. And though laft, not leaft 
 in Love, King James, his Daemonologiaei 
 
 * A writer of the laft century has thrown this la- 
 mentable ftory into a moft ludicrous point of view. I 
 believe the lines are not generally known : perhaps it 
 will be faid they are not worth knowing ; however here 
 they are : 
 
 When the bold Carthaginian, 
 Fought with Rome for dominion, 
 Little Reg was ta'en in the flrife ; 
 When his eye-lids they par'd, 
 Good Lord how he ftar'd, 
 
 And could not go fleep for his life* 
 
 E 2 When
 
 ( 5* ) 
 
 wheel, the barbarities Cortes and other 
 zealous propagators of the gofpel inflicted 
 upon the Indians, the tortures fuffered 
 by the victims of fuperflition in the In- 
 quifltion, or any event whether in, or out 
 of nature, which was calculated to give 
 ftrong and forcible impreffions.* 
 
 By 
 
 When the bold Carthaginian, 
 Fought with Rome for dominion, 
 
 Little Reg was ta'en in the quarrel, 
 So they took him up a hill, 
 And fore againft his will, 
 
 They trundled him down in a barrel. 
 
 To thofe idolaters of ancient patriotifm, and ancient 
 hiftory, to whom this defcription may appear a {hocking 
 infult on the memory of fo celebrated a hero, it may be 
 a confolation to recollect, that the beft critics and com- 
 mentators, have efteemed the whole ftory of the death 
 of Regulus, to be a fi&ion. 
 
 * If it (hould be inferred from hence that his difpo- 
 fition was cruel, the inference would be unjuft. 
 
 Mortimer,
 
 ( 53 ) 
 
 By the perufal s of fuch books as thefe, 
 objedts of terror became familiar to his 
 
 mind, 
 
 Mortimer,' the hiftorical painter, in whom were united 
 the favage grandeur of Salvator Rofa, and the terrific 
 graces of Spagnolette j who, joined to a Sublimity of 
 idea, and accuracy of delineation, Jiot exceeded by Mi- 
 chael Angelo, a delicacy of pencil equal to Teniers ; 
 was moft happy, and, I think moft fuccefsful, when 
 fketching, or painting objects, from which the common 
 eye withdrew. His four paintings of the progrefs of 
 vice, in the very well chofen collection of Doctor Bates, 
 of MiiTenden, is one example of this truth. 
 
 From hints in Fox's Book of Martyrs, he made a 
 number of moft fpirited fketches, in which are repre- 
 fented the fufferings of men, women, and children. 
 Scorching their hands with lighted tapers, burning their 
 eyes out with hot irons, and the whole exhibition of the 
 ufes made of thofe powerful engines of argument, the 
 whips, hooks, racks ; but, above all, the thumb vice^ by 
 which unbelievers are fcrewed up to the proper faith. 
 
 E 3 Yet,
 
 ( 54 ) 
 
 mind, and perhaps enabled him to exhi- 
 bit with fuch warmth of colouring, por- 
 traits 
 
 Yet, with this difpofition for contemplating, and dif- 
 playing fuch objects, Mortimer had a foul, " Open as 
 day to melting charity, a tear for pity," and a heart the 
 moft fufceptible of tender impreffions. He made the 
 kindeft allowances for the errors of others, and would 
 not have trod upon the poor beetle. When he erred, 
 and who mail dare to name any man as faultlefs ? his 
 errors had their root in virtues which the generous 
 warmth of his heart carried to excefs. Added to all 
 this, he had an hilarity that brightened every eye, and 
 gladdened every heart. I knew his mind well, but 
 that knowledge fhould have deterred me from attempt- 
 ing to defcribe it, had I confidered that Sterne has fo 
 exactly delineated the leading features by which it was 
 actuated, in the benevolence and fenfibility of character 
 which diftinguifhed his uncle Toby. 
 
 In the fociety of Mortimer I pafled fome of the hap- 
 pieft years of my life, and the remembrance of the very 
 intimate, brotherly, and unbroken friendfhip with which 
 
 we
 
 < 55 ) 
 
 traits of Shakefpeare's moft terrific cha- 
 racters, from which fpirits of a more 
 exquifite texture, unaccuftomed to the 
 contemplation of fuch objedls, would 
 fhrink with horror. For I believe thofe 
 who have hearts of fuch fufceptibility as 
 to receive impremons of joy, love, or 
 grief, in an extreme degree, are by no 
 means the moft eminently qualified for 
 communicating thofe impreffions to an 
 audience. A man whofe feelings are fb 
 alive as to overbalance the disproportionate 
 ftrength of his mind, becomes liable to 
 be awed into forgetfulnefs, the paffions are 
 Overwhelmed in a ftorm of their own 
 E 4 raifing, 
 
 we were united until his death, affords me one of thofe 
 melancholy pleafures which may be felt, but cannot be 
 xlefcribed A tear drops at the recollection. The lofs 
 of fuch a friend leaves a chafm in one's life and hap- 
 pinefs, which is very, very, rarely filled up.
 
 ( 56 ) 
 
 railing, and the aftor drowned in a deluge 
 of his own tears. The mind wrought up 
 to real tendernefs, lofes, in fome meafure, 
 the power of exprefling that which is fic- 
 titious, and excefs of fenfibility defeats its 
 own purpofe. * There is a point to which 
 the paflions mufl be raifed, to difplay that 
 exhibition of them which fcatters conta- 
 
 gious 
 
 * This may be thought at firft fight to clafh with the 
 maxim of Horace ; but, maturely confidered, may per- 
 haps be found nearly to coincide with it, 
 
 I am told this is not the philofophy of the green-room, 
 notwithftanding which, I fufpe&the contrary opinion to 
 be the philofophy of the diftaff. To fay, though with 
 the utmoft dramatic dignity of emphafis, 
 A . ':.-. y * M'ti 
 " He, mu/fy bcfve^ feeling^ who, makes^ others^ ftelf*. 
 
 be replied to by, 
 Who drives fat oxen, Jhould blmfelfkftf
 
 ( 57 ) 
 
 gious tendernefs through the whole Thea- 
 tre, but carried, " though but the breadth of 
 a hair," beyond that point, the picture 
 becomes an overcharged carricature, as 
 likely to create laughter, as difFuie diftrefs. 
 There is a certain term in the mind which 
 is exactly proportionate to produce fympa- 
 thy, beyond which limit, or within it, the 
 effect ceafes to be produced. * 
 
 The 
 
 * It is a general opinion, that a good player muft 
 have a found judgment, and conceive his author's 
 meaning before he can exprefs it ; yet I have feen in- 
 ftances where nature having denied an underftanding, 
 has kindly given what did well enough as a fubftitute, 
 and panned mufter before an audience very decently. 
 Thefe inftances, indeed, were many years ago I be- 
 lieve ; but, inftead of an opinion, I venture an anec- 
 dote, and let the gentle reader draw his own con* 
 
 When
 
 ( 58 ) 
 
 The power of mimickry which Hender- 
 Ton poflefled in a moft eminent degree, 
 
 and 
 
 When the late Mr. Reddifli's indifpofition of mind 
 rendered him incapable of fulfilling his duties at the 
 Theatre, and he was by his inability reduced from a fa- 
 lary of twelve or fourteen pounds a week, to an income 
 of feventy pounds a year from the fund, fome of his 
 friends made intereft with the manager to grant him 
 a benefit. The play advertifed was Cymbeline, and 
 Mr. Reddiih was announced for Pofthumus. He 
 was to pafs an hour previous to his performance at a 
 houfe where I was afked to meet him. He came into 
 the room with the ftep of an ideot, his eye wandering 
 and his whole countenance vacant. I congratulated 
 him on his being enough recovered to perform. Yes, 
 jfir, replied he, I (hall perform, and in the garden fcene 
 I {hall aftonifh you ! In the garden fcene, Mr, Red- 
 dim ? 1 thought you were to play Pofthumus.- 
 
 No, fir, I play Romeo. My good man, faid the gen- 
 tleman of the houfe, you play Pofthumus. Do I, re- 
 plied he ; I am forry for it. However what muft be, 
 muft be. At the time appointed he fct out for the 
 
 Theatre,
 
 ( 59 ) 
 
 exercifed with that indifcriminate ne- 
 gligent fportivenefs, which meaning no 
 
 evil, 
 
 Theatre. The gentleman who went with him, for he 
 was not capable of walking without a guide, told me 
 that his mind was fo impreft with the character of Ro- 
 meo, he was reciting it all the way, and when he came 
 into the green-room it was with extreme difficulty they 
 could perfuade him he was to play any other part. 
 That when the time came for his appearance, they 
 pufhed him on the ftage, fearing he would begin 
 with a fpeech of Romeo. With the fame expectation 
 I flood in the pit clofe to the orcheftra, and being ib 
 jiear had a perfect view of his face. Tlie inftant he 
 came in fight of the audience his recollection feemed 
 to return, his countenance refumed meaning, his eye 
 appeared lighted up, he made the bow of modeft re- 
 fpect, and went through the fcene much better than 
 I had ever before feen him. On his return to the 
 green-room, the image of Romeo returned to his mind, 
 nor did he lofe it until his fecond appearance, when the 
 moment he had the cue^ he went through the fcene, and 
 in this weak and imbecile ftate of his underftanding, 
 
 performed
 
 ( 60 ) 
 
 aril, feared no confequences, was the fource 
 of fome inconveniences, which led him to 
 repent having difplayed it in the unguarded 
 manner he frequently did. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 performed the whole better than I ever Caw him be- 
 fore, and it was a character in which 1 had feen him 
 often, and never contemptible. But he appeared to 
 much greater advantage then, than when he had the 
 full exercife of his reafon. His manner was lefs af- 
 fuming, and more natural. After that time he never 
 performed. 
 
 It brought to my recollelion an anecdote I have heard 
 of his late majefty, who, naming an officer that he 
 intended fhould command in an expedition of fome 
 confequence, was told by the Duke of Newcaftle that 
 the gentleman was by no means eligible for fo im- 
 portant a ftation, being pofitively mad." Is he, replied 
 the king, he (hall go for all that, and before he fets out 
 I wifti to my God he would bite fome of my Generals, 
 and make them mad too."
 
 ( 6! ) 
 
 Mr. Garrick/ was at this time the ob- 
 jecl: of his imitation, and not much gra- 
 tified with the freedom, nor much dif- 
 pofed to ferve the perfon who took it; 
 under thefe circumftances an introduction 
 to him was difficult, his different friends 
 were therefore fought out and applied to 
 for their intereft. Among other applica- 
 tions, one was made to the late Paul 
 Hiffernan, of dull memory, who was at 
 that time one of the attendants at the ma- 
 nagers levee. 
 
 When the name and intention of Hen- 
 derfon was announced to HifFernan, he 
 looked in his face v/ith the utmoft gravity 
 for half a minute, and then, like a drill 
 ferjearrt giving the word df command, voci- 
 ferated " Pleafe to ft and upon yoifr pins." 
 Henderfon Hood up. Mr. HifFernan 
 
 did the fame.- Now, fays be, young 
 
 gentleman,
 
 ( 62 ) 
 
 gentleman, I'll foon fee if you'll ever make 
 an actor. I'll foon fee whether or not 
 you are fit for the ftage. Then ftalking 
 with folemn dignity to a table drawer, he 
 opened it, and took out a ball of pack- 
 thread, from which he firft cut off a long 
 Jpiece and tied the knife to the end, by 
 way of plummet, this done marched up 
 to the young candidate, and having firfl 
 got upon a chair, to be the better able 
 to reach, held the packthread to the top 
 of Henderfon's head, and let the knife 
 drop to the ground, by which it was now 
 feen he intended to try how tall he was. 
 This ceremony over he defcended, took 
 out of his pocket a two foot rule, and 
 meafured the length of the packthread; 
 then putting on a moil melancholy coun- 
 tenance, (hook his head, and exclaimed, 
 " young gentleman, I am forry to mor- 
 tify you, I am very forry to mortify you, 
 
 but
 
 ( 63 ) 
 
 but go your ways home, fet your thoughts 
 upon fomewhat elfe, mind your bufinefs, 
 be it what it will, and remember I tell 
 you, for the fock or bufkin you won't do ; 
 you will not do, fir, by an inch and a 
 quarter. 
 
 This muft be acknowledged to be fome- 
 what in the fpirit of Serjeant Kite, but 
 it was Paul's mode of meafuripg the ta- 
 lents of thofe who afpired to the ftage. 
 Excellent critic !" 
 
 A theatrical veteran, whofe abilities have 
 been looked up to by the laft age with 
 admiration, and are regarded by the pre- 
 fent age with aftonifhment ; whofe judg- 
 ment was thought matured by time, and 
 whofe decrees were uttered with that firm- 
 nefs and oracular dignity, which confounds 
 if it does not convince, and filences where 
 
 it
 
 ( 64 ) 
 
 it cannot confute, was requefted to hear 
 Mr. Henderfon rehearfe, point out his 
 errors, and advife the beft method of im- 
 proving his recitation. " Sir," fays this 
 Ariftarchus of the drama, " Sir, the young 
 man has genius, but the firfl thing he 
 does muft he to w/zlearn all that he has al- 
 ready learned, until he does that, he cannot 
 karn to be ja player/' 
 
 So fevere was the fentence of this Neflor 
 f the green-room, but even this, did not 
 deter the ftage-ftruck hero from his the- 
 atrical purfuit, he had the true enthulia- 
 ftic ardour which gains ftrength from op- 
 poiition; every difcouragement feemed ra- 
 ther to encreafe than abate his cagernefs; 
 and as accefs was not to be had to Mr. 
 Garrick, he endeavoured to obtain an in- 
 troduction to fome of the other managers. 
 But managers, like miniflers of ftate, were 
 
 not,
 
 ( 6$ } 
 
 not, he found, very willing to hear, and 
 when they did hear, not very eafy to 
 pleafe. 
 
 One obje&ed to him, that never having 
 been upon any ftage, he was unftudied in 
 his parts. Another excellent judge of the 
 Englifh language, that in reading Pope, he 
 made, verfe of it. A third, that his voice 
 was not ftrong enough for the ftage. A 
 fourth, that his fpeaking was hufky, and 
 his tones too fat.* 
 
 F He, 
 
 * His continual imitation of Mr. Garrick's voice, 
 might, in a degree, contribute to give his own a refem-* 
 blance of it ; and that imitation was formed upon tones, 
 which, melodious as they had once been, began to con- 
 tract the hufkinefs fo commonly attendant upon old age. 
 His fo frequently repeating fpeeches' in the manner of 
 FalftafF, gave what the fame critic calls a farnefs of 
 tone.
 
 ( 66 ) 
 
 He, however, had friends, who renewed 
 application to Mr. Garrick, and the ma- 
 nager's good underflanding feemed to have 
 vanquished his refentment, for he heard him 
 rehearfe, faid, that his voice had neither 
 ftrength nor modulation enough for the 
 London ftage, but advifed him to try his 
 powers at a country theatre, for the purpofe 
 of forwarding an introduction to which, he 
 would write to Mr. Palmer, then manager 
 of the Bath company, who gave for anfwer, 
 that he mould have an engagement, if ap- 
 proved of by Mr. Keafeberry, who was then 
 director of a corps dramatique at Richmond. 
 Mr. Keafeberry heard and approved, and, 
 in September, 1772, Mr. John Henderfon 
 was enrolled as one of the Bath comedians 
 for three years. 
 
 The firft year he was to receive one 
 guinea per week ; the fecond, one guinea 
 
 and
 
 and a half ; and the third year, two guineas. 
 Befides this enormous falary, he was to have 
 an annual benefit. 
 
 The object of his ambition attained, he 
 trembled with apprehenfion, doubted if his 
 figure was fufficiently important, queftioned 
 if he was grounded enough in any one cha- 
 racter to venture it before the awful tribunal 
 of the public, and could he have protracted 
 his entree for another year, would mofi 
 gladly have done it : fo great was his dread 
 of difappointment and diigrace, that he af- 
 fumed the'name of Courtenay, and, under 
 the protection of that name, made his coup 
 */V^7/atBath, on the 6th of October, 1772, 
 in the part of Hamlet. 
 
 The writer of this went with a number of 
 
 friends from London to Bath, to fee the 
 
 dcbuf of this young candidate for the dra- 
 
 F 2 matic
 
 ( 68 ) 
 
 matic laurel, whofe apprehenfions were fo 
 alive, and whofe fears were fo exccffive, that 
 it was with difficulty he advanced upon the 
 ftage, and made his firft bow to the au- 
 dience. They received him with that in- 
 dulgence which is fo generally exercifed to a 
 young performer, and when he fpoke, gave 
 that flill refpedful attention, which is per- 
 haps a ftronger teflimony of approbation 
 than the thundering clapping of a thoufand 
 hands. But of the gratification which re- 
 fults from this mode of applaufe, he had a 
 large portion at the end of each acl: j and 
 .before the conclufibn .of the firfl, his fears 
 were fo far difpelled, and his terror fo much 
 fubiided, that his understanding recovered 
 its natural expanfion; and although his 
 powers had not attained their full maturity, 
 yet the ftrong traits of judgment he dif- 
 played in conceiving the outline of the part, 
 the fenfibility and feeling he exhibited 
 
 thr
 
 ( 69 ) 
 
 through the whole of the performance, the 
 accuracy of his articulation, and the proper 
 modulation of his tones, marked themfelves 
 as diftin&ly as they did at any fublequent 
 period. 
 
 In that fiery ordeal for dramatic candi- 
 dates, Hamlet's advice to the players, he 
 manifefted fo clear a conception of his 
 author, with fo much eafe and propriety 
 of recitation, as difplayed his power of 
 difcrimination, and gave every right to 
 augur tjie excellence he afterwards at- 
 tained.* 
 
 Old 
 
 * When the performance ended, I went into the 
 green-room Let the reader of extreme delicacy avoid 
 this note ; or, if (he reads it, not accufe me of omitting 
 the proper warning. 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( 7 ) 
 
 Old Mr.Giffard, under whofe management 
 Garrick made his firft appearance, and 
 who had been witnefs to the dramatic rife 
 
 of 
 
 Mr. Henderfon's predeceflbr, in the character, was 
 Lee, who ufed to play it in a fuit of black velvet, much 
 too large for Henderfon ; he was, therefore, under the 
 neceflity of performing it in a fuit of black cloth. Ex- 
 treme agitation occafioned a perfpiration. The coat 
 was wet as if it had been " immerfed in the ocean.** 
 The performance ended, Hamlet refigned his habit to 
 the keeper of the wardrobe, who received it with afto- 
 nifhment and horror ; hung it to the fire, lifted up both 
 his hands, and exclaimed, in the true nafal tone of a 
 parifli clerk, " Heaven blefs us all ! what a forry fight 
 is here : 'twas the Lord's mercy he did not play it in the 
 black velvet - it would have raifed all the pile. They 
 may talk of Mufter Lee, and Mufter Lee, and Mufter 
 Lee, but Mufter Lee is nothing to this man for what they 
 Call perfpiration." A perfon prefent obferved, that the 
 fcvereft critics muft acknowledge the young gentleman 
 had played the character with great warmth, if not 
 with fpirit.
 
 ( 7' ) 
 
 of many of the moil diftinguimed a<5lors. 
 Who, in the courfe of a long life, had 
 feen the dawnings and progreffive exer- 
 tions, of numbers whofe abilities had been 
 fan&ioned by public approbation ; Mr. 
 GifFard thought his talents of the firft 
 magnitude, delired to be gratified by a 
 morning's rehearsal upon the ftage, when, 
 with the fpirit of prophecy, the old man 
 foretold the future eminence of the young 
 a&or, returned to Baling, and died in a 
 few days, 
 
 Mr, Henderfon performed Hamlet a fe- 
 cond time a few nights afterwards ; his 
 feelings are defcribed by his own words, 
 in a letter which he wrote to a lady in 
 London, and his reception, in fome which 
 he wrote to a clergyman, with whom he 
 correfponded in the neighbourhood of 
 London, 
 
 To
 
 To Mrs. I , 
 
 Bath, Oftober 2^tb, 1772. 
 
 I AM obliged to you beyond my powers 
 of expreffion, for your kind folicitudes on 
 my account. I hafte to anfwer them.- 
 I had a very full houfe to the fecond 
 Hamlet, and I played it much better than 
 when you law me, when my terror funk 
 my figure and impaired my animation.- 
 J had a better audience ftill laft Tuefday 
 to Richard, which (although I was more 
 frightened then ever) I was much ap- 
 .plauded for. 
 
 I am a great favorite here, if being fol- 
 lowed at the Theatre, and invited to pri- 
 vate
 
 ( 73 ) 
 
 vate parties among people of confequence, 
 are proofs of it. I never took any thing 
 kinder in my life than your coming to fee 
 me ; it was a mark of attention, friend- 
 fhip, and regard, that, as I am confcious 
 of not altogether deferving, delighted me 
 exceedingly It would have delighted me 
 fHll more to have deferved it. But that 
 you know is my fault It fhall be cor- 
 reded. You will find me very different 
 In my manners. 
 
 Will you give my kind fervices to Mifs 
 ', though me is a forry jade and 
 don't deferve them, for me has the info- 
 lence to let my letter remain unanfwered. 
 Yet, upon recollection, there may be kind- 
 nefs in it, me may not be willing to engage 
 me in a correfpondence to which I am un- 
 equal. Adieu, my dear madam. This is a 
 
 villainous
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 villainous fliort letter, but I muft break it 
 off, 
 
 * Left Benedia fhould enter full of fear." 
 
 J. COURTENAY, 
 
 To the Rev. Mr. D 
 
 Bath, <)tb Qftober, 1772, 
 DEAR DOCTOR, 
 
 YOU are among thofe of my friends 
 whom I cannot fuffer to be unaddrefs'd by 
 this opportunity of Mr. I .'s return. 
 
 He will tell you my fuccefs, and you will 
 feel that pleafure from it, which a mind 
 and friendship like yours, cannot but feel, 
 from the applaufe and approbation con- 
 ferred on all you efleem and patronize. 
 I know, my dear fir, that I am very near 
 
 your
 
 ( 75 ) 
 
 your heart, and I thank you, I efteem you, 
 J love you for it. You diftinguifhed me 
 when none elfe would ; you encouraged me 
 when others bore hard upon me. Never, 
 never can I forget the kindnefs of your 
 conducT: towards me Something too much 
 of this. You muft excufe the fhortnefs of 
 this letter, I have many to write, and very 
 little time ; -Will you honour me with a 
 line ? I cannot fay that I will anfwer it, 
 but I will reply to it, -You will re- 
 member that my ftage name is Courtenay ; 
 to you, my dear fir, I will never iign any 
 other than the name you gave me. I 
 value it on that account, and therefore 
 fubfcribe myfelf, 
 
 SHANDY. 
 
 To
 
 76 
 
 To Mr. HENDERSON. 
 
 2$tb November, 1772. 
 DEAR SHANDY, 
 
 I cannot well defcribe the pleafure I 
 received from the news of your fuccefs, 
 without fome danger of expreffing myfelf 
 in terms which, by the invidious, might 
 perhaps be conftrued into flattery. This 
 is one reafon why I have not anfwered 
 your letter before, and not prefled for- 
 ward among the firft lift of your congra- 
 tulators. 
 
 Your letter, as it feems to have been die-, 
 tated by a generous teart, which accepted 
 the will for the deed, does you more ho- 
 nour than all your talents, brilliant as they 
 are, and would to heaven my power had 
 
 been
 
 ( .77 ) 
 
 been equal to my inclination, to render 
 you any efTential fer vices. All friends here 
 join in the general joy at the favourable 
 account of Mr. Courtenay's reception. 
 
 As you know my real opinion of your 
 genius and abilities, and that I never had 
 any doubt concerning your fuccefs, pro- 
 vided your voice would hold : out, it would 
 be ridiculous to take up your time in pay- 
 ing compliments to that merit which I 
 hope will foon be as confpicuous to the 
 world, as it long ago was to me. 
 
 I truft you will not think the mort ad- 
 vice which I am about to give, to be alto- 
 gether impertinent j although your prudence 
 and good fenfe may render it unneceflary. 
 
 Beware then, my dear friend, of the in- 
 toxication of applaufe, and remember that 
 
 great
 
 ( 78 ) 
 
 great application, perfeverance, caution, and 
 continual efforts to improve, are principal, 
 if not the only fteps which can fupport you 
 in your afcent to the fummit of a lafting 
 fame. 
 
 I hope you will avoid every fpecies of in- 
 temperance, particularly that of the tongue. 
 Do not defpife the old adage, however trite 
 it may be : viz. " Many a man hath facri- 
 ficed his friend for his joke." Be the player, 
 but be the player no where but upon the 
 flage. Out of the verge of the theatre, low 
 buffoonery from a comedian, I hold to be 
 errant proftitution. Why mould not he be 
 as much the gentleman as a perfon of any 
 other profeffion ? 
 
 I mean not to lay any reftraint> Shandy, 
 upon the genuine fallies of innocent humour 
 and wit, but upon that kind of pleaiantry 
 
 and
 
 ( 79 ) 
 
 and ridicule, the object of which is the de- 
 gradation of character : a vein of mirth 
 which fpecioufly pretends to exhilarate the 
 fpirits, whiljft it infidioufly wounds the 
 heart. 
 
 Are you not ready, by this time, to break 
 out, and to exclaim in the language of rage 
 and impatience, " Something too much of 
 this preaching, my dear Doctor you do not 
 consider that my ears are now open to no 
 founds but the thunders of an applauding 
 audience, and my eyes accuftomed to read 
 nothing with pleafure, or with patience, 
 but the billet doux of fome love-lick Ian- 
 guilhing nymph." 
 
 May you, my dear Shandy, in your 
 public performances, be always received 
 with the heart-chearing plaudits of the ju- 
 dicious,
 
 dicious, nor ever by your private conduct 
 i forfeit the efteem and approbation of the vir- 
 tuous and good. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 To the Rev. Mr, D 
 
 Bath, Dec. 25, 1772. 
 MY VERY DEAR DOCTOR, 
 
 IT is fo common a thing to fill letters 
 with excufes for their fhortnefs, and apolo- 
 gies for want of time, that I am almoft 
 afhamed of doing it, and yet the true reafon 
 I have not replied to your friendly letter, is, 
 the intenfe fatigue of my ftudies, together 
 with the vifits I am obliged to make ; for 
 I find it neceilary to be as attentive to my 
 reputation out of the theatre as in it ; and 
 
 don't
 
 don't think me vain, if I fay, that the more 
 my acquaintance is extended, the more my 
 reputation is encreafed Enquire of me, 
 Doctor, I am confident you can hear no- 
 thing of me which can difgrace your virtues 
 to be in friendmip with, or your genius to 
 have difHnguifhed. I am in intimacy with 
 a great many people of the firfl rank and 
 genius in Bath, and my connections are too 
 polite to admit of the low buffoonery you 
 caution me againft. I am now fituated to 
 my heart's wifh, I converfe with men of 
 letters, and am well received by them j I 
 am in high favour with the manager, for 
 which fee my letter to J. I, a few 
 days ago. 
 
 I have refumed my own name in a Pro- 
 logue, written for me by a gentleman of 
 great talents, and a painter, though not a 
 painter by profeffion. His genius is like 
 G the
 
 ( 82 ) 
 
 the Dryadcs and Hamadryadee, embofomed 
 in woods and fields. In plain Englifh, he 
 is, perhaps, the greateft landfcape painter 
 we have : 
 
 * By heaven, and not a majler taught." 
 
 I muft tell you fomething which I know 
 will pleafe you. I am perfectly altered in 
 my manners. I can now be gay and merry 
 without being very licentious. I am wil- 
 ling to owe this to your advice, becaufe you 
 are among the few from whom it is not very 
 painful to receive obligations. 
 
 I have been on the ftage three months, 
 and I have played ten different characters, 
 all of the firft importance ; this will mew 
 you how I pafs my time, and con- 
 vince you that it is not pomble for me to 
 have many leifure hours. Mr. Garrick has 
 
 done
 
 done me great fervices by writing of me to 
 feveral of his friends here. I intend to write 
 very foon to thank him for them I thank 
 Apollyon for his remembrance $ make mine 
 to him, and to all your family. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 J. HENDERSON* 
 
 G *
 
 To the Rev. Mr. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR, 
 
 I Wilh to reply to your laft friendly letter, 
 but I liave little or nothing to fay, and fcarce 
 any time to fay that little or nothing in. It 
 is needlefs to take up much time or paper, 
 in a/Turing you, that I have a very great, and 
 almoft filial affedlion for you ; for I might 
 fay that in three words, and tell you, I am 
 grateful. 
 
 
 
 I have played Lear with very great appro- 
 bation, which I know will pleafe you, and 
 I continue to be received with refped, and 
 
 even
 
 even friendfhip, almoft wherever I go. You 
 may be afTured I will forget none of your 
 excellent monitions to preferve this, and in- 
 deed I am fo far altered that I feldom jeft, 
 and ftill feldomer ridicule. I have every 
 reafon to be fatisfied with having come here, 
 for I could not have been more happy, I 
 think, any where, and I do not doubt 
 but that it will be for my future ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 The manager, I believe, efleems me, for 
 no man can be more diftinguimed than I am 
 by him. *********** 
 ************* 
 
 I am extremely obliged to you for your 
 
 offer as to the Clafficks, and I hope to mew 
 
 you in the fummer, that I wifh to improve 
 
 G 3 by
 
 ( 86 ) 
 
 by your inftrudions. You muft have pa- 
 .tience, if I fometimes diicover too much 
 mifcellaneous rambling. I will be as at- 
 tentive as I can. 
 
 I am, ,&c. 
 
 'J. HENDERSON. 
 
 In
 
 In the courfe of this feafon, the mana- 
 ger finding his new performer attracted 
 the attention of the public, introduced him 
 in near twenty different characters, to many 
 of which he muft have been very une- 
 qual. * 
 
 He however became popular, was fpoken 
 of by the title of the Bath Rofcius, in 
 high eftimation with the frequenters of 
 the Theatre, and diftinguifhed by the 
 friendfhip and protection of men, whofe 
 approbation will always confer honour and 
 G 4 create 
 
 * I have not a recollection of them all, but the princi- 
 pal were Hamlet, Richard the Third, Benedict, Macbeth, 
 Bobadil, which he attempted, and very fuccefsfully 
 performed, in the manner of Mr. Woodward j Bayes, 
 Don Felix, Earl of Eflex, Hotfpur Fribble Lear, 
 Haftings, Alonzo, and Alzuma 5 he fl jkcectted Gar- 
 rick's Od.
 
 ( 88 ) 
 
 create envy,* and in confequence of this 
 was moft unmercifully abufed in the Bath 
 papers both for what he did, and what he 
 
 did 
 
 * Lord Newnham, whofe tafte is not lefs diftinguifhed 
 than his rank. Mr. GainfLorough, whofe portraits 
 exhibit, not merely the map of. the countenance, but 
 the character, the foul of the original. His landfcapes, 
 But to name works which fafcinate and delight every 
 eye, is to praife. Mr. Philip Thickncfle, whofe partiality 
 is the more valuable, as it is neither lightly or indifcrimi- 
 nately beftowed. Of his warm regards, and friendly zeal, 
 Mr. Henderfon, as well as the writer of thefe anecdotes, 
 received many proofs. Mr. Taylor, very properly dif- 
 tinguifhed, as the painter " by heaven, and not a matter 
 11 taught j" and though laft mentioned, ever firft in 
 kind and attentive fervices, the author of the Weft In- 
 dian. 
 
 The
 
 ( 89 ) 
 
 did not do* How far their fatires gave 
 uneaiinefs to the object they were 'aimed 
 
 at, 
 
 * The following little Epigram was written, I be- 
 lieve, by a gentleman of Bath, who afterwards became 
 a partial friend to Henderfon, and who is a proof that 
 good fenfe and candour is open to conviction, for Jie ac- 
 knowledged that his fentence was too harfh. 
 
 EXTEMPORE, 
 
 On Mr. COURTENAY'S attempting to recite Mr, 
 Garrick's Jubilee Ode, on the gth of Dec. 1772, 
 
 When Courtenay fpouted Garrick's Ode, 
 How did the man miftake his road j 
 And' void of all the rules of art, 
 Diffracted rave- through every part, 
 Tearing his lungs, 'till out of breath, 
 Wild as the witches in Macbeth, 
 Whilft the old Bard who flood behind, . 
 Attentive on his arm reclin'd,
 
 at, will appear by an extraft from a let- 
 ter, dated 24th May 1773. 
 
 Affe&ed at the murther'd tale 
 Trembled, and as his ghoft look'd pale. 
 
 I thought the cloud-capt towers, and all 
 The gorgeous palaces would fall 
 With Shakefpeare off his pedeftal, 
 For the whole fabric tottering fhook 
 From its foundations when he fpokc ; 
 Garrick himfelf, had he been by 
 Had died but not in extacy. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. J 
 
 There is a writer here 
 
 " who has difcovered no talent, (but judg- 
 ment in his fignature) called the INVALID, 
 who has, I hear, abufed me and my Pro- 
 logue, * which has faved me a few mil- 
 lings, for I was about to hire fomebody to 
 
 fatirize 
 
 * A Prologue he fpoke 22d December, 1772, upon re- 
 fuming his own name, which follows : 
 
 (Written by JOHN TAYLOR, Efq. of the Circus.) 
 
 WHEN firft the advent'rous bard ftands forth to 
 
 view, 
 
 Thofe early fketches which with care he drew ; 
 When he, poor man, in lines uncouth and lame, 
 Juft ventures out a candidate for fame, 
 
 Trembling
 
 ( 92 ) 
 
 fatirize me into public converfation ; the 
 people here having agreed to applaud me 
 
 without 
 
 Trembling, he dreads a damned poet's fate, 
 The judges fhrug the carping critics hate. 
 Some partial friend, juft at this anxious hour, 
 With chearing gaiety's reviving power r 
 
 Laughs at his doubts " Nay, prithee don't recede, 
 
 Take courage man ! My word for't you'll fucceed j 
 Out with your works, and let the world decide 
 On their true merit while your name you hide." 
 This fancy ftrikes his weak diftra&ed brain, 
 He fmiles, and fimpering, fays, he'll write again. 
 
 Aye but have patience, Tom, his friend replies ; 
 
 The world the world, my lad, has piercing eyes; 
 Mankind firft try by them alone be chear'd, 
 Their praife be courted, or their cenfure fear'd. 
 
 The piece comes out by Tom, John, Dick, or 
 
 Harry, 
 
 No matter which perhaps it may mifcarry. 
 But no the learn'd approve and praife the ftyle, 
 The ladies read it e'en the critics finilc. 
 
 Straight
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 without much enquiry why or where- 
 fore. 
 
 Mr, 
 
 Straight to his friend he runs, to tell the news. 
 The world, dear fir, my work with pleafure views j 
 The firft edition, fir, Ijuftnowhear, 
 
 Is quite run off a fecond will appear, 
 
 And fince that met the applaufe I wifh'd to feel, 
 May I not now my real name reveal ? 
 
 Ye candid fair, while wav'ring here I ftand, 
 In fad fufpence O lend a helping hand ; 
 May I, protected by your foftering care, 
 When critics murmur, to your court repair; 
 I have, alas ! on this wide fea of fame, 
 Launch'd my poor bark, under a feigned name, 
 That if your frowns foretold a boifterous gale, 
 I might in time have lower'd my fhiv'ring fail i * 
 Have foon retreated from the ftormy main, 
 
 And hopelefs fhrunk into my port again. 
 
 May 
 
 * Shivering, a fea term when a fail is not wholly filled with the wind, 
 n -JT quite aback, as the feamen fay.
 
 ( 94 ) 
 
 Mr. Colman has done me fome fervice 
 of that fort, for which I always bow very 
 low to him, and he takes it for refpeft.* 
 
 The 
 
 May your kind favour ftill to me be {hewn ; 
 My merit pleads not -make the a& your own j 
 And fince you've deign'd to approve my weak eflays, 
 From princely Hamlet, down to puzzling Bayes, 
 I now, with trembling hand the mafk refign, 
 And hence appear before this beauteous flirine. 
 _____ Courtenay no more I 
 
 name fo flattering to my fame-fick heart, 
 
 1 bid farewell we now, though friends, muft part. 
 To thee thy borrower grateful tribute pays, 
 With thee, he hopes, not now to lofe your praife. 
 Shine ftill propitious ! Still your fmiles renew, 
 And Courtenay's pains in Henderfon review; 
 Perfect the work that's now but rudely form'd, 
 And fave the fruit, which in the bud you warm'd. 
 
 * Mr. Colman faid, when Henderfon performed 
 Shylock, his drefs was fo fhabby it feemed juft borrowed 
 
 from
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 The tide of partiality being high in" his 
 favour, he had in contemplation the pur- 
 chafe of a fourth {hare in the Briflol 
 Theatre. The money was provided, when 
 he declined embarking in the fcheme, for 
 reafons which appear in the following 
 letter. 
 
 To 
 
 from a pawn-broker, and gave him the idea of a black 
 Lear." 
 
 This cenfure falls with more weight upon the 
 ger of the wardrobe, than the performer, and bears 
 more refemblance to the cavil of a French taylor, than 
 the candid critique one would have exped-led from the 
 author of the Jealous Wife.
 
 To Mr. I . . 
 
 Sunday Night, Nov. i, 1772, 
 DEAR FRIEMD, 
 
 THIS is the information I have ga- 
 thered. The moft money that has been 
 paid for any {hare has been four hundred 
 pounds. There are four partners at 400!. 
 each, and one of them (the not acting ma- 
 nager) has forty pounds a feafon allowed 
 him for his intereft of the 400!. together 
 with the freedom of the Theatre for himfelf, 
 family, and friends. Three hundred pounds 
 a feafon is paid for the rent, and the fifty 
 proprietors are admitted gratis to all per- 
 formances vvhatfoever at the Theatre, which 
 is thought much overloaded. It was rather 
 a lofing fcheme to Powell and Holland. It 
 
 is
 
 ( 97 ) 
 
 is known that Mr. King loft above eighty 
 pounds the feafon he held it ; and the laft 
 feafon, 'tis faid, each partner loft between 
 one and two hundred pounds. 
 
 The whole property belonging to the 
 partners, of clothes, fcenes, &c. is fuppofed 
 to be worth under a thoufand pounds, and 
 there are only two years to come of the leafe. 
 There are three votes of the three acting ma- 
 nagers in the conduct of the theatre. 
 
 There is no patent, which fubjects the 
 managers to this inconvenience, that as their 
 performers are not engaged by forms of law, 
 they can quit them when they pleafe. 
 
 Thefe are the informations I have col- 
 lected. It really does not ftrike me as any 
 thing fo devoutly to be wifhed for. I can 
 never ceafe to love you, my dear friend, for 
 H the
 
 ( 98 ) 
 
 the extreme folicitude you exprefs on this 
 account. I really feel your zeal to ferve me, 
 will, from its precipitance, go too far. I 
 am myfelf utterly unqualified to manage 
 players, and I muft be at the difcretion of 
 *********** *^ 
 
 Do, pray Jack, weigh it well. I have 
 thefe informations from an authority you 
 could not doubt, if I were at liberty to 
 mention it I am perfuaded, that if I chufe 
 to play in the fummer at Briftol, I may 
 make almoft my own terms, and then I 
 have nothing to lofe. 
 
 It will be a great charge upon my mind, 
 and I have need of all the time, attention 
 and ftudy, I can have, to preferve the re- 
 putation I have got here. Another thing 
 is, I fhall want fome recefs from the fa- 
 tigues of the feafon, and my chief hope and 
 
 ambition
 
 ( 99 ) 
 
 ambition is, to pafs the fummer with you, 
 and my other friends. 
 
 There may be foon a time when your 
 kindnefs may find a more ferviceable exer- 
 cife, and I am affured from your extreme 
 goodnefs in this, that it will not lofe any 
 of its ardour. You will obferve, that four 
 hundred pounds is the moft that ever was 
 given for any mare, and he a/ks 400!, 
 
 I am of a patient, philofophical temper, 
 and can live as well upon the little pittance 
 I have as if it was larger, at leafl 'till my 
 acquaintance is fuch as will require an ad- 
 ditional expence in clothes, 
 
 In three words, I have not fet my heart 
 upon it ; on the contrary, if it is iecured 
 for me, I mall enter upon it with trepi- 
 dation and doubt. I know L grounds 
 
 H 2 his
 
 his opinion of its fuccefs, upon the favourable 
 reception I have met with here. But the 
 people of Briftol, I fuppofe, are like other 
 people, capricious, inconftant. 
 
 The theatre was fupported, it feems, by 
 them for one feafon, but after that it flagged 
 even when Powell was there. 
 
 Adieu, the bell rings. 
 
 J, COURTENAY. 
 
 When
 
 When the Bath theatre clofed, he re- 
 turned to London, and in his hours of un- 
 guarded pleafantry, frequently gratified him- 
 felf and friends by ludicrous imitations of 
 the different performers, particularly Mr. 
 Garrick, who being informed that Hender- 
 fon's voice was fuch an echo of the green- 
 room, invited him to a breakfafl, and re- 
 quefted a fpecimen of his art. The three 
 firft examples were Barry, Woodward, and . 
 Love, and happy would it have been for 
 Henderfon had he concluded there. Mr* 
 Garrick appeared in extacyat the imitation j 
 but, Sir, faid he, you'll kill poor Barry, 
 Hay Woodward, and break Love's heart ! 
 Your ear mufl be wonderfully correct, and 
 your voice moil lingularly flexible I am 
 told you have me. Do, my dear Sir, let 
 me hear what I am, for if you are equally 
 exact with me as with Barry and Woodward, 
 I mall know precifely what my peculiar tones 
 H 3 are
 
 are- Hender/on excufed himfelf, by faying, 
 that Mr. Garrick's powers were fuperior to 
 imitation, that he would not prefume to at- 
 tempt it, and begged leave to decline fo ha- 
 zardous an undertaking, in which he was 
 confcious any man mujl fail ; but the other 
 two gentlemen preffing him to comply, he, 
 " in evil hour confen ted," and gave imita- 
 tions from Benedict. The voice was fo 
 exacl: as to delight the two auditors- But for 
 Mr. Garrick j he fat in fullen filence for half 
 a minute, then walked acrofs the room with 
 an exclamation, " that egad, if, if, if that 
 was his voice, he had never known it him- 
 felf; for, upon his foul, it was entirely dif- 
 fimilar to every thing he conceived bis to be, 
 and totally unlike any found that had ever 
 flruck upon his ear until that moment." 
 So very unfair judges are we of whatever 
 touches our own vanity, and fo fore at what- 
 ever wounds our own pride. 
 
 The
 
 The great hero of the drama, the mart 
 upon whom, if we may believe Paul White- 
 head, the tafte and virtue of a polifhed nation 
 depended,* could not bear to contemplate 
 his own figure in the mirror which he often 
 held up, and where he was delighted to 
 view others. 
 
 Tremblingly alive* he fhuddered at the 
 fhadow of ridicule, and felt as much from 
 the apprehenfion of a paultry epigram by 
 an obfcure news-paper fcribbler, as Foote 
 would have done from a volume of fatire 
 again ft himfelf, with the name of Churchill 
 in the title page. 
 
 Who would wim to polTefs fuch excefs 
 
 of irritability ? He ferioufly complained Mr, 
 
 H 4 Henderfon 
 
 " A nation's tafte depends on you, 
 " Perhaps a nation's virtue too."
 
 Henderfon went about the town taking 
 him off, and that he ported him in every 
 company. 
 
 A confcioufnefs of his own well-earned 
 celebrity might have' furnifhed him with 
 fufficient armour againft fuch attacks, and 
 upon many other occalions he feemed to 
 poffefs this confcioufnefs in a very high 
 degree. 
 
 Previous to this time, Mr. Pingo, by 
 direction of Mr. Garrick, engraved a me- 
 dal, on one fide of which was the ma- 
 nager's head. On the reverfe three figures, 
 that refembled plague, peftilence, and fa- 
 mine, more than what they were intended 
 to reprefent, namely the three Graces, with 
 this modeft infcription, 
 
 " He has united all ycur powers." 
 
 This
 
 This being by a gentleman to whom Mr, 
 Garrick had prefented it, fhewn to Hender- 
 fon, when at my table with a number of 
 his friends, he repeated the following little 
 impromptu, which I think deferves the nai*e 
 of a good epigram* 
 
 Three fqualid hags, when Pingo form'a, 
 And chriften'd them the graces ; 
 
 Garrick, with Shakespeare's magic wann'd, 
 Recogniz'd foon their faces. 
 
 He knew them for the fitters weird, 
 
 Whofe art bedimm'd- the noon-tide hour, 
 
 And from his lips this line was heard, 
 " / have united all your power.'* ' 
 
 So Garrick, critics all agree, 
 
 The graces help'd thee to no riches, 
 
 And Pingo thus to flatter thee, 
 Has mvle his graces wi&es.
 
 C 
 
 . So long was this great man accuftomed 
 to adulation, it became at laft neceflary to 
 his dramatic exiftence, and fo eager was 
 he to intercept the marts that were aimed 
 againft him, that he held up to obferva- 
 tion what would, without his interpofition, 
 have fallen to the ground, and funk un- 
 marked into oblivion. This might have 
 been the fate of the imitations, but Mr. 
 Garrick gave fome confequence to them, 
 and the fpeaker, by his notice.* 
 
 Mr. Henderfon's friends had different 
 opinions refpecting the propriety of mak- 
 ing 
 
 * I think it was Boerhaave, who being afked, why 
 he did not write anfwers to fome pamphlets which were 
 written againft his medical fyftem, replied, he thought 
 of them as fparks upon the pages of his books, which he 
 only had the power of blowing into a flame, but let alone 
 they would go out of themfelves*
 
 ing Mr. Garrick his model. I have in- 
 ferted two letters, in which that circum- 
 ftance is mentioned, written by a gentleman 
 who honoured him with his friendship 
 and protection, the firfl feafon he played 
 at Bath. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. HENDERSON'. 
 
 Bath, 2jtb June, 1773. 
 
 DEAR HENDERSON, 
 
 I F you had not wrote to me as you did, 
 I mould have concluded you had been laid 
 down ; pray, my boy, take -care of yourlelf 
 this hot weather, and don't run about Lon- 
 don flreets, fancying you are catching 
 ftrokes of nature, at the hazard of your 
 
 conftitution It was my firfl fchool, 
 
 and deeply read in petticoats I am, there- 
 fore you may allow me to caution you. 
 
 Stick to Garrick as clofe as you can 
 for your Vife : you mould follow his heels 
 like his fhadow in funfhine.
 
 No one can be fo near him as yourfelf 
 when you pleafe, and I'm fure when he 
 fees it ftrongly as other people do, he 
 muft be fond of/uch an ape. You have 
 nothing to. do now but to ftick to the 
 few great ones of the earth, who feem 
 to have offered you their afiiftance in bring- 
 ing you to light, and to brufh off all the 
 low ones as fail as they light upon you. 
 You fee I hazard the appearing a puppy 
 in your eyes, by pretending to advife you, 
 from the real regard, and lincere defire I 
 have of feeing you a great and happy man. 
 Garrick is the greatefl creature living 
 in every refpeft, he is worth ftudying in 
 every action.- Every view and every idea 
 of him is worthy of being ftored up for 
 imitation, and I have ever found him a ge- 
 nerous and fincere friend. Look upon him, 
 Henderfon, with your imitative eyes, for 
 when, he drops you'll have nothing but 
 
 poor
 
 poor old nature's book to look in. You'll 
 be left to grope it out alone, fcratehing your 
 pate in the dark, or by a farthing candle. 
 Now is your time, my lively fellow 
 
 And do ye hear, don't eat fo devi- 
 
 you'll get too fat when you reft 
 froiTi playing, or get a fudden jogg by 
 
 Sllnefs' to bring you down again. * 
 
 ***** * 
 
 Adieu, my dear H, 
 
 believe me your's, &c, 
 
 T. G, 
 
 
 
 '
 
 To Mr. HENDERSON. 
 
 Bath, July 18, 1773. 
 
 DEAR HENDERSON, 
 
 J F one may judge b)*your laft fpirited 
 epiflle you are in good. ..keeping, no one 
 eats with a more grateful countenance, 
 or fwallows with more good nature than 
 yourfelf. 
 
 If this does not feem fenfe, do but re- 
 coiled how many hard featured fellows 
 there are in the world that frown in the 
 midft of enjoyment, chew with unthank- 
 fulnefs, and feem to fwallow with pain 
 inftead of pleafure ; now any one who 
 fees you eat pig and plumb fauce, imme- 
 diately feels that pleafure which a plump 
 
 moifel,
 
 mortel, fmoothly gliding through a narrow 
 glib pal&ge into the regions of blifs, and 
 moiftened with the dews of imagination, 
 naturally creates. 
 
 Some iron -faced dogs you know feem to 
 chew dry ingratitude, and fwallow dif- 
 content. Let fifth be kept to under parts, 
 and never trufted to fupport a character. 
 In all but eating flick to Garrick ; 
 In that let him ftick to you, for I'll be 
 curft if you are not his matter. Never 
 mind the fools who talk of imitation and 
 copying- All is imitation, and if you quit 
 that natural likenefs to Garrick which your 
 mother beftowed upon you, you'll be flung 
 Afk Garrick elfe. 
 
 Why, fir, what makes the difference be- 
 tween man and man, is real performance, 
 
 and
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
 and not genius or conception. There are 
 a thoufand Garrick's, a thoufand Giardini's, 
 and Fifher's, and Abels. Why only one 
 Garrick, with Garrick's eyes, voice, &c. 
 &c. &c? One Giardini with Giardini's 
 fingers, &c. &c. But one Fifher with 
 Fifher's dexterity, quicknefs, &c ? Or 
 more than one Abel with Abel's feeling 
 upon the inftrument ? All the reft of 
 the world are mere hearers and feeers. 
 
 Now, as I faid in my laft, as nature 
 feems to have intended the fame thing 
 in you as in Garrick, no matter how fhort 
 or how long, her kind intention muft not 
 
 be crofled. If it is, me will tip the 
 
 wink to madam fortune, and you'll be 
 kicked down flairs. 
 
 Think on that Mafter Ford." 
 
 God blefs you, 
 I T. G.
 
 Mr. Garrick, however, as well as the 
 other managers, frequently heard him re- 
 hearfe both at his own houfe and upon 
 the ftage, treated him with polite atten- 
 tion, and acted with apparent kindnefs 
 and good nature. 
 
 At one of thefe rehearfals was prefent 
 Mr. George Garrick, who, being afked if 
 he would flay and hear Mr. Henderfon, 
 faid he would do himfelf that pleafure, 
 merely as a fpeffator. But he found a 
 very fpeedy occafion of objection, and faid 
 that in one inftance it appeared to him 
 the fpeaker miftook the character. Egad, 
 my dear Brother, faid Mr. Garrick, you 
 moft egregioufly miflake your own cha- 
 racter j you told us jufl now you would re- 
 main a Spectator, you forget what you 
 are, and turn T^atkr-y but never mind, 
 
 George,
 
 ( "5 ) 
 
 George, Mr. Henderfon, whatever he is, 
 depend upon me being the Guardian. 
 
 Some of the other managers deigned 
 to think him well enough for Bath, but 
 totally unfit for the boards of a London 
 Theatre, and one of the players obferved, 
 that, " Though he appeared a meteor in 
 the Bath horizon, he would be but a 
 farthing candle in the London hemifphere." 
 The gentleman's meaning I am not bound 
 to explain, for it is not neceflary for the 
 collector of a few fcattered anecdotes to be 
 a philofopher, but I dare fay many of his 
 friends recoiled; the remark, for it was 
 made in the green-room. 
 
 Flattered by fuch encomiums, and gra- 
 tified by fuch testimonies of approbation 
 from his brethren of the bufkin, on the 
 I 2, 24th
 
 ( "6 ) 
 
 24th of September 1774, Mr. John Hen- 
 derfon returned to Bath, to gather his fe- 
 cond crop of Somerfetfhire laurels. 
 
 During this feafon he encreafed his con- 
 nections, ftrengthened his reputation, and 
 to the characters he had already per- 
 formed, added thofe of Zanga, Pierre, 
 Don John, Sir John Brute, Bellville in 
 the School for Wives, Henry the Second, 
 Beverly in the Man of Bufinefs, Archer, 
 Ranger, Comus, and Othella. 
 
 In the part of Othello I never faw him, 
 but, by his own account, it was not fuc- 
 cefsful -, and mall we wonder at his failure 
 in that which eluded the grafp of Mr. 
 Garrick. It was too mighty for him. 
 
 To Barry, the wonder working-Barry, 
 and to him only, feemed to be given the 
 
 full
 
 full powers for exhibiting the markings of 
 this mofl difficult part. 
 
 a But Barry's magic cannot copied be." 
 
 Amongft the multitudes of candidates 
 who have chofen to make their firfl ap- 
 pearance in this character, attracted, I be- 
 lieve, by its having, like Richard the Third, 
 a fonorous found, and giving them a 
 power of mafking their terrors under a 
 black face, how few have tolerably fuc- 
 ceeded. 
 
 The Moor, is conceived with all the tre- 
 mendous dignity of Shakefpeare, and de- 
 mands a portion of that- fire which il- 
 lumined the mighty matter of the cframa, 
 to give him body and colouring to an 
 audience. 
 
 I 3 Mr.
 
 ( "8 ) 
 
 Mr. Henderfon informed me, that on 
 his firft appearance in Othello, the mana- 
 ger had habited him in fo ridiculous a 
 garb, that he wanted nothing but the 
 brufh and fcraper, to give a compleat re- 
 femblance of a chimney fweeper on 
 May-day, and that he was certain it ex- 
 ceeded all power of face, to avoid fmil- 
 ing at leaft at fo ludicrous a figure. 
 
 This difconcerted him fo much, as to 
 check his effufions, of which circum- 
 ftance, he never fo totally loft the recol- 
 lection, as to appear in this character with- 
 out fome embarrafment. 
 
 That his want of fuccefs was not owing 
 to his want of application, will appear 
 by the following letter to the Bath ma- 
 nager;
 
 ( "9 ) 
 
 nager ; which mould induce us to make 
 every allowance for the errors of the 
 performer in a new character, which he 
 is frequently obliged to perfonate, with- 
 out time for the proper and necelTary 
 conlideration, 
 
 I 4 To
 
 To Mr. PALMER, at Bath.] 
 
 London, Auguft /$, 1773- 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I Have received Othello and your letters, 
 to which I do not tell you that I will pay 
 attention, but that I am attending to both. 
 But it will be utterly impoffible that I mould 
 come down prepared for acting thofe parts 
 you mention immediately. I never did, nor 
 ever fliall repine, at the quantity, or the 
 variety of buiinefs you employ me in, but 
 furely it muft be for your intereft as well as 
 my credit, to have me fludied in the parts 
 I am to appear in, and not to let me go on 
 the flage in the hafty, crude, and unpre- 
 pared manner I have done. Mr. Garrick 
 fays, " he has heard that I fwallowed my 
 
 parts
 
 parts like an eager glutton, and fpewed my 
 undigefted fragments in the face of the au- 
 dience." The figure is naufeous, but not 
 more naufeous than juft. 
 
 You may be afTured, my dear Sir, that 
 I have no powers, or faculties of any fort, 
 which I would not exert in your fervice. I 
 may be deficient, but indolent I will never 
 be. I muft obferve to you, that a thoufand 
 incorredtnefles, haftmefies, and errors, which 
 the people excufed in my firft appearance, 
 will not be fo indulgently confidered the 
 fecond feafon, and for that reafon I hope 
 you will not expert I mould run through 
 fuch a hafty fucceffion of characters -, and I 
 hope too that you will confider this obfer- 
 vation not as an idle apology for lazinefs, 
 but a ferious appeal to your judgment and 
 your friendlhip. It is ten to one. but you laugh 
 at this, but let me afTure you, upon the 
 
 credit
 
 credit of experience, that to keep ten or 
 fifteen characters, of great magnitude, im- 
 portance and variety, difHnft and ftrong 
 upon the mind and memory, is no trifling 
 bufmefs. To learn words, indeed, is no 
 great labour, and to pour them out no very 
 difficult matter. It is done on our ftage 
 almoft every night ; but with what fuccefs, 
 I leave you to judge. The generality of 
 performers think it enough to learn the 
 words, and thence all that vile uniformity 
 and unvaried manner which dilgraces the 
 theatre. 
 
 I faw Mr. Garrick yefterday, and he has 
 promifed to go over fome fcenes with me 
 on Monday next. 
 
 As for Othello, I tremble at it : 'tis a 
 mighty and an arduous tafk -, but I begin 
 to take great pleafure in it, and will bend it 
 
 to
 
 ( '23 ) 
 
 to my powers, if I cannot raife them to it. 
 But for God's fake, my dear friend, let me 
 have time to weigh it well. Mr. Garrick 
 allures me, he was upwards of two months 
 rehearfmg Benedict, before he could fatisfy 
 himfelf that he had modelled his action and 
 recital to his own idea of the part. 
 
 You will hurt me very much, if you think 
 I have any vain or idle motives for what I 
 fay. I do really feel that one itrong and 
 powerful idea in the mind for a while over- 
 whelms and extrudes all others, and he who 
 hopes to fucceed in Othello, or any part of 
 fuch dignity and moment, muft give all his 
 powers of thought and fancy to that, and 
 that alone, till it is imprefTed upon the me- 
 mory ftrong enough to remain unfhaken by 
 the ftreams of lighter images which pafs it. 
 You will laugh, as we both did, at fome- 
 body elfe, if I intimate, it is for the honour 
 
 of
 
 of your theatre that I wifli to tread it with 
 the marks of thinking, and attention, and 
 ftudy on me, and therefore I am content to 
 folicit, as an indulgence to myfelf, that I 
 may be allowed time to deliberate on my 
 future characters. This I will venture to 
 fay, you will not repent agreeing to my re- 
 queft, for in the mind I am now in, I fee 
 fo clearly the value of the reputation I 
 hazard, that nothing can or mall divert me 
 from the moil fedulous application. As I 
 write to the friend as well as the manager, 
 I will add, that my induftry mall have your 
 advantage for part of its motive. I very 
 fincerely hope Mrs. Palmer will recover her 
 health, and you your happinefs. I have a 
 moft perfect value and affedtion for you both, 
 which, whether you either of you believe or 
 not, I will ever preferve, and fo God blefs 
 you. 
 
 Gainfborough
 
 Gainfborough is a varlet, he promifed me 
 a miniature from the pidture of mine, but 
 wits and genius', if they get nothing elfe 
 
 from the court, learn their d d tricks of 
 
 promifing and forgetting. ****** 
 **************** 
 
 You are miftaken in me. I fence almoft 
 every day, and fludy much, and eat little- 
 I mean compared to your character of me. 
 I think you had better write to Mr. Garrick 
 about that lady. I have not feen Mrs. Gre- 
 ville, but have heard great things of her at 
 Mr. G s (the author), and frem feveral 
 others. I intend to go to Richmond this 
 week. 
 
 J. H. 
 
 At
 
 ( 126 ) 
 
 At the expiration of this fecond Bath 
 feafon, with united teflimonies of appro- 
 bation from many who were deemed good 
 judges of theatric merit, he returned to 
 London, where he pafled the few months 
 of his recefs. During this period, he fre- 
 quently rehearfed, and read to Mr. Garrick, 
 Mr. Foote*, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Leake, 
 
 but 
 
 * At fome of thefe rehearfals I was prefent, but Mr. 
 Thomas Davies has given a description of one of them, 
 in which he exhibits fo true a picture of that moft eccen- 
 tric character, the late Sam Footc, that I hope I fhall 
 be pardoned for inferting it. 
 
 - 
 
 " Before Henderfon left London, he was advifed to 
 try if Mr. Fpote would not give him an opportunity of 
 fhewing himfelf at his theatre in the Haymarket. Two 
 friends accompanied him to North End. Our modern 
 Ariftophanes welcomed the vifitants with great civility j 
 but fuch is the volatility of his genius, that it was not 
 ,poflible to announce the errand immediately : he muft be 
 
 permitted
 
 ( '27 ) 
 
 but his fate was to find all of them, 
 " Damn with faint praife." 
 
 It 
 
 
 permitted to indulge his peculiar humour, and to let off 
 a few voluntaries, before he could be induced to hear of 
 any bufmefs whatfoever. Foote's imagination is fo 
 lively, and his conceptions fo rapid, as well as exuberant, 
 that his converfation is a cataract, or torrent of wit, hu- 
 mour, pleafantry, and fatire. The company had fcarce 
 unfolded their bufinefs, when he gave them the hiftory 
 of Sir Gregory Grinwell and Lady Barbary Bramble. 
 The whimfical fltuations into which he put his characters 
 with his lively and farcaftic remarks, threw the com- 
 pany into convulfions of laughter. 
 
 " However, Henderfon's friends thought it was now 
 time to ftop the current of Mr. ^Foote's vivacities, by 
 informing him of the reafon of their vifit. One of 
 them took the lead : 
 
 " Sir, our young friend, the Bath Rofcius, would 
 think himfelf extremely happy to have the opinion of fo 
 acknowledged a judge of theatrical merit as you are ; 
 
 he
 
 It was, however, the earneft wifh of his 
 friends, that he fhould appear upon the 
 
 London 
 
 he wifhes you would permit him to rehearfe a fcene of 
 a play." 
 
 " Well, Sir, what are you for, the fock or the 
 bufkin ? I'll be hanged if you are not quite enamoured 
 of that bouncing brimftone Tragedy." Mr. Henderfon 
 is not confined, Sir, to either. " Stick to the fock, 
 young gentleman ; the one is all nature, and the other 
 all art and trick. Tragedy is mere theatrical bombaft, 
 the very fungus of the theatre. Come, Sir, give us a 
 tafte of your quality." Here Henderfon began a fpeech 
 in Hamlet ; when Foete, turning round to one of the 
 company, faid, " Have you not heard in what manner 
 this impudent little fcoundrel has treated me ?" " I 
 proteft, Sir, I don't know whom you mean." " No, 
 where have you left your apprehenfion ? Let me but tell 
 you what a damned trick he ferved me lately, by lending 
 me a large fum of money." " Confider, my dear Sir, 
 the time grows late, and we are to dine in town." 
 " No, no," faid Foote, " you {hall dine with me upon 
 
 a {tewed
 
 ( I2 9 ) 
 
 London ftage, and try if the public would 
 be more indulgent than the directors of their 
 
 amufements 5 
 
 a frewed rump of beef, and a diih of fifh." Now Mr. 
 Henderfon begins. Well, once more he endeavoured 
 to open, when behold, an unlucky joke, a petite hiftoire^ 
 fome droll thought, or Come unaccountable idea, pre- 
 vented the difconcerted actor from difplaying his powers 
 of elocution : his cafe was now become extremely 
 pitiable. 
 
 However, after hearing this fingular genius read an 
 a& of his new comedy, take off Lady Betty Biggamy, 
 recite the whole trial of himfelf and George Faulkener, 
 ridicule the Irifti Lord Chief Juftice Robinfon, for con- 
 demning his Peter Paragraph for a libel, fpeak a Pro- 
 logue in the character of Peter, laugh at our moft cele- 
 brated orators of the bar, mimic the members of both 
 Houfes of Parliament, tell fome ludicrous {lories of Cap- 
 tain Bodens and the Irifli chairman, Henderfon was 
 permitted to repeat, without interruption, Mr. Garrick's 
 Prologue, which he fpoke on his firft appearance, after 
 his arrival from the Continent. This being no cari- 
 K cature,
 
 ( 130 ) 
 
 amufements ; but this flep he himfelf was 
 not very earneft to take, unlefs he could be 
 received upon terms, which it was not very 
 eafy to procure. By terms, I do not mean 
 falary ; that was not the principal objeft, 
 
 but 
 
 cature, but a genuine and fair reprefentation of the greai 
 Rofcius's manner, without the leaft exaggeration, we 
 cannot be furprifed that it did not make any impreffion 
 upon Mr. Foote j however, he paid the fpeaker a com- 
 pliment upon the goodnefs of his ear. Dinner was now 
 announced ; every thing was princely, and in fplendid 
 order. Wit flew about the table : I mean Mr. Foote's ; 
 for I would advife every man that has any wit of his 
 own, who {hall have the honour to dine with this gen- 
 tleman, to bottle it up for another occaflon j for he is 
 himfelf matter of enough, and to fpare, for ten com- 
 panies. I need not obferve that many portraits were 
 drawn, and fome of them in a mafterly ftile. 
 
 When Hendeifon took his leave of him, he whifpered 
 one of the company in the ear, " that he would not do." 
 Mr. Foote confirmed the death-warrant that had been 
 already figned by Garrick, Caiman^ Harris, and Lfake.
 
 ( J3' ) 
 
 but exemption from being forced upon cha- 
 racters for which he was unqualified, in 
 which his confequent failure would have 
 blighted his budding honours, and funk 
 him into the obfcurity he fb much dreaded. 
 Somewhat chagrined at the reception which 
 had been given him by the monarchs of the 
 theatre, in September, 1774, he returned 
 to Bath. 
 
 That his mortification had not wholly 
 fubdued his pleafantry, appears from the 
 following letter, which he wrote a few days 
 previous to his leaving London, to a friend 
 who was then at Margate. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. I 
 
 London, Sept. 21, 1774. 
 
 A S there is an exprefs coming to thee, I 
 mall write, otherwife it would not have been 
 worth thy while to have paid a groat for what 
 thou haft fo often paid for before, and that 
 is my love. I hope thou art become an 
 inhabitant of the deep waters by this time, 
 and wilt give me an account of the vege- 
 tation of coral, and the venereal amufements 
 of marks and lampreys ; fay nothing to 
 the women, but tell me privately, whether 
 the porpoife hath that amorous alacrity which 
 the fat ones of the earth fo much wonder 
 at, and whether there be any fuch thing as 
 conjugal fidelity among the herrings and the 
 lobfters of the ocean. As for the reft, 
 thanks for the draft, which I mall not ufe, 
 
 becaufe
 
 ( '33 ) 
 
 becaufe forefeeing that the waves would cling 
 longer about your waift than you at firfb 
 imagined, I applied to your friend H. 
 
 Adieu, 
 J. HENDERSON. 
 
 P. S. I fet out from your houfe for Bath 
 on Sunday morning. My week's bufinefs 
 is as follows : Monday, Hamlet ; Tuef- 
 day, Benedict 5 Wednefday, Belville. 
 
 K 3 His
 
 .'V'34 ) 
 
 His reception at Bath was in the highefl: 
 degree gratifying. Men, to whofe decifions 
 the world paid implicit obedience, diftin- 
 guifhed his talents, invited him to their 
 tables, and admitted him as the companion 
 of their feftive hours, where his eafy hu- 
 mour and lively pleafantiy enfured him a 
 moft welcome reception. But this plea- 
 fantry was not fufficiently guarded. In the 
 hours of merriment and laughter, he was 
 often afked for imitations, and Mr. Garrick 
 being the Magnus Apollo of the drama, 
 whofe actions were obvious to all, and of 
 whofe manners no one was ignorant, Mr, 
 Henderfon was frequently requefted to ex- 
 hibit him. The inconveniences he had 
 formerly felt had not taught him caution ; 
 he continued the fame practice, and with 
 more accuracy than prudence, gave the little 
 ftories of the day, and entered fo forcibly 
 into the manner of that great man, that 
 
 every
 
 ( 135 ) 
 
 every hearer was ftruck with the refem- 
 blance. This was a freedom Mr. Garrick 
 could not forgive. For a young theatrical 
 adventurer, upon a country ftage, and confe- 
 quently dependant upon him for an intro- 
 duction to Drury-lane, to make his pecu- 
 liarities the object of imitation,- was a fin 
 never to be forgiven, and perhaps one fource 
 of the difficulties he found, in his attempts 
 at an introduction to a London theatre. 
 
 At Bath he, however, encreafed his dra- 
 matic reputation, and performed in either 
 play or farce, four or five times a week. 
 He added to his lift of characters, amongft 
 many others, thofe of Ford, Pofthumus, 
 Shylock, Lorenzo in the Spanifh Friar ? 
 Sciolto, and Morcar in Matilda, 
 
 Many of his friends thought he was 
 
 wafting that time at Bath which might be 
 
 K 4 employed
 
 ( '36 ) 
 
 employed with more advantage to his puric, 
 and without hazard to his reputation, in 
 London ; but he himfelf reafoned fomewhat 
 differently, and, in this inftance, evinced, 
 that a cautious prudence, a quick eye to 
 what confUtuted his own interefl, and a per- 
 fevering judgment to purfue it, were ftrong 
 traits in his character. 
 
 The newfpapers of the day gave a very 
 ferious recital of this bufmefs, with all the 
 dignity of htftory, and all the air of au- 
 thority ; but as thefe grave writers were not 
 perfectly matters of data on which to ground 
 their arguments, they have cenfured him 
 for errors of which he was not guilty, 
 and defended motives by which he was not 
 actuated. 
 
 His
 
 ( '37 ) 
 
 His own reafonings may, I fhould ap- 
 prehend, heft appear from his own letters, 
 written to different friends, with whom he 
 then lived in habits of the moft unreierved 
 confidence. 
 
 Te
 
 To Mr. I , 
 
 Eat h t Ottober i\tb, 1772* 
 
 MY MOST DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 DON'T think me carelefs of your 
 advice, or of my own affairs, becaufe I 
 did not write to you by return of the 
 poft. The importance of the matter, 
 made flill more important by your inter- 
 ference, refolved me to think moft deliber- 
 ately and attentively on it, before I formed 
 my conclufions. I have now, I think, 
 confidered it amply, and compared the 
 advantages with the hazards you will be 
 convinced, that no money interejls have 
 influence on my decifions, when I tell you, 
 that I have refolved . to ftay here fome time 
 longer. " What has then ?" you will afk. 
 
 Reputation.
 
 ( 139 ) 
 
 Reputation.- "Reputation, fay you, my 
 good friend, why that will be loft in Bath, 
 and London will eftablifh it." I think not 
 fo, and I will tell you why. Nothwith- 
 fknding I have played forty parts here, there 
 are not more than five or fix which I dare 
 offer to -a London audience, on account 
 of the fame I have acquired. So fmall a 
 number will not carry me through a 
 feafon, and if they would, I could not have 
 them to myfelf, becaufe I mould not be 
 allowed to keep even thofe parts, as it is 
 a rule in London, not to difpoffefs any 
 performer of thofe characters which he is 
 thought in any degree to deferve to fup- 
 port. I muft then be forced upon others 
 in which I have no merit, or none that 
 will fupport the name I have got, and you 
 would have the mortification to fee your 
 friend finking into infignificance, and liv- 
 ing a kind of rent- charge upon the The- 
 atre.
 
 atre. No advantage of benefit whatever 
 would compenfiite that* The reafons I 
 give for flaying here, are, I think, power- 
 ful ones. I am not ripe enough for 
 London, and what a fool of a gardener 
 would he be who mould fend a bafket of 
 green peaches to market, when, if he had 
 flayed a little while longer, he might have 
 fent them ripened and rich flavoured. " A 
 foolifh figure, but farewell it, for I will 
 
 ufe no art" You Jack, and myfelf, 
 
 and all my friends, have miflaken my ta- 
 lents we ufed to think that their live- 
 linefs and vigour would force them into 
 reputation, but I find now that they re- 
 quire the moft fedulous correction In fhort, 
 I mufl fludy, and I will make this place 
 my college, 'till I have brought my ta- 
 lents to be much more like perfection than 
 they are at prefent, that you and the reft 
 
 of
 
 of my friends need not blufh at the en- 
 comiums you have either filently, or openly, 
 beflowed upon me. If you was to fee 
 me play Hamlet now, you would fcarce 
 know it to be the fame perfon you law 
 before, and thofe who do fee it now, will, 
 I hope, foon be convinced that they mall 
 fee it ftill better. It is a real truth, that 
 I feel my mind enlarges, and my powers 
 invigorate very fenfibly you'll fay, would 
 they not do the fame in London ? -I 
 anfwer, no. The continual practice I am 
 in here is of great advantage to me I once 
 thought it an hardfhip to be forced upon 
 fo many characters, I think fo now no 
 longer, being convinced that almoft every 
 part I play, however unfuited to my na- 
 ture, and however ill I may appear in it, 
 does me good ; in London it would do 
 me harm ; for this reafon : there are com- 
 puted
 
 puted to be thirty different audiences in 
 London, here there are but two at the 
 utmofl, and thofe of {hem who fee me 
 to a disadvantage one night, fee me to ad- 
 vantage the next. I appeal to the world 
 whether I am lofmg myfelf here. 
 
 As to falary, that will be raifed, and 
 Palmer has told me, that a bank-note of 
 fifty pounds is ready for me, when I 
 pleafe, for my fervices laft year. I will 
 foon convince you, my kindeft friend, that 
 I want no money It is true that I have 
 not any, but confider, I am a ftudent 
 when I have gone through my claiTes, 
 and can give a good tranflation of Shake- 
 fpeare to the world I will publim it, 
 and I will prefent you with a copy, 
 bound and gilt, if not lettered, in as 
 good a calves-lkin as I can procure. 
 
 Adieu,
 
 ( H3 ) 
 
 Adieu I will reply to the other 
 parts of your letter when I have more 
 leifure. 
 
 J. HENDERSON.
 
 ( 144 ) 
 
 To Mrs. I 
 
 Bath, lid December t 1774. 
 
 JAM fure by your letter that it was 
 written in the very fpirit of friendfhip, 
 and I have not been more gratified a 
 great while than in reading it. I thank 
 you mofl earneftly for your concern and at- 
 tention to my interefls : to mew you what 
 confidence I have in your fincerity and fe- 
 crefy, (though the fooliih world will not 
 allow that virtue to your fex) I will explain 
 to you more private and perfonal reafons for 
 my not being eager to come to London, 
 
 than I have written to E , or to my 
 
 deareft J ? They are not for the world 
 to know, and E and Jack may mew 
 
 my
 
 ( H5 ) 
 
 toy letters to them> to all the world, by my 
 choice-. 
 
 You are to know then that I think 
 Mr. Garrick has acted very illiberally and 
 
 iingentlemanfy in my regard. 1 will tell 
 
 you bow. Mr. C d fent to me the 
 other morning, after my playing Benedict, 
 to compliment and applaud me. He 
 told me that he was aftonifhed at my 
 performance> that Mr. Garrick had pre- 
 pared him for a very different opinion. 
 Mr. C "d then mewed me a letter 
 
 from him, wherein he fays, " See Hen- 
 derfon more than once, and give me your 
 
 real opinion of him." Mr. C d 
 
 did fo, and that opinion was the mofl 
 kind and favourable that could be imagined. 
 
 Yet Mr. G took no manner of 
 
 notice of it, though he conftaritly Wrote 
 
 to Mr. C d. Mr. Garrick then 
 
 L tampers
 
 ( '46 ) 
 
 tampers with E , whom you know 
 
 the honour of being thought of Mr. Gar- 
 rick's counfel would incline to any thing, 
 He immediately tells Jack and my friends 
 what a favourable opportunity there is for 
 me, and they, eager to ferve me, think 
 I mould jump at it. Mr. Garrick, then, 
 to ufe a fcripture phrafe, " Ploughs ivifb 
 
 my heifer" Now the fcheme appears to 
 
 me thus in Mr. G -^s plan. ~ Let 
 
 Henderfon be tempted by his friends, and 
 by his own ambition, to come to London, 
 he will then apply to me, and I can make 
 my own conditions, he will then be con- 
 fidered as one whom I patronize, and pro- 
 tect; whereas if I apply to him, he will 
 make conditions with me, and from my 
 acknowledging the want of him, I can- 
 not have him at iny beck* 
 
 f 
 
 Idid
 
 ( H7 ) 
 
 I did not however fwallow the bait fo 
 greedily as was imagined ; and the con- 
 fequence is that Mr. George Garrick has 
 applied to me, but for the reafons I have 
 written my dear I , I declined his 
 
 offer. When I talk of conditions, I defire 
 to be underftood, my friend, that I do not 
 mean pecuniary ones, if they had been 
 my objecl: I mould not flay here. To give 
 you flill farther proof that they are not, 
 
 Mr. C d told me the other night, 
 
 that he was afhamed of the part Mr. 
 Garrick had acled in this affair, and that 
 he would undertake to get me whatever 
 terms I pleafed at Co vent- Garden, which, 
 he added, was the houfe I muft think of 
 
 whenever I came to London. * * * 
 
 * * * *********** 
 *********** * *^ j_j e 
 
 wiflies too, he fays, that I would not 
 
 make my engagement for fo long as three 
 
 L 2 years,
 
 years, but I ought not to regard that, 
 becaufe if I make myfelf of real Importance, 
 the forfeiture of my articles will be no 
 impediment to my leaving Bath, and if 
 I do not make myfelf of real importance, 
 neither you nor any real friend will wifh 
 to fee me there. 
 
 As to porting Mr. Garrick, I have 
 explained the whole affair to George Gar- 
 rick, who was fatisfied, and Palmer wrote 
 to Mr. G. to take the whole fault upon 
 himfelf, if there was any fault. So that 
 Mr. Garrick cannot be difpleafed with 
 me< ******* * * *^ 
 
 1 hope a little time will convince 
 
 you that I am right. 
 
 Mr. O -d behaves to me with 
 
 remarkable complaifance and refpect, and 
 laft night, after my playing Shylock, he 
 
 came
 
 came to me, and faid that he was forry 
 he could not flay here long enough to in- 
 terefl himfelf at my benefit, that he mould 
 regret leaving Bath without giving fome 
 inflance of the refpeft he had for my ge 
 nius, and return for the pleafure it had 
 given him, he therefore offered me a new 
 Tragedy for my benefit, if I thought it 
 would advantage me. 
 
 Since this is a letter of private fenti- 
 ments, you mufl allow me to indulge a 
 little vanity, and pleafe myfelf with telling 
 
 you, that Lord N -m, a nobleman who 
 
 commands the tafte of a numerous party of 
 literati, and of wits, &c, came behind the 
 fcenes to fne lafl night, with two other 
 gentlemen, to thank me for my Shylock, 
 and his lordfhip was pleafed to fay, it was 
 the moil finifhed piece of adling he ever 
 faw, and that it far exceeded Macklin's. 
 L 3 In
 
 ( '50 ) 
 
 In one word if I thought I mould 
 
 never be a better adtor than I am, I would 
 not heiitate to be in London, but I will 
 endeavour to make myfelf refpectable and 
 important before I come. 
 
 I hope, my very dear friend, that you fee 
 my condudl and my reaibning in a right 
 point of view, and I flatter myfelf there 
 is fome refolution and firmnefs in my 
 mind, fince I can refift fo alluring a temp- 
 tation, and 
 
 a Stick to poverty with peace of mind" 
 
 Declamations, are often and reafonably 
 fufpecfted of having no other motive than 
 the glitter of period, or the loftinefs of 
 language, but I aft> as well as argue. 
 
 God
 
 God blefs you, my good .girl, I have 
 written to an immeafureable length, but 
 J would have you pofTefTed of my rea- 
 fons for the feeming negligence of my 
 conduct in this affair. 
 
 'J. HENDERSON. 
 
 L 4 To
 
 To Mr. I >. 
 
 Bath, Dec. 26, 1774. 
 
 SOMEHOW or other, my dear Jack, 
 
 neither you nor Mrs. I fee this affair 
 
 right. In the firft place, Garrick did not 
 
 delire E- s to bid me make my own pro- 
 
 pofal, or if he did, E s did not explain 
 
 that to me. Thefe are his words " I faw 
 Mr. Garrick this afternoon ; we talked of 
 you. He aiked me, if you wifhed to play 
 the enfuing winter at Drury-lane, and if fo, 
 why you did not write to him - } that if you 
 two could agree, " he was ready to engage 
 your 
 
 In the next place, ye are wrong in fup- 
 pofing that Mr. George Garrick called on 
 me 5 he did not. I met him in the ftreet, 
 
 and
 
 ( '53 ) 
 
 and that morning a paragraph had appeared 
 in the Bath papers concerning my having 
 refolved to renew my engagements here. 
 Mr. George Gar rick's words to me, after 
 the firfl falutations, were, as nearly as I can 
 recoiled : " I had a letter from my brother, 
 deliring me to call upon you, and hear if 
 you had any thing to propofe for the next 
 winter, but as I fee by the papers you have 
 engaged again here, // is very well" I re- 
 plied, that I had not iigned articles, but 
 that I had almoft promifed Mr. Palmer to 
 flay with him, becaufe I thought this a very 
 proper fchool for me I then explained to 
 him the nature of the miftake about pofting 
 his brother, and we parted. 
 
 I wonder you can think / bear myfelf 
 too high, when I confent to flay here a 
 poor provincial, when I might be at a 
 
 theatre
 
 ( '54 ) 
 
 theatre in London. I can quote as well 
 as you : 
 
 Thou kvep'Jt me from the light" 
 
 Again, 
 
 '* r 'm Jharing fpoil before the field is wsn ; 
 
 " Clarence foil breathes^ Edward foil lives and reign^ 
 
 " When they are gone, then muft / count my gains." 
 
 I have this morning had conversation with 
 Mr. Cumberland ; he advifes me to engage 
 here, but only to engage from year to year 
 he promifes to procure me an engagement at 
 either theatre, equal to that of Smith, or 
 RfdJiJb, or Lee. The only dread I have, 
 is, that of being put upon inferior charac- 
 ters 'till Garrick leaves the ftage, I muft 
 at his theatre. There is more in the pol- 
 feffion of characters than you feem to think. 
 
 Mr. G. Garrick himfelf told Mr. C d, 
 
 that I mould have two trial farts, but they 
 
 afterwards
 
 ( '55 ) 
 
 afterwards muft devolve to their prefent pof- 
 feffors. Do only, my beloved friend, think 
 what I mufl do then. nu 
 
 You know, whilfl you urge the town as 
 a reafon to me, that the town do not iater- 
 fere. How was Lee, whom you will allow 
 to have merit, and who bad more than he 
 has, I believe ; how, I fay, was he forced 
 upon infignificant parts ? I have feen his 
 name in the bills for Don John, in Much 
 Ado about Nothing. 
 
 What is urged as to my being under 
 Mr. Garrick's directions, with regard to im- 
 provement, is a very powerful argument 
 with me not to be with him. I have been 
 this two years labouring to lofe the refem- 
 blance of him, which had like to have 
 ruined me for ever, and ftamped me with 
 the difgrace of mimickry, and now if I was 
 
 with
 
 with him, I mould regain all that would 
 confirm that character to the world, and jn 
 my beft of praife mould be called a very good 
 
 copy. I mail fee Mr. C d after the play 
 
 this evening, and then I will write more, 
 I mall ftipulate with Palmer, that I will 
 play only on fuch nights as the company, 
 I mean the gentry, are expected, and to re- 
 linquifh fome certain characters, and only 
 to engage from year to year. It is the 
 opinion of my Lord Newnham, and many 
 of my friends of that rank in life, that I 
 ought not to go to. London while Garrick 
 is there, 
 
 I am but juft beginning to be talked of i 
 : Parties will, in time, be made in my 
 favour by people of rank and power, but it 
 muft be done by time the protection and 
 the influence of five or fix noblemen, will 
 avail me more than any thing ; however, I 
 
 havq
 
 have comrniffioned Mr. C d to nego- 
 ciate for me, fo far as to know Mr. Gar- 
 rick's real intentions towards me, but ort 
 no terms whatever will I content to be liable 
 to infignificant characters. You cannot^ 
 my dear Jack, you cannot imagine, how 
 foon I might be ruined in London, if I am 
 in the power of thofe who meditate my 
 ruin for God's fake, only confider what an 
 Irrecoverable mock it would be to be obliged 
 to return to Bath, or to lay at the back of 
 the theatre on a falary of bounty more than 
 merit. As to Mr. Garrick's patronage and 
 friendship, I have no right to expect it. If 
 
 Mr. G had meant to patronize me, he 
 
 would have done it at jirft, and not have 
 fent me to this place, which, though it was 
 as prudent a meafure as could be planned 
 for me, I really JDelieve Mr. Garrick <//;/ not 
 conjider. My reafons for this belief, .are, 
 that he conflantly fpeaks in my difcredit, to 
 
 thofe.
 
 ( '58 ) 
 
 thofe whom he ever fpeaks to at all about 
 me. A circumflance which you mould con- 
 fider maturely as I have done. The cafe is 
 limply this : I have great merit, or I have 
 not. If I have, it mould entitle me to a 
 refpeftable conlideration. If I have not, I 
 ought not to be feen in London, and lofe 
 the fame I have there. Oh ! but fay you 
 
 and Mrs. I , *' Shandy, why will you 
 
 be fo proud, there is a fecond rate fame and 
 profit in the theatre, with which you mould 
 be content as yet" I do not think fo. 
 
 " Th' afpiring blood of Lancafter 
 
 has not funk in the ground."-)- My talents 
 
 are 
 
 f The letter, to which this is an anfvvcr, began with 
 the following quotation : 
 
 What ! 
 
 <{ Will th' afpiring blood of Lancaftcr fink in the 
 
 * ground ? 
 " I thought it would have mounted."
 
 ( 159 ,) 
 
 are not of that caft -, though I have acquired 
 great reputation in Richard, I mould make 
 a very infignificant figure in his good coulin 
 of Buckingham. Hamlet too would fup- 
 port me, but I could never fupport Horatio, 
 and fo on. 
 
 J. H. 
 
 To
 
 ( 10 ) 
 
 To Mr. I . 
 
 $atb, Jan. 2, 1775; 
 )EAR FRIEND, 
 
 I N confequence of the letter I told you 
 I wrote to Mr. Garrick, upon which 
 fubject alfo Mr. Taylor wrote, Mr. Gar- 
 rick, writes thus to Mr. Taylor^ 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " I received lafl night a letter from you> 
 ** and another from Mr. Henderfon, upon 
 *< the fame fubjec~t I mail therefore beg, 
 *' that this anfwer to you may ferve for both. 
 " In my opinion, your propofal would be 
 " a very injurious one to Mr. Henderfon 
 ** can he or you believe, that his playing 
 
 " only
 
 ** only twice, a different character too each 
 *' time, would give the public a proper idea 
 " of his merit ? - The diffidence and ap- 
 " prehenfion, natural to a performer of feel* 
 " ing, might make him incapable of ihew- 
 " ing his talents and powers the firft time 
 " upon a new flage, and upon which the 
 " great and eftablifhed eftimate mutt be 
 " put upon his merit ; mould his fears 
 " prevail too much, which are ever ftrongeft 
 *' with actors of keeneft fenfibility, he 
 " might be eiTentially hurt could Mr. 
 " H. have an opportunity of performing 
 " ten or twelve different characters, his ge- 
 " nius would have fair play, otherwife, as 
 " his well-wimer, I proteft againft the 
 " other fcheme. * * * * 
 
 * * * * * * * 
 
 M "If
 
 ( 162 ) 
 
 " If Mr. H. chufes to be with me, 
 4< why mould he not chufe three parts, 
 <e Hamlet, Shylock, Benedick, or what he 
 " pleafes to appear in next feafon, and to 
 " have elbow room to difplay all his tra- 
 " gick and comick powers. I will either 
 " come into certain terms with him, or 
 " conditional* as he and his friends pleaie. 
 " I can fay no more, or offer any thing 
 ." fairer, or more for his intereft.^-I pro- 
 " teft againft the other partial manner of 
 " trial, which can be of no fervice to^the 
 " manager, and may be of great prejudice 
 ' Mr. flenderfon. 
 
 I am, 
 
 Dear Sir 
 
 Yours, 6cv, 
 
 {). (iARRICK.
 
 Now, Jack, you know as much of the 
 matter as I do. What fhall I do ? What 
 propofals fhall I make, and what anfwer 
 fhall I give ? You know very well, and 
 fo do all my friends, that the fpirit of my 
 defign to ftay in Bath was to make myfelf 
 matter of fuch a number of principal cha- 
 raflers, as would fecure me from the dan- 
 ger of being employed in infignificant or 
 improper ones $ by improper, I mean fuch, 
 as however important or reputable, do not 
 come within the compafs of my abilities ; 
 fuch for inflance is Romeo, &c. By being 
 put into either, I conceive the little fame 
 I have got would be ruined, and I mould 
 be in a much worfe fituation than if I 
 had never ventured upon the flage, Mr. 
 Garrick's letter indeed now feems to open 
 me a fecurity from that danger, and in my 
 own mind I would leave to him all other 
 terms > than, thofe of choojing my characters* 
 
 M 2, I care
 
 ( '64 ) 
 
 I care not how often I play, but Mr. 
 Garrick may be led in his candour to ima- 
 gine, I have fucceeded in more characters 
 than I really have. -Do, my dear Jack, 
 lay this before my friends, and confult and 
 determine for me. I fay this not becaufe 
 I think your own decifion inefficient, but 
 becaufe I hate to write the fame letters to 
 different people there you fee I have the 
 honour to refemble Mr. Garrick. 
 
 J. H, 
 
 To
 
 165 
 
 To Mr. I . 
 
 Bath, January 23, 1775* 
 
 AS I find that lady has told you fome cir- 
 cumftances about my negotiation with Mr. 
 Garrick, I now fend you more. I wrote, 
 indeed, by the very next poft, to defire her 
 not to acquaint you with any part of it 'till 
 me heard farther from me, becaufe I had a 
 
 letter from Mr. C d, which feemed to 
 
 open a new negotiation. I have not time to 
 copy it here, but its purport was, that be 
 wifhed the paft differences might be forgot, 
 and the curtain dropped > I wrote in anfwer, 
 that " I was very willing to forget all that 
 had paih but that fuppofing the" curtain was 
 dropped, the power of railing it, and open- 
 ing a new fcene of negotiation, was not in 
 me - f that, if through Mr, Cumberland's 
 M 3 means,
 
 ( 166 ) 
 
 means, or by Mr. Garrick's own dire&ions, 
 any propofals were made to me, I would 
 give a fpeedyand direft anfwer." 
 
 In confequence of this, I this morning 
 received^ letter, written by Mr. Garrick to 
 Mr. C - d, wherein he fays : 
 
 *' I Cannot alter my opinion of Mr* 
 
 H n's propofals, but I fay no more of 
 
 them - y - you feem to wifh he mould make 
 his appearance upon our flage As I have 
 not feen him aft, and cannot guefs at his 
 merit, which is fo varioufly fpoken of, I 
 .will agree that Mr. Henderfon mail perform 
 any two parts at the beginning of next 
 feafon, which he mail pleafe to fix upon, 
 and afterwards upon others that we fhall 
 both agree upon. After he has performed 
 ten or twelve times, and the public voice 
 will be known, two gentlemen, one chofen 
 
 by
 
 by him, and one by me, mall fix upon his 
 falary for the feafon -, but, upon their dif- 
 agreement, a third may be called in, and 
 he muft determine the difference. 
 
 ** To make fomething certain for Mr. 
 Henderfon and the referrees to go upon, 
 fuppofe we agree that his falary mail not be 
 lefs than jive pounds a week, nor more than 
 ten, for the feafon, with a benefit. After 
 his falary is fixed, he muft become like the 
 other performers, fubject to my manage- 
 ment wholly" 
 
 It will not be neceiTary to copy Mf 
 
 C -d's letter to me he advifes the 
 
 fcheme, and thinks I mail be fafe in the 
 
 experiment. 
 
 Now, my dear Jack, you muft know, 
 pounds a week in London, is not 
 M 4 much
 
 ( '68 ) 
 
 much more than four pounds here, becaufe 
 we are paid every week, from the beginning 
 of our feafon 'till the end of it, alike; whereas 
 in London, all Lent, and during thofe weeks 
 in which the houfe is open only three nights 
 in the week, the pay is but half. Obferve, 
 that Garrick only propofes to engage me one 
 year, and at the end of that he might dif- 
 grace or lower me at his pleafure. If I fby 
 with Palmer, I engage for three years, and 
 have three guineas a week befides the ad- 
 vantage of the improvement that constant 
 acting of capital parts muft unavoidably 
 give me. 
 
 Mr. Taylor is now in London, and I have 
 juft had a letter from him, wherein he fays, 
 after having feen Mr. Garrick play, *' De- 
 pend upon it you will be received whenever 
 Garrick retires from the ftage, with great 
 eclat; I am more convinced of that now 
 
 than
 
 ( 169 ) 
 
 than ever. It will not do for you to at* 
 
 tempt riling on the ftage as they do in the 
 army and navy, by feniority ; you muft come 
 out at once a comet, and not be content 
 with appearing as a twinkling ftar, liable to 
 be obfcured by every little cloud that flies' 
 before you. To drop the metaphor, your 
 talents muft be fo well improved and ripened, 
 that any flight imperfections will be inftantly 
 overlooked, and your friends, the judges and 
 true critics, be able to bear down the ill- 
 natured remarks which will always attend 
 true merit." 
 
 lamfure, mymoftdear, my moft worthy 
 friend, I fhall impofe a grateful tafk upon 
 you, when I beg you to viiit Mr. Taylor at. 
 his brother's houfe, and talk the matter over 
 with him. I fhall write by this poft to 
 prepare him for your viiit, and afterwards 
 
 fend
 
 ( '7 ) 
 
 me with all the fpeed you can, your 
 opinion and advicei 
 
 You can have no conception of the 
 anxiety of my mind in this affair. I 
 dread London, I dread Garrick, I dread 
 myfelf. 
 
 I truft you with all the vanities of my 
 heart, and will therefore fend you the be- 
 ginnings of thofe letters I made to you. 
 You will fee by their dates how I ad- 
 drelTed you. There is no time, no hour 
 hardly, in which I do not think of you 
 with the fmcereft and moil felicitous 
 Regard, 
 
 God blefs you I have not time to cor- 
 te&what I have written. 
 
 J. HENDERSON, 
 With
 
 With Henderfon's condud, in the courfe 
 of the foregoing tranfa&ions, Mr. Garrick 
 was highly offended ; accufed him of an in-*- 
 folent attempt to ufurp his province^ take 
 the management out of his hands, and dic- 
 tate fuch terms as no after of the moil efta- 
 blifhed reputation had ever prefumed to 
 offer. This accufation Mr* Henderfon 
 warmly difclaimed ; declaring, that the only 
 motives which influenced him, were, that 
 attention to his own fame which every man 
 ought to preferve, and that attention to his 
 own fafety which the frequent conduct of 
 managers to performers, gave fome reafon 
 for - f and which his duty to a public, who 
 had honoured him by their approbation, to 
 his friends, who had diftinguifhed him by 
 their partiality, and to himfelf, fully jufti- 
 fied. This reafoning had no effect upon 
 Mr. Garrick, and the hopes of an engage- 
 ment at Drury-lane, were Tor the prefent 
 
 wholly
 
 ( '72 ) 
 
 wholly given up. But one of his friends, 
 wifhing him in a fituation where his talents 
 would have the encouragement they deferved, 
 made application to Mr. Harris, who ap- 
 peared pleafed at the overture, and eager to 
 engage him, which Henderfon being in- 
 formed, offered his fervices upon the fame 
 terms which had .been prefcribed by Mr. 
 Garrick, and received for anfwer, that if he 
 had any thoughts of continuing with Mr. 
 Palmer, the London manager would by no 
 means, come between them, whatever might 
 be the eventual advantage to Covent-garden 
 Theatre, and without waiting for an anfwer 
 from Henderfon, though he might poffibly 
 have heard from his friend Mr. Palmer, ab- 
 folutely declined entering into any treaty with 
 him, let the refult of the Bath bufmefs, 
 then pending, be what it would. 
 
 This
 
 ( 173 ) 
 
 This feemed to bar the door of Covent- 
 garden Theatre, and his firft determination 
 was to quit Bath, and pafs a few months 
 in France ; but a prudent attention to his 
 own interefr., and the confequent timidity 
 of mind, which dreaded being without an 
 engagement, operated fo far, that he en- 
 tered into a new agreement with the Bath 
 manager. 
 
 To
 
 ( '74 ) 
 
 To Mrs. I . 
 
 Bat b 9 24ftb Feb. 1775. 
 
 DID not my narrative inform you that 
 I had pofitively refufed flaying with P . . 
 
 If you have not obferved it then, J 
 
 do allure you now that / have. I fent it 
 him in writing, and I will hold my promiiQ 
 to you and my friends, 
 
 I have not the leaft doubt but P r 
 
 hath obftruded my engagement at Covent- 
 Garden, 
 
 " And will no doubt with reafons anfwer it, 
 " P'or Brutus is an honourable man^ 
 " So are they all y all honourable men.'* 
 
 I certainly
 
 ( '75 ) 
 
 | certainly will do as you advife, and 
 
 I think myfelf very happy that I have 
 fuch counfellors as I cannot oppofe with-r 
 put forfeiting all difcretion, or good fenfe. 
 r This is a ftrange turned phrafe, but I 
 take as much pains to avoid writing in 
 9. ftrain of compliment to you, as fome 
 would to affect it, not becaufe / think 
 that civility and truth can be feldom unit- 
 ed, for there again you act fo that there 
 is no feparating them, but that I would 
 not have you hum over thofe parts of my 
 letter as carelefs as you do thofe of any 
 other perfon, who celebrates your wit or 
 your good fenfe, or your good nature, 
 which I know you always think it better 
 to poj/efs than to hear of. 
 
 Here you may take a pinch of fnuff.
 
 I am advifed, on all hands, to pafs this 
 enfuing fummer in France, in order to 
 fteal their receipt for making incenfe, and 
 other materials, which, on my return, I 
 may ufe on my theatrical altar, and make 
 a folemn facrifice to the Graces. This 
 I mail certainly do ; for though I know 
 very well that all the ingredients may be 
 bought in London, and cheaper too, than 
 in France, yet I confider myfelf as a 
 merchant who muft obey the commimons 
 of his correfpondents, and fend them 
 whatever they demand from whatever more 
 they direct. 
 
 I allure you, my dear friend, that ever 
 fince I gave P r a pofitive anfwer, my 
 mind has been in conflant ferenity and 
 compofure. 1 mean in all regards of fu- 
 ture engagements, and I conftantly reply, when 
 any friends afk me how I can be fo weak 
 
 as 

 
 as to throw myfelf out of all employment, 
 that I muft take my chance, and I fay it 
 with mofl unaffected indifference; 
 
 Pray have you feen my pidure at Gainf- 
 borough's yet. If not, why don't you go ? 
 ~ I intend it for my deareft Jack, becaufe 
 I think it very like, and he who hath known 
 my heart for fo many years, hath the beft 
 title to my refemblance. 
 
 I wifh you had feen me play Hamlet 
 the other night. Vanity ! Oh, you fim- 
 
 pleton ! It was becaufe I mould have 
 
 feen you here. 
 
 If you make any more exciifes about 
 your writing, I will cut them out of your 
 letters, for they have no bufmefs there, 
 and lend them back~befid.es every excuie 
 is an intruder, and takes up that room, 
 N which
 
 which I can prove by the other parts of 
 your letters, would have contained much 
 good humour and kindnefs and good writing, 
 by which it is manifeft you have cheated 
 me 5 and it is an aggravation of your crime, 
 that you have iingled me out to impole 
 upon from a large circle of people, who 
 are all ready to fwear that you never afted 
 otherwife to them than with the moft up- 
 right integrity. I repeat, that it is parti- 
 cularly cruel and unjuft in you to treat me 
 fo, who am, as much as any of them can 
 be for their fouls. 
 
 Your very iincere and faithful", 
 
 J. HENDERSON^
 
 ( '79 ) 
 
 During the fummer of 1775 he per- 
 formed with Mr. Reddim at Briftol, where 
 from the accidental indifpolition of a per- 
 former, he on the feventeenth of Auguft 
 played FalftafT, a character which nature 
 feemed to have forbade by every external 
 difqmalifi cation. But the difficulty increafed 
 the honour, and fuccefs juftified the un- 
 dertaking. 
 
 It would degrade his memory, to com- 
 pare him with any one who ever perfo- 
 nated this mountain of delight, except Mr. 
 Quin, who appeared mentally and corpo- 
 really formed for the character* 
 
 The firft play I ever faw was Henry the 
 
 Fourth, when Quin performed FalftarT, it 
 
 being, J think, the laft time he ap- 
 
 N 2 peared.
 
 pcared on the ftage, for the benefit of Mr. 
 Ryan, 
 
 Of his playing I have not any recol- 
 ledtion, but in the fcene of the battle, 
 inftead of the ftump of a tree on which 
 FalftarT fits to reft himfelf, I remember 
 the then directors of the Theatre intro- 
 duced a crimfon velvet arm chair, with 
 gilt claw feet and blue fringe. 
 
 I have been told by thofe who have 
 a perfedl remembrance of the veteran's 
 performance, that it was more important, 
 but lefs pleafant than Henderfon's, who 
 had alfo the fuperiority in the foliloquies, 
 but that where the old knight aflumes 
 dignity, Quin's furly humour was beyond 
 competition. 
 
 In
 
 In the fummer of 1776, he played under 
 the management of Mr. Yates at Birming- 
 ham, and here firft faw that meteor of the 
 drama, Mrs. Siddons, who, the preceding 
 feafon, had performed Portia, Lady Anne, 
 and a few other characters at Drury-Lane, 
 but with fo little eclat, that upon Mr. 
 Garrick's retiring, the fucceeding managers 
 not thinking her merits equal to a very 
 trifling falary, fhe was difcharged for ina- 
 bility ! ! ! 
 
 Of her talents Mr. Henderfon entertained 
 
 the moft exalted opinion, and wrote to Mr, 
 
 Palmer, recommending him in the ftrongefl 
 
 terms to engage her, but he having already 
 
 a perfon under articles, who had a fimilar 
 
 caft of characters, the recommendation was 
 
 at that time without effect. Yet, who 
 
 that has feen Mrs. Siddons, will withhold 
 
 their fanction to Mr. Henderfon's judgment, 
 
 N 3 ft
 
 ( 182 ) 
 
 It may be almoft faid of her, that, as an 
 me has ajl the various merit which 
 was pofTefled by any daughter of the tragic 
 mufe who ever trod the Englifh ftage, and 
 all the various merit which they wanted. 
 
 At the commencement of the feafon he 
 returned to Bath ; a critique upon his per- 
 formance, under the fignature of the Lon- 
 don Rider, appearing in the Morning Chro- 
 nicle, he notices it in the following letter. 
 
 To
 
 To the Rev. Mr. D . 
 
 Bath, November jth 9 1776. 
 DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I THANK you very heartily for your 
 letter ; it confirms me in all that I have 
 thought of your candour and your friend- 
 ihip, which I have loved and honoured 
 ever fince I was capable of loving and ho- 
 nouring any thing as I ought. 1 won- 
 der you mould think I was abufed by the 
 London Rider, who, whatever his intentions 
 may be, has paid me the higheft compli- 
 ment. His objections to me were, that I 
 imitated Garrick in Sciolto, and imitated 
 him in the worft parts, his guttural founds, 
 &c. Now it is certain I never faw Garrick 
 N 4 in
 
 in Sciolto, and if I had, that thicknefs 
 and feeblenefs he complains of were not 
 
 improper for the age of Sciolto. -The 
 
 Rider doth not complain of thofe defects 
 in Comus, in Lorenzo, in Falftaff, which 
 certainly are not like Garrick's manner. 
 He only finds that they are, where I think 
 they ought to be, in an old and diftrefled 
 man. He finds indeed that I have not dig- 
 nity he finds alfo that I have not gentility 
 enough for the gay Lorenzo, whom Elvira 
 is to fall in love with at the firft fight, 
 though I think he allows me fome por- 
 tion of eafe and fprightlinefs. He finds 
 alfo that I have not an eye for the jocund 
 and voluptuous FalflafT I cannot help it, 
 but I have, without vanity, jufl fuch an 
 eye as the Poet has afTigned that character 
 " Do you fet down your name in the 
 " fcrowl of youth," fays the Chief Juftice 
 to Falftaff, " that are written down old, 
 
 with
 
 with all the characters of age ? Have you 
 not a moift eye ? a dry hand ? a yellow 
 cheek ? a white beard ? a decreafing leg ? 
 
 an encreafing belly ? 6cc. &c. &c." 1 
 
 believe by a moift eye is not there meant, that 
 fparkling fluid which lends an appearance 
 of penetration, and which gives point and 
 expremon. 
 
 But I am contented to want thefe re- 
 quifites he fays I have not, as long as I 
 am thought to poflefs thofe he allows me 
 But the London Rider mould not de- 
 cide fo pointedly that I had better ftay 
 where I am he has not feen many cha- 
 racters in which I fucceed better than in 
 thofe four he did fee. 
 
 I have played, Doctor, fmce I have been 
 upon the ftage, which you know is only 
 
 four
 
 ( 186 ) 
 
 four years, upwards of fevcnty characters, 
 and moft of them of the firft importance, 
 both for chara&er and magnitude. Judge 
 if my faculties have not been pretty well 
 ftcetched, and judge if I have not a claim 
 to fbme indulgence on that fcore < I 
 know you will be apt to fay, it were bet- 
 ter to have matured half a dozen, than to 
 have run through fuch a number in the crude 
 and hafty manner I muft necefTarily have 
 done ; to which I anfwer, that this was 
 not in my power. The people here will 
 have variety, and our company is fo limited, 
 that the leaders in it are obliged to furnim 
 out that variety from themfelves ; nor do I 
 believe, that in the end it will hurt me. I 
 wifli Mr. Woodfall had chofen any other 
 name to pay me his compliments in, than 
 that of THE LONDON RIDER. 
 
 To
 
 To ufe the language of Piflol, 
 
 '. Shall pack-horfes, 
 " And hollow-pamper'd jades of Afia, 
 " Which cannot go but thirty miles a day, 
 " Compare with Caefars, and with cannibals, 
 " And Trojan Greeks?" 
 
 I fincerely hope, my dear friend, that 
 
 your happinefs is fecure, that Mrs. D 
 
 and all your family are in health, and that 
 they will continue fo, as I am really in- 
 terefted in every thing that concerns you. 
 Let me hear from you, and believe me 
 truly, 
 
 Your's, &c. 
 
 J. HENDERSON. 
 
 The
 
 The idea of playing at London was now 
 at an end, except fome fortunate accident 
 fhould give him an introduction ; and this 
 accident happened when it was leaft ex- 
 peeled. 
 
 Mr. Colman having, in 1777, purchafed 
 from Mr. Foote the Patent of the Hay- 
 market Theatre, engaged Henderfon as a 
 performer, upon terms which will appear 
 |>y the following letter. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. I- 
 
 January 8, 1777. 
 
 DEAR I * , 
 
 I HAVE agreed with Colman, and fhall 
 be at the Haymarket in the fummer. 
 
 I am to play' only my beft characters, 
 and I am to have an hundred pounds ; 
 befides, Colman has promifed me his in* 
 tereft with the Chamberlain, to procure rnes 
 a benefit after his patent clofes, which, if 
 I can compafs, will be a very great thing 
 for me ; but I depend not upon that. I 
 ihall play Shylock firit, I believe, but there 
 is time enough to determine that -You 
 can't conceive how I am in favour here I 
 
 was
 
 was at a mafquerade laft week, and got 
 great credit. 
 
 . 
 Oh, Garrick and I are almoft reconciled ; 
 
 he has recommended me to Drury-lane. 
 You may almoft be fure of my being at one 
 of the theatres in London, when my time 
 is out here. I do not yet repent my con- 
 , duel, nor have I reafon ; but more here- 
 after. 
 
 My love to all your famile* 
 
 Your's, fincerely, 
 
 J. H.
 
 To Mr. I. 
 
 Bath, Feb. 12, 1777. 
 
 MY DEAR I , 
 
 I HAVE juft had my benefit, very bril- 
 liant, very crouded, and the beft I have ever 
 made in this place. I played Leon. I 
 agree very much with you about Shylock j 
 I will not make my firft appearance in it, 
 if I can prevail with Colman to alter his 
 opinion, and I fhall write to him for that 
 purpofe. However, it is proper that you 
 mould know what that opinion was, and 
 how it was grounded. He fays, my manner 
 of playing it is different enough from Mack- 
 lin's to excife enquiry and examination, and 
 he payed me the compliment to add, that 
 he thought me fufficiently grounded in the 
 author to juflify fuch deviations, 'or dif- 
 ferences,
 
 ( 19* ) 
 
 ferences, as there was from Macklim He 
 added alfo, that to make people talk and 
 argue, and difpute, was what he aimed at, 
 and feemed to be certain, that if he could 
 ido that, my reputation would be eftablifhed 
 by it. Now, though this is plauiible and 
 flattering to me, I think with you, that the 
 popular fpirit is too ftrong to be contefted 
 with at prefent, and therefore I propofe, in 
 my own mind, to begin more humbly, and 
 rife, if I can, by degrees. I have made a 
 figure lately in Valentine, in Love for Love, 
 and Oakley in the Jealous Wife, and Leon. 
 I will play as little tragedy as poffible in the 
 fummer, for more reafons than one. The 
 chief is, that I do not think myfelf ripe 
 enough in the high tragic line j and another 
 reafon is, that tragedy will never be fol- 
 lowed in the dog-days, except fome extraor- 
 dinary planet of attraction appears ; and if I 
 am neglected, I am ruined. I will play 
 
 Hamlet^
 
 , and Richard the Third, and Shy* 
 lock, and perhaps John. 
 
 I am now ftudying Henry the Fifth, 
 which, if I can make anfwerable to my 
 prefent ideas of it, I may perhaps add to 
 them, and I think no more. I mail have 
 infinite variety and fcope in comedy, fuch 
 as Falftaff, Bays, Don John, Benedick, 
 Leon, Oakley, Valentine, Felix, &c. &c. 
 
 Richard the Second was once revived, but 
 the town would not bear it ; there are no 
 women in it, and the whole play demands 
 the fineft acting to make it pleafing. By 
 the next poft I mall take up the hundred 
 
 pound note I gave your brother H . 
 
 Have not I been a good ceconomift, and I 
 have paid near fifty pounds to J n. 
 
 O I ana
 
 I am happy to hear fo well of Mortimer j 
 I do love that varlet ; I hope he will con- 
 tinue as true to his own genius as that will 
 be to him. I hope too, that Gainfborough 
 will let you have my headdon't you think 
 it a very fine likenefs. 
 
 My mother defires her beft wifhes may be 
 added to mine, for Mrs. I and yourfelf, 
 She is quite recovered : Did I tell you, 
 we have changed our lodgings, and provide 
 for ourfelves, and I market, and pur- 
 chafe the tails of rabbits, and the beards 
 of oyfters, and the heads and gizzards 
 of geefe, for we leave their bodies to 
 the mighty ones of the earth, and I buy beef 
 fleaks by the ounce, and have learnt to cut 
 up a fhrimp moft dextroufly. In fhort, we 
 live upon the extremities of animals. I hear 
 the butcher's boy knock at the door with as 
 fine a (heep's tail in a tray as ever you faw 
 in your life it is to be roafted, and if you 
 
 were
 
 ( '95 ) 
 
 were here, you fhould have two joints out 
 
 of the five. 
 
 \ 
 
 Adieu, we are very happy* and very truly 
 am, I your friend, &c. 
 
 j, HENDERSON. 
 
 02 In
 
 In confequence of Mr. Colman's engage- 
 ment, he came to London, and on the 1 1 th 
 of June 1777, begun his theatrical career in 
 the capital with the character of Shylock, 
 which, notwithstanding his own and his 
 friends objections, was the part the manager 
 introduced him in ; and the manner he per- 
 fonated the ferocious Jew, fully fatisfied the 
 propriety of Mr. Colman's choice. 
 
 I have been told, that previous to Mr. 
 Macklin's performance of Shylock, it was 
 looked upon as a part of little importance, 
 and played with the buffoonery of a Jew 
 pedlar ; to the underftanding of that vene- 
 rable performer, we are obliged for the firfl 
 true reprefentation of the character ; but his 
 warmefl admirers will, I think, acknow- 
 ledge, that though much fterling is left, he 
 fcarce acquired the reputation he enjoys in 
 the Jew, from his manner of now playing 
 
 it.
 
 ( '97 ) 
 
 It. I know it wilt be deemed dramatic 
 herefy, but yet dare avow, that / think , 
 except in the fenate fcene, Henderfon per- 
 formed it better than /ever faw Mr. Mack- 
 lin. In that fcene, the judicious con- 
 ception of this patriarch of the theatre, fe- 
 cures him from every competitor. He 
 praifed the young adventurer with great li- 
 berality for his fpirited performance -, and, 
 on Henderfon' s afierting, he had never had 
 the advantage of feeing him in the character, 
 replied, " Sir, it was not neceflary' to tell 
 me that - y I knew you had not, or you would 
 have played it very differently." 
 
 Teilimonials from authors to authors, 
 
 were, in the laft age, deemed neceifary em- 
 
 bellimments to books, and as conftantly fub- 
 
 joined as the liveUe fourtraiture of the pain- 
 
 fulle writer. Teflimonials from players to 
 
 players, are not, I believe 7ery frequent. 
 
 G 3 The
 
 The following is the only one I ever heard 
 Henderfon fpeak of having received -, and, 
 as I know he efteemed approbation from a 
 gentleman of Mr. Digges' learning, expe- 
 rience, and judgment, as giving a fan&ion 
 to his performance, I publifh it as a dra- 
 matic curiofity. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. HENDERSON. 
 
 Friday, twelve o'clock. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I DID myfelf the pleafure of waiting on 
 you this morning, to thank you for the un- 
 common delight I received in feeing your 
 excellent performance of Shakefpeare's Jew 
 I never faw a character more juftly con- 
 ceived, or more happily perfonated I con- 
 gratulate you on the great reputation you 
 have eflablifhed : a reputation you will 
 rather augment than diminifh I think it a 
 thoufand pities you mould be doomed to a 
 provincial banishment, when you will be 
 fo much wiihed for in the capital. Permit 
 04 me
 
 ( 200 ) 
 
 me to allure you, no perfon is more fenfible 
 of your merit, or will rejoice more in feeing 
 that merit rewarded, than, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 Your moft obedient, 
 
 And moft humble fervant, 
 
 WEST DIGGES. 
 
 He
 
 He afterwards performed Hamlet, Leon, 
 FalftafF, Richard, Don John, and Bayes. 
 He was requefted to play Bays, with 
 imitations of the different actors, which, 
 to the credit of his prudence, he re- 
 fufed. 
 
 During the very hot fummer of 1777, 
 the Haymarket Theatre was crouded. Mr. 
 Henderfon being announced, operated as a 
 charm : it attracted people of the firft 
 rank and tafle to a play-houfe in the 
 dog-days. 
 
 Some of the diurnal critics praifed him 
 for merit he did not poflefs, but that 
 the motive was to ferve Mr. Colman, 
 there appeared a little reafon to fufpeft, 
 from the fame confident gentlemen being 
 
 equally
 
 ( 202 ) 
 
 equally lavifh of their abufc, when 
 he played at Drury-lane. Of this un- 
 candid conduit he complains in the fol- 
 lowing letter. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. CUMBERLAND. 
 
 Qffiober 2$tb, 1777, 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I A M much obliged and honoured by 
 your intelligence refpecting the Battle of 
 Mailings . I am afhamed to acknowledge, 
 that I have not had an hour to myfelf of 
 that kind that is fit to conlider fo important 
 a matter. One mould neither be indolent 
 nor fatigued, when a work of ftudy is to 
 be contemplated. Fatigued I have been 
 to an extreme degree. * * * * *. 
 
 As foon as I have gone through the Ro- 
 man Father, which I now have in re- 
 hearfal, I ihall dedicate my ftudies to the 
 Battle, and hope to revive the fame pleaf-* 
 
 ing
 
 ing and magical ideas which I felt when you 
 read it in Queen-Anne-ftreet. 
 
 I believe, my dear fir, you will agree 
 that I have a moil difficult tafk to aft. 
 
 The critics call out for novelty, for 
 fpirit, for fire, for paflion, for every thing 
 in fhort that they are taught by nature, or 
 by reading to expedt, and yet they are per- 
 petually interrupting my emulation by the 
 hopelefs profpecl: of ever attaining what 
 they have been accuftomed to delight in, 
 from Garrick, and Macklin. I have not 
 the vanity to think myfelf equal, by many 
 degrees, to either, but is it not hard they 
 will not let me be what I am, nor by their 
 good will let the people come and fee what 
 
 that is. 1 have the confolation of very 
 
 good houfes indeed, or thefe gentlemen 
 would make my theatrical life a very pain- 
 ful
 
 ( 205 ) 
 
 ful one. There are fome public prints, 
 that even call me names. I am honoured 
 by one writer, who perhaps never faw me 
 out of my dramatic drefs, with the name 
 of pragmatical puppy ; another, in infult- 
 ing irony calls me a monfter of perfection. 
 But ftill I have good houfes* I am told 
 my Richard is a defpicable attempt at fome- 
 thing, I know not what, but ftill I have 
 good howies, 
 
 I am, &c. 
 J. HENDERSON, 
 
 Mr.
 
 ( 206 ) 
 
 Mr. Colman having derived material 
 advantage from his performer's popularity, 
 difplayed great generofity at the end of the 
 feafon* His conduct went " beyond the 
 fixed and fettled rules," he gave Henderfon 
 a free benefit ; > which produced upwards of 
 two hundred pounds* He diftmguimed him 
 by every attention, and frequently invited 
 him to his table, where Henderfon's deli- 
 cacy and prudence once forfook him, for in 
 the prefence of a large company he took oft* 
 the manger's peculiarities to his face* I 
 need not add that fo grofs an infult produced 
 a coolnefs on the part of Mr. Colman* 
 
 The enfuing winter he was engaged by 
 Mr. Sheridan to perform at Drury-Lane, at 
 a falary of ten pounds a week, and a be- 
 nefit. Before this could take place it was 
 necefTary to fettle his forfeiture of three 
 hundred pounds for the failure of his Bath 
 
 articles,
 
 articles. This, I believe, was done by Mr. 
 Sheridan giving Palmer the liberty of ex- 
 hibiting the School for Scandal, which 
 was, I fhould fuppofe, at leaft an adequate 
 compenfation ; added to this, it was flipu- 
 lated that Henderfon fhould perform a few 
 nights at Bath, which he did. 
 
 He had an early contempt forjtage trick, 
 and one of the firft times he played Hamlet 
 at Drury-Lane, was fo fully imprefTed with 
 the fpirit of the character, that in the 
 clofet fcene, when defcribing the two mi- 
 niatures, he whirled the king's picture from 
 his hand. This was marked in one of the 
 public prints as an innovation too violent 
 for a young man. " Mr. Garrick never did 
 it." The following night he checked his 
 imagination, and kept pofTeffion of the 
 picture. This ,was a frefh occafion for 
 carping, and one gentleman, who I think 
 
 adopted
 
 ( 208 ) 
 
 adopted the terrific fignature of Scourge, 
 obferved, " that if right the firft night, he 
 muft consequently be wrong the fecond," 
 and added - y " In our opinion Mr. Hender- 
 fon departing from the eftablifhed cuflom 
 of the Theatre, by fometimes neglecting 
 to kick down the chair, on the appearance 
 of the Ghoft, which was never omitted by 
 the greateft adlor who ever graced the ftage,* 
 and not having always got quit of his hat, 
 when he ftarts, in the firfl fcene, is a 
 violation of dramatic decorum, and de- 
 ferves fevere reprehenfion from the critic. 
 Deviations fo flight as to evade the common 
 eye, and innovations fo trifling as to be 
 thought unworthy of notice, have led the 
 
 way 
 
 *The chair in which Mr. Garrickfat, when he played 
 in the clofet fcene, was fomewhat different from that ap- 
 propriated to the queen, the cabriole feet being tapered, 
 and placed fo much under the feat, that it fcll with a 
 touch.
 
 way to herelies in religion, and the alo- 
 lifiment of order in civil government. 
 Let us nip error iri the bud, and not by our 
 filence give fanclion to impropriety. Being 
 once right, let us remain fo." 
 
 A friend of Henderfon's fent a reply to 
 this curious rhapfody, which, being fhort, 
 I fubjoin. 
 
 Two queries addrelTed to the fevere 
 SCOURGE. Do you confidcr the Dramatis 
 Perfonae as Autometa ? If you do, mould 
 not the magnificent Mr. Cox be manager, 
 and that ingenious mechanifr., Mr. Jaques 
 Droz, prompter to your puppets ? Thefe 
 que {lions were not anfwered. 
 
 On the fecosid of January, 1778, he ap- 
 peared in the character of Bobadil. Very 
 high expectations were formed from the eclat 
 P with
 
 with which it had been received at Bath. 
 But there it was an imitation of Woodward, 
 which would here have been deemed a bur- 
 lefque of that moft excellent a&or. Here, 
 I think, he failed, and, by endeavouring to 
 avoid Woodward's manner, departed from 
 the character, 
 
 I do not think myfelf at liberty to publilli 
 the name of the gentleman who wrote the 
 following letter. I know Mr. Henderfon 
 very properly thought himfelf honoured by 
 his regards, and frequently profited by his 
 judicious and friendly remarks. 
 
 To
 
 211 
 
 To Mr. HENDERSON. 
 
 Dublin, Nov. 13, 1777. 
 
 I SEE clearly, that you think I am not 
 awake to your abilities, and that I am rather 
 cold in your praife I do allure you, you are 
 miftaken I know and feel your great fupe- 
 riority to the prefent race of actors, an'd I 
 have had, within thefe twelve months, fre- 
 quent opportunities of declaring it. Mr. 
 Garrick, and Mr. B. Sheridan, can teflify 
 for me, that I ventured to pronounce ', (that 
 was the expreffion I made ufe of) before 
 them, and Mr. Gibbon the hiftorian, laft 
 winter, that you was an excellent performer 
 in every thing,, and capital in comedy. 
 Thefe were my words, (which Sheridan 
 and Gibbon, I dare fay, thought very pe- 
 P 2 remptory
 
 remptory and a/Turning) but I was called 
 upon by Mr. Garrick to declare my opinion 
 as one which he relied upon, and Mr. Gar- 
 rick immediately added his own fuffrage, 
 and told Mr. Sheridan, that it was his 
 bufinefs to fecure you as foon as poffible I 
 rather dwell upon this literal faft, becaufe 
 Davies, in anfwer to my aflertion, that 
 Garrick had earneftly recommended you to 
 Sheridan, fays abfurdly, that it was after 
 fuch recommendation was ineffectual, and 
 that you was obliged to wait 'till Sheridan 
 had his own evidence of your powers and 
 merit, 
 
 Here Davies grofsly miflakes ; whether 
 wilfully, or not, I am not fure, for Gar- 
 fick recommended you whenever he could 
 catch you. At the lateft, when your Bath 
 articles mould expire ; and even then, She- 
 ridan, in my prefence, talked of the fcheme 
 
 of
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
 of getting you from Palmer, and fending 
 Grift to Bath. This Mr. Garrick anjd I 
 both approved of ********* 
 
 * * * *^ 
 
 As to newlpaper puffing, (which Davks 
 is fo fond of) it is the foolimeft thing in 
 the world, becaufe it produces all thofe cri- 
 ticifms which you allude to. As to con- 
 verfation puffing from good authority, I 
 think quite otherwife of it The generality 
 of the world are much led by their own 
 circle j but newfpaper commendation is uni- 
 verfally confidered as the advertifement of a 
 quack doctor. I faw in one paper, Benfley 
 preferred to you in Horatius. I have not 
 feen your Horatius, but I have your Al- 
 canor, and I am fure your Horatius muil 
 be good. 
 
 P 3 Lucius
 
 Lucius Junius Brutus, and the Battle of 
 Haftiijgs, have been promifed places in this 
 feafon for more than a year part Shirley, 
 I believe, for years. 
 
 As to the Law of Lombardy, the author 
 thinks the parts are equal. I differ from 
 him widely. There is a young gallant 
 knight driven to a defpair of jealoufy, by 
 the villainous acts of a plotting rival. They 
 fight in the end, and are the confpicuous 
 men - y but the perfbn worked upon I always 
 think a better part than the worker. I go 
 fo far as to think Alonzo a finer character 
 than Zanga. Polidore mufr. be the fa- 
 vourite. He is P oft humus, if poflible, more 
 impaffioned. This being the cart, which 
 you feemed to me to decline, I naturally 
 looked at the other character for you. Rut 
 nothing is, or can, be yet fettled about 
 it. There is an old king* and father alfo x 
 
 that
 
 that requites an excellent actor ; that, I con- 
 clude muft be crucified, as the fine part of 
 Almada was* 
 
 As for your fearch for new readings, I do 
 not like them. Your reftoration of good 
 paflages I can never difapprove of. That 
 in Richard I like very welL ***** 
 
 To return to your innovations -I cannot 
 fee, how changed readings, and points, are 
 in any fort connected with the ftile of 
 acting. It is introducing criticifm into 
 acting, which I think never fhould be; 
 and if it fliould be bad criticifm (fuch 
 as the croaking raven) what can be faid 
 for it ? 
 
 P 4 I hear
 
 I hear your laboured fhew of propriety 
 much condemned But all thefe remarks 
 are to your honour. They would not be 
 made, but that you are confefledly at the 
 head of the ftage. 
 
 Your lincere 
 
 And obedient fervant, 
 E. T, 
 
 You fay all your novelties are defenfihle -, 
 if I thought fo, I mould not blame you for 
 them You afk me, if you have ever fpoiled 
 the fenfe I think grofsly in the croaking 
 raven, if you fpeak it as my reporter in- 
 forms me. 
 
 In
 
 In the fummer of 1778 he \yent to Ire- 
 land. His reception from that generous 
 people, is defcribed in the following letter.
 
 ( 218 ) 
 
 To Mr. I . 
 
 Dublin, $th June, 1780. 
 
 No, my dear boy, I am as well as I ought 
 to expect, though my arms, at leaft one 
 of diem, are troublefome. The true rea- 
 fon of my not writing is, that I am half 
 aftiamed to tell you the confequences of my 
 expedition, but I now find that I ought 
 not to 'impute it to my own weaknefs of 
 fame or talent, but to the univerfal diftrefs 
 and poverty this kingdom at prefent labours 
 under. 
 
 The firft character I played, was Hamlet, 
 and carried hence no more than fourteen 
 pound three fhillings, though the Lord 
 Lieutenant did me the honour of his pre- 
 tence.
 
 fence. The next night I voluntarily and 
 chearfully gave to a charity for the diftrefled 
 manufacturers : it was FalftafF not five 
 pounds in the galleries, nor above feventy 
 in the whole houfe; a ftrong inftance of 
 their inability upon fo good, fo ufeful an 
 ocean* on. My third character was Shylock, 
 and there was not expences in the houfe. 
 This night I fhall play Richard. I have 
 given up all thoughts of getting any thing, 
 except by a benefit, which I have reafon 
 to hope will be handfome, for I cannot 
 defcribe to you how I am carefTed by the 
 people of fafhion, the only few who can go 
 to a play. The Duke of Leinfter does 
 me every kindnefs imaginable. I was lafl 
 night at the Caftte, at the ball and fupper. 
 More than a hundred people of rank and 
 faihion, and tafte, defired to be made known 
 to me. In fhort, more flattery, more at- 
 tention, and confequently mere happinefs, 
 
 I never
 
 ( 220 ) 
 
 I n&ver tailed my fpirits have been in one 
 ftate of the moft delicious delirium ever 
 fince I touched this more. I have no time 
 though, for it is the cuftom here to wait 
 upon ftrangers, and my lodgings are croud- 
 cd when I am at home. Except lodgings 
 it has not coft me a milling fince I came 
 to this place, nor would it if I were to ftay 
 here this iix months. I am very glad I 
 came, becaufe it will extend my connections 
 and my fame, though it may not be very ad- 
 vantageous to my purfe. I intended to have 
 written a whimfical account of my voyage - y 
 we were forty hours upon the water, but I 
 was not fick above two hours the whole 
 
 time, and that moderately. 1 don't know 
 
 what my friend E has done for me, 
 
 nor when I am to quit this place. When- 
 ever I do, it will be with reludlance but 
 if it will not take up too much of his time, 
 I mould like to know about it. 
 
 Mrs.
 
 Mrs. Barry is here, but me finds the 
 condition of the people, and I believe 
 will not play, if fhe does I will make 
 fafe conditions for myfelf. I am to have 
 ten guineas a night, and if the houfe 
 amounts to a fixed fum, fifteen. But my 
 benefit is my only objedh 
 
 J. H. 
 
 Thanks for the Plays. 
 
 After
 
 (f 
 
 After his return from Ireland, on the 1 3th 
 of January 1779, the writer of thefe anec- 
 dotes had the honour of prefenting to him, 
 that beft of all good gifts a wife, * and the 
 following year, as fponfor, gave the name of 
 Harriet to a daughter, who, by the death of 
 her father, has loft jiot only a protector, but 
 an inftrudor very capable of forming and 
 improving her mind, 
 
 Among other characters new to him in 
 the metropolis, he performed King John. 
 
 One of his friends wrote him a few 
 remarks, which I have fubjoined, as I think 
 there are fome fenfible ftrictures upon his 
 
 playing. The advice at the concludon, 
 
 that 
 
 * She was daughter to Mr. Figgms, of Chippenham 
 in Somerfetfiiirc.
 
 ( "3 ) 
 
 that " when preparing for a new part he 
 mould retire to his own room, &c." was 
 founded upon the writer's having obferved 
 Mr. Henderforis mode of preparation, which 
 was almofl invariably this. When a new 
 part was appointed him, he firft read the 
 play : I mention this, becaufe I have 
 heard the practice is not univerfal among 
 the dramatis perfonae. He then imprinted 
 the words of the character he was to per- 
 fonate pon his memory, which, to him, 
 was not a very difficult tafk ; looked over 
 the play flightly a fecond time, and then 
 laid it alide, and though this ceremony 
 was frequently gone through a fortnight 
 before the performance, feldom looked at 
 it again. The evening before his appear- 
 ance, was ufually preceded by a hearty 
 dinner, a chearful, but moderate glafs of 
 wine, and a game at cribbage, which 
 
 was
 
 ( 22 4 ) 
 
 was almoft always his amufement until 
 a few minutes before the curtain drew 
 up, and he was obliged, fometimes very 
 unwilling, to appear at the Theatre. 
 
 To 
 
 -
 
 ( 4*5 ) 
 
 To Mr. HENDERSON; 
 
 DEAR HENDERSON, 
 
 I LAST night fat by Kenrick during tn< 
 play, in the front boxes I had a good 
 deal of converfation with him-~He feemed 
 not unwilling to do juftice to your me- 
 rit, but complained of your method of 
 toning your voice -, by copying Garrick's 
 under-play, he faid you were fcarce intel- 
 ligible to the audience I aflured him that 
 he was greatly miftaken, for that you had 
 not very often feen Garrick, nor could you 
 copy his King John> which Garrick had not 
 acted for thirty years part. However, he 
 was fo far right that you apparently wanted 
 ipirit, arid your voice was lower and more 
 indiftind~l than the crack'd pipkin of the king
 
 of France.' You loft opportunities of get- 
 ting applaufe with Pandolph, you gave 
 little or no force to the popular, as well as 
 juft fentiments of an Englifh king, dif- 
 ckining to be governed by an Italian prieft 
 Your action was extremely confined and 
 fpiritlefs -your general idea of the rafcal 
 John, who compared to Rickard is as a 
 foot-pad, or pick-pocket, oppofed to a 
 highwayman, was juft; your fcene with 
 Hubert -was well planned, and mafterly, 
 though you was rather too low I never 
 loft a word of your's 'till laft night Ken- 
 rick obferved that you wanted variety la 
 the dying fcene, you made ample amends 
 for all deficiencies in the foregoing acts 
 Kenrick owned you was excellent. 
 
 And now let me remind you, of your 
 negle&ing to give due fire and fpirit to that 
 
 excellent
 
 ( "7 ) 
 
 excellent fcene of John with Hubert in the 
 fourth act your reproaches loft all effect 
 with the audience from undef-play, or tak- 
 ing your voice too low. You fufFered Hu- 
 bert to make the moft of that paffionate in- 
 terview, and to rob you of the applaufe 
 you would have merited by a proper exer- 
 tion of your powers, I told K that 
 
 I fancied you was not well, or at leaft not 
 in fpirits. 
 
 Believe me I do not aim to teach or direct 
 you, who know fo much more of the mat- 
 ter than I can pretend to, but the lefs fkil- 
 ful ftander-by can fee defects in a very able 
 gamefter, 
 
 { would recommend your imitation of 
 Garrick in one part of his conduct : when- 
 ever he had a new or capital character to act, 
 he faw no company that day, and dined 
 2 alone
 
 ( "8 ) 
 
 alone upon a trifling difli. This was his 
 conftant pradlicc, I believe from his firft 
 treading the ftage 'till he left it. 
 
 On fuch an occaflon as afting a new part, 
 &c. I would after dining with Mr. and Mrs. 
 I " i, retire to my own room, nor would 
 I be diflurbed by any vifitor whatibever. 
 I tell you again and again, you will deftroy 
 both voice and ftomach by your curfed hot 
 fippings excufe my freedom, 
 
 Yours, ever, 
 
 T. D 
 
 Saturday eleven o Clock. 
 
 The fat parfon G.' is juil gone part 
 to preach a charity fermon, 
 
 tfl
 
 In confequence of this letter and fome 
 other advice, he once changed his cuftom, 
 retired to his chamber and ftudied his part 
 on the day of playing. The confequence was 
 a coldly correct, and moft vapid perform-' 
 ar.ce, which convinced him and his friends 
 that his firft practice was right, at leaft for 
 him. He ferioufly vowed no earthly power 
 mould induce him to repeat the experi- 
 ment, adding, at the fame time, that he 
 thought it poffible, that a number cf very- 
 grave men, who muz zed away much time 
 alone in their own apartments, were quits 
 as likely to be Sleeping as ftudyjng. 
 
 During the time he performed at Drury- 
 Lane, Mr. Sheridan the elder, very properly 
 confi tiering his peculiar excellence in {peak- 
 ing tales, fables, or any light airy compoli- 
 tion, revived Sir JohnVanbrugh's/Efop, with 
 fome alterations, which, from having heard 
 
 flenderfou
 
 Henderfon read it, I think he would have made 
 a moft popular and entertaining character. 
 He entered with true humour into the fpirit 
 of the little tales, and gave full force to the 
 Cervantic gravity of the old moralift. But 
 the town were too faftidious to fufFer the 
 performance in even its altered ftate, Mr. 
 Yates perlbnated a country fquire, a cha- 
 racter the prefent age know only from de- 
 fcription ; the favage preferred his hounds 
 to his wife, and -/Efop was driven from the 
 ftage, 
 
 Among thofe who moft violently in- 
 fitted upon its being withdrawn, were fome 
 of the critical leaders of the tafte of the 
 town, who confidered, and perhaps with 
 good reafon, that mould it fucceed, the fa- 
 bulift might be made a vehicle to anfwer 
 the diurnal remarks which ornament our 
 
 daily
 
 daily papers, and therefore very prudently 
 filenced him the firft night. 
 
 In the fummer cf 1779 he returned to 
 Dublin, and was gratified by every mark 
 of attention, noticed by people of dif- 
 tinction, and received, not merely as an 
 adtor, but a companion, by families of the 
 firft confequence. 
 
 The annexed letter is one example, 
 among many others, of the relped: with 
 which the gentlemen of Ireland, diftin- 
 guifh and proted: genius, in any lituation. 
 
 Mr. Gardiner's teftimony is fo high an 
 honour to Henderibn's memory, that I 
 mould not be juftified in withholding it. 
 J hope, I believe, the fame liberality of 
 fentiment which dictated filch a letter, will 
 pardon its infertion. 
 
 Copy
 
 J 
 
 etter from Mr, Gardiner to Lorji 
 Doneraile. 
 
 Black-Rocky July btb> 1779, 
 MY DEAR 
 
 A S Mr. Henderfon is going to Cork 
 to perform there, I thought I could not 
 do him a greater fervice than to recom- 
 mend him to your attention. He has given 
 us much entertainment here, and I doubt not 
 will afford you equal pleafure in the line of 
 his profeifion. I have had frequent oppor- 
 tunities of being in company with him and 
 Mrs, H. and have found them fa agreeable, 
 that I need make no apology for introduce 
 jng tjiem to your lordfhip's acquaintance, 
 
 particularly^
 
 ( 233 ) 
 
 particularly, as fuch talents as his, unit-? 
 s d with good humour, and good breeding, 
 are at tjjis day peculiarly rare. 
 
 I remain, &c ? 
 
 f. G4RDJNER, 
 
 The
 
 ( 234 ) 
 
 The enfuing feafon Mr. Sheridan and 
 Henderfon difagreed upon terms, the ex- 
 pectations of the latter being higher than 
 the manager thought proper to comply 
 with ; what thofe expectations were found- 
 ed upon, are defcribed as follows. 
 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. I . 
 
 Dublin, June 29, 1779. 
 
 I WAITED for fomething of more im- 
 portance than our fafe arrival to inform you 
 of, and now I have a fubje<5t. The prin- 
 cipal people are fo delirous of my wintering 
 here, that they have made me the moft flat- 
 tering, the moft honourable propofals. To 
 fecure me from the accidents (ACCIDENT 
 is here a word of great pith and moment, 
 and ufed for fafety, becaufe letters may be 
 miflaid) which may happen in a negotiation 
 with the Irifh manager -, they will raife a 
 fubfcription among themfelves, and the Lord 
 Lieutenant himfelf offers a hundred guineas 
 towards it - y the reft will amount to a larger 
 fum than I mould receive in England, even 
 if my demands were complied with, and I 
 
 coniider
 
 eonfider the houfe in Buckingham-.ftrect & 
 pntenanted, and pay {he rent myfclf. Now 
 Jam in a fhite of moft tormenting fufpenfe - s 
 for I hear npthing either from the, elder, or 
 the younger Sheridan They feem to have 
 no great earneftnefs in their wifh that I 
 ihould continue with them, and yet I dq 
 not care to fby here, unleis they pofitively 
 anfwer me, yes or no^ 
 
 This place is poor beyond all names of 
 poverty, at leafh fo the people fay, and I 
 am fure the Theatre bears the marks of \l -, 
 but if I ftay, I depend uppn thofe who can- 
 not be poor in any country. Mrs. Crawford 
 certainly flays here, and I fhall have the ad- 
 vantage of playing with her. C- r-d 
 
 is abominated by the critics, and all people 
 here are critics. I am now going to Corke, 
 fo that you muil: direct to me there. If 
 you would fee the elder Mr. Sheridan, and 
 
 learn
 
 team from him what I am to do, I mouli 
 bb glad. I dare not fend him the pro-* 
 pofals that are made me at large, left it 
 ihould be confirmed an artifice to raife my 
 confeqUence in England, or a treachery to 
 the proprietors here. But fomething I muft 
 do, and fpeedily. 
 
 Whether the propofals here are accepted 
 dr not, nothing can be more favourable to 
 my reputation, than their having been made 
 by people of fuch rank, and tafle, and im- 
 portance, as they are* 
 
 Adieu, my deareft friend, 
 
 Allure yourfelf, I arn moil affectionately, 
 
 Vour's, &c, 
 
 , HENDERSON.
 
 To Mr. L 
 
 July 1 6, 1779. 
 
 THE very day that I wrote to you, I wrote 
 alfo to the elder Sheridan ; I told him my 
 offers, and gave him 'till the firft of Augufl 
 to determine. I mail not recede from my 
 claims, as I think them juft. 
 
 I yefterday received a letter from the trea- 
 furer of Drury-lane, acquainting me, that 
 he was ordered by the proprietors, ten days 
 before, to write to me, and to inform me 
 that they were ready to treat with me upon 
 the fame terms as laft year. I have no 
 doubt that this was written in confequence 
 of mine to S , and that the ten days is a 
 lye. This letter I anfwered, by faying, 
 that Mr. Sheridan, the elder, was ac- 
 quainted
 
 ( 2 39 ) 
 
 quainted with my refolutions, and that I 
 mould be governed by his anfwer, which I 
 mall, and by the firft of Auguft I mall 
 decide. Nothing is more likely, than that 
 S would wiih to be the hero : he pro- 
 bably wimes it, and it may probably happen. 
 I do not fee, my dear lad, what you can 
 do ; I muft wait his reply, and act accord- 
 ingly. At all events, it is an honourable 
 retreat for me, and I may be more wanted 
 another year. I muft write more at large, 
 when I know more, and have more time. 
 
 J. H. 
 
 T
 
 To Mr. I . .. .. 
 
 Cork, Aug. 24, 1779% 
 t)EAR JACK, 
 
 MY letter to E ftates all my defign?, 
 
 and I need not repeat them to yoiu When 
 you have read the letter will you fend it ? 
 I write to E- , becaufe I would have it 
 fhewn to Sheridan and I am refolved to 
 adhere to my terms. I can make a very 
 handibme bargain here, and complete it in 
 three montfis. I fhall get more money, and 
 be lefs a (lave, and efcape tne unworthy 
 treatment I have found in London; I feel 
 my own importance more than ever I did, 
 and I will not be trampled on. Pray, my 
 dear boy, copy, or get this letter copied, 
 for I have not time, and learn > if you 
 
 can.
 
 ( 241 ) 
 
 Can what anfwer he gets, and write to 
 me at Birmingham. I do not Urge him 
 to an anfwer/ becaufe it looks like too 
 much anxiet/i 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. E . 
 
 Aug. 24, 1779. 
 DEAR E , 
 
 YOU will, perhaps, be difappointed when 
 I declin* Mr. Sheridan's offer, but you 
 ought, of all people, to be the lead fb, 
 becaufe you muft remember the converfation 
 
 you was preferrt at, between Mr. S and 
 
 myfelf, when I made my firfl agreement 
 with him. You remember, that my falary 
 was no more than ten pounds a week, be- 
 caufe my forfeiture was urged, and you re- 
 member Mr. Sheridan urged that forfeiture 
 being equally paid, whether in money y or in 
 property. You remember alfo, that Mr. 
 Sheridan urged, that I mould be moderate 
 in my firft claims, and rife, by degrees, in 
 the Theatre, and now he propofes that I 
 
 mould '
 
 fliould fink in it j for fifteen guineas a week 
 is not more than I had, computing my for- 
 feiture, and I ought in jufHce to have ranked 
 in the - Theatre agreeable to that falary, 
 thougV, in the quietaefs of my difpofition, I 
 forbore a claim which might be troublefome 
 without material advantage^ My reception 
 in this kingdom^ among fuch perfqns as it 
 is moffc an actor's honour as well as intereft 
 to pleafe, has not moderated my Opinion of 
 the juflice of my claim, to an equal falary, 
 and equal rank, with Mr* Smith, When 
 I c(*nverfed with the elder Mr. Sheridan in 
 
 the Park, he told me, that Mr. S- , his 
 
 fon, could not deny the reafonablenefs of 
 my claim, but that, for certain reafons, it 
 could not be complied with for the next 
 feafon ; that if I would /tay on my prefent 
 falary for one year more, I mould have my 
 demands in future. To this I anfwered, 
 agreeable to my defire of accommodation, &c- 
 R 2 that
 
 ( 244 ) 
 
 that if he would give me twelve guineas per 
 week now, and fifteen guineas a week in a 
 future feafon, I would be content. If Mr. 
 Sheridan had made me that offer now, I 
 believe I mould have clofed with him, but I 
 cannot accept his twelve pounds, and no 
 aflurance of rifing the next feafon. I could 
 have contented myfelf with poftponing 
 my claim, but am not content to relin- 
 quifli it, 
 
 I have received a letter from Mr. T. S. 
 in which he tells me, that the patentees are 
 determined to raife no falaries, and yet I am 
 aflured, that an after, with whom it would 
 do me no very great honour to be compared, 
 has obtained an encreafe of his. I know 
 rery well, how little force, arguments and 
 reafons have with managers, and, therefore, 
 I do not ufe them there j but this is, my 
 friend, to juflify myfelf to you Whilft I 
 
 feel
 
 ( 245 ) 
 
 feel no diminution of my own powers, nor 
 any decline of the public approbation, I fee 
 no reafon why I ihould humble myfelf to 
 the di&d vantage of my intereft, or my im- 
 portance in a Theatre. My defign, there- 
 fore, is to fet off for England, play a few 
 nights at Birmingham, proceed to London ; 
 from thence return to Ireland about Decem- 
 ber, which will be time enough to compleat 
 entirely the plan I have in meditation, and 
 to anfwer all my deligns. I mall be in 
 Buckingham-ftreet, I hope, by the latter 
 end of September, unlefs I find it convenient 
 to perform longer in tjie country, I hope 
 you will not condemn me for not accepting 
 Mr. Sheridan's offer, nor think I am at all 
 in exile. Why mould I leave a place where 
 I am careiTed by all ranks of people, to ac- 
 cept terms that degrade me from my fail 
 conditions, and keep me inferior to thofe 
 whom the public do not prefer to me, I 
 R 3 mud
 
 muft remind you, that the conditions on 
 which I ftiy here, are fuch as, I believe, 
 have not happened to any other ac*tor, and, 
 therefore, muft do me honpur in the world. 
 I may, poflibly, pafs -my next fummer in 
 London to great advantage, as well as con- 
 venience ; in the mean time, I will not 
 weakly embrace the fetters which the 
 London coalition are forging for us. It 
 requires no very great forefight to obferve 
 the toils which are gathering round us. I 
 thank God, I need not at this period rum 
 into them, and, therefore, I feeleafler than 
 fyhen I left England, 
 
 I am, &c f 
 
 J. H, 
 
 P. S. In order that my terms may be fully 
 wnderftttod, I repeat to you, that I mould 
 
 fo
 
 ( 247 ) 
 
 fo far compromife the matter, to accept 
 of twelve guineas for the next fealbn, 
 and fifteen .for the two. fucceeding -But 
 I cannot play for twelve, without an af- 
 furance of the refh 
 
 At
 
 At the commencement of the winter 
 1779, he removed to Covent Garden, at 
 a falaiy of twelve pounds a week, and 
 performed feyeral characters, new to him, 
 with encreafed reputation -^ Macbeth, for 
 the firft time at this Theatre, on the i8th 
 of O&ober. 
 
 When he appeared with the daggers 
 after the murder of Duncan, I think the 
 countenance of horror and remorfe which 
 he affumed, was equal to any exhibition I 
 ever faw upon the ftage, and much critical 
 knowledge of the character was difplayed 
 through the whole ; yet in the other fcenes 
 he wanted the fpeaking terrors of Mr, 
 Oarrick's look and adtion, which can no 
 more be defcribed than they can be equalled, 
 
 The fummer of 1780 he patted at Liver- 
 pool. To fay he was well received, will 
 
 be
 
 ( 249 ) 
 
 |be$ repetition of that which has been already 
 faid, butj furely, the adlor who has powers 
 cf attraction fufficient to induce men of 
 fcience to come from diftant parts of a 
 province to be prefent at his performance, 
 muil be allowed to derive fome honour 
 from their attendance; efpecially when it 
 Js confidered, that province was Lanca- 
 ihire - y for it will not be eaiy to iind any 
 country fo eminently diftinguimed for die 
 liberality and fcientific knowledge, of 
 thofe wjio have been, and are its inha^ 
 bitants. 
 
 In the winter he returned to Covent- 
 Garden. Among other characters he per- 
 formed Wolfcy. His feniible fpeaking and 
 accurate elocution marked the character, but 
 in fome of the fcenes he wanted that dignity 
 ^ which
 
 which the poet and hiftorian* (for an hif- 
 torian our immortal drama tift may be called) 
 has given to the haughty Cardinal. 
 
 He played Sir John Brute, and I thought 
 pleafantly, but Mr. Garrick obferved, " it 
 was the city Sir John, for egad he had nei- 
 ther the air nor the manner of the rake of 
 famion." 
 
 I believe it was in this feafon he firft per- 
 donated lago, a character in which per- 
 haps he has not been equalled. A very 
 good idea of the manner in which he 
 
 looked 
 
 * A writer of fome eminence fays, that the great 
 Duke of MarJborough was ignorant of Englifti hiftorv, 
 and to prove his afiertion, gives an inftance of his Grace 
 having once quoted Shakefpeare, as an authority upon 
 a difputed point. The inftance was furcly unfortu- 
 nate.
 
 looked it t may be formed from Bartolozzi's 
 engraving $ when I add it was from a 
 {ketch by Stuart, though at only one fating, 
 'tis fcarce necefTary to fay it exhibits a moil 
 flriking refemblance. 
 
 Sir Charles Eafy he played for a be- 
 nefit. The character fat heavy upon him. 
 I remember Foote ufed to tell of an emi- 
 nent actor of the old fchool, who being 
 informed he muft play* Richard the Third, 
 the following night, returned for anfwer to 
 the manager, " that his rheumatifm was 
 fo bad he could fcarcely flir hand or foot, 
 but if they would get up the Carelefs Huf- 
 band, he was ready to play Sir Charles Eajy, 
 inftead of the king." 
 
 Findjng it impoffible to make his own 
 terms in the rummer of 1781, he had not 
 any Theatrical employment, except that he 
 
 one
 
 ( '5* ) 
 
 dne night played Falfhff at the Hay mar- 
 ket, for the benefit of Mr, Edwin, 
 
 His hours of leifurc he frequently em- 
 ployed in copying old plays, and I verily 
 believe it was upon thefe occafions only, 
 that he read them, for no man had lefs 
 reverence for the BLACK LETTER than 
 Mr, John Henderfon, His opinion of 
 large libraries was not much more favour- 
 able. He ufed to quote the remark 
 of fomebody, who faid, " that moft 
 men who got together vaft quantities of 
 books, put him in mind of the Italian 
 finger who founded a Seraglio," I believe, 
 in general, the greateft collectors are not 
 the moft remarkable for being the deepefl 
 readers. Indeed the time taken up in hunt- 
 ing after fcarce books, does not leave much 
 Jeained kifure for perufing them, 
 
 Tte
 
 In the fummer of 1782 he played at Li- 
 verpool, where I think his benefit amounted 
 to nearly two hundred pounds. 
 
 In the winter he performed Lufignan, 
 but his powers were unequal to either that 
 or Lear. The pathetic was not his forte* 
 had he been left to the choice of his own 
 characters, I believe he would no more have 
 played Lear than Romeo.' He thought 
 highly, and not unjuftly of his own me- 
 rit in fpeaking the ChorufTes to Henry 
 the Fifth, which being rather an unpo- 
 pular play, he did not, I believe, appear in 
 after January 1779, when I faw him. His 
 figure acquired grace from the Vandyke 
 habit. His recitation led me to regret it 
 was not repeated. He was accurate, ani- 
 mated, energetic. 
 
 In
 
 In the November of 1783 he appeared 
 in Tamerlane, to Mr. JCemble's Bajazet; 
 but the fire of the tyrannic Bajazet predo- 
 minated over the tame Tamerlane, who, 
 notwithftanding the avowed intention of the 
 poet, was to give a femblance of, and pay 
 a compliment to, our third William, is a 
 rapid, heavy, and infipid part. 
 
 The fummer of 1784 he palled at Edin- 
 burgh, and it was obferved, that the Reve- 
 rendi, and Reverendiflimi, laid afide their 
 ancient prejudices*, and appeared in a play- 
 houfe, to behold Mrs. Siddons, and Mr. 
 
 Henderfon. 
 
 r 
 
 * Thefe prejudices were not peculiar to Scotland ; 
 the fame narrownefs of fentiment pervaded a numerous 
 clafs of people in this kingdom, not very many years 
 ago. On a fet of itinerants being once tolerably well 
 received at Kidderminfter, in Worcefterfhire, a Mr. 
 Watfon nailed a card, with the following lines, upon 
 
 the
 
 ( 255 ) 
 
 Henderfon. How different were the fen- 
 timents of this people" in the days of that 
 fevere fcourge of diffipation, John Knox, 
 when the reprefentation of a play would have 
 excited horror, and the whole company 
 had been devoted to deftruclion, as a re- 
 giment under the banner of the woman of 
 Babylon. 
 
 During 
 
 the door of fhe barn where they enafed, which was 
 dignified with the name of, The Summer Royal Thectrt. 
 
 " How art thou fallen, oh ! Kidderminster j 
 
 " When every fpulfter, fpinner, fpinfter, 
 
 " Whofe fathers liv'd in f Baxter's prayers, 
 
 " Are now run gadding after players : 
 
 " Oh ! Richard, couldft thou take a furvey, 
 
 " Of this vile place, for fin fo fcurvy, 
 
 " Thy pious {hade, enragfd would fcoid them, 
 
 " And make ihe barn too hot to hold them." 
 
 f Richard Baxter, who was vry aiany years nf nifter of that p'ace-
 
 During the fumrner of 1785, he pef< 
 formed a few nights at Dublin, and was 
 honoured by an invitation to the Cattle, 
 where he read the ftory of Le Fevre, and 
 fome other feledt paflageSj from his favourite 
 Sterne, to the Duke and Dutchefs of Rut- 
 land, and their court* 
 
 In the Lent feafbn, Mr. Sheridan and he 
 united in public readings at Freemafons 
 JIalL The terms were thought high, but 
 juftified by fuccefs. The opinion enter- 
 tained of them by the public, may be ga- 
 thered from the crouds who attended every 
 night during their continuance, and from 
 the fum which was gained - t I think not lefs 
 than eight hundred pounds. Having in a 
 former page given my opinion of his per- 
 formance, I need not repeat it. He how- 
 ever read into reputation fome things which 
 
 feemed
 
 ( 257 ) 
 
 feemed to have been 'gathered to the dull 
 of ancient days, and but for fuch a revival 
 had probably been flill covered with the cloak 
 of oblivion.* Had Mr. Henderfon lived, 
 this entertainment would have been conti- 
 nued, as he requefted from a gentleman emi- 
 nent for his tafte and judgement,-^ a felec- 
 tion from thofe writers mofl likely to be 
 popular* 
 
 Previous to his Voyage to Dublin, fome 
 little differences between Mr. Harris and 
 him had been accommodated, and he renewed 
 an engagement for four years, I have been 
 told, at feventeen, eighteen, nineteen and 
 S twenty 
 
 * One Printfeller fold 6006 copies of John Gilpiivs 
 Race, which had been feveral years before printed in 
 ene of the public papers, but fcarcely noticed* 
 
 -r Mr, Caleb Whitefoord,
 
 twenty pounds a week. But his laft per- 
 formance was Horatius in the Roman Fa- 
 ther, on the third of November, 1785. 
 
 He was foon after feized with a difor. 
 der which feemed to have fubmitted to me- 
 dicine, but when his complaints put on 
 the mofl favourable appearance, a fudden 
 death deprived the public of an excellent per- 
 former, and his friends of an agreeable 
 companion, on the 2 5th of November, 1785, 
 in the 4Oth year of his age. 
 
 An eminent furgeon gives the following 
 account : 
 
 " Henderfbn's liver was entirely undi- 
 feafed j the lungs in perfect health ; the 
 brain had no extravafation, whatever to ex- 
 ternal appearance. His ftomach was pre- 
 ternaturally ftrong. His heart was the only 
 
 part
 
 ( 259 ) 
 
 part of the fyftem which failed. His heart 
 was literally broken, that is, it had lofl 
 its accuflomed rmnefs of tone. It is by 
 far the ftouteft mufcle in the human body, 
 and the leading vefTels were all offified, or 
 offifying. In fhort, if I had not known Mr. 
 Henderfon, and feen his face, his teeth, and 
 his hair, I mould have fuppofed from his 
 heart, that his age had been ninety/' 
 
 On the third of December following, he 
 was interred in Weftminfler Abbey, near 
 Doctor John/bn and Mr. Garrick, the 
 chapter and the choir attending to pay 
 refpecl to his memory. His pall was fup- 
 ported by the honourable Mr. Byng, Mr. 
 Malone, Mn Whitefoord, Mr. Stevens, 
 and Mr. Hoole. 
 
 S 2 I have
 
 ( 2 6o ) 
 
 I have not feen any epitaph to his me- 
 mory, nor is it eafy to write one pro- 
 perly defcriptive of his profeffion. 
 
 " The ACTOR only, {brinks from time's award; 
 Feeble tradition is HIS memory's guard j 
 By whofe faint breath his merits muft abide, 
 Unvouch'd by proof to fubftance unallied !" 
 
 The moft concife Epitaph I recoiled: to 
 have feen upon a player, was 
 
 Exi T BURBAGE. 
 
 From the time of his entre on a Lon- 
 don flage, he was overwhelmed with in- 
 difcriminate and ill judged flattery. This 
 might ferve the manager, but injured the 
 player, and inflated the man. 
 
 It fo far kindled the embers of vanity in 
 his mind, as to demand the full cxercife of 
 
 his
 
 ( 26! ) 
 
 his underftanding to keep them from a 
 blaze. It called forth critical oppofition, 
 which fometimes produced too ievere a 
 fcrutiny. 
 
 His death has embalmed his name, iince 
 that time we have had, not characters, but 
 echoing plaudits. Preferring to defcribe 
 what Henderfon was, they tell you what 
 a player and a man ought to be. 
 
 Such eulogies difplay the ingenuity of 
 the writer, but do not much fanctify the 
 object of their adulation, 
 
 They have enveloped his character in the 
 mift of panegyric, and in their zeal to con- 
 fecrate his memory have forgotten that ex- 
 cefs qf decoration difguifes and deitroys the 
 refemblance, of thofe it is intended to dig- 
 S 3 nify;
 
 ( 262 ) 
 
 nify ; for to all the defcriptions of him 
 which I have feen, it was necefiary to in- 
 fcribe the name, or I mould never have 
 fufpeded fuch high coloured pictures were 
 intended as portraits of Henderfon. 
 
 Abfolute perfection is not the lot of 
 humanity, and after all the fine things which 
 have been faid, his relative merit is the cri- 
 terion by which he mufl be tried, nor will 
 that merit fufFer much diminution by being 
 oppofed to thofe with whom he was co- 
 temporary. 
 
 If it fliould be thought I am too minute, 
 .1 can only anfwer, that when reading of a 
 man who was eminent, I have ever wifhed 
 to know what were his peculiar diipofi tions, 
 and domeftic habits, by what qualities he 
 attracted attention, and what were the me- 
 thods by which he acquired reputation. 
 
 By
 
 By fome it may be thought that I over- 
 rate his abilities, and there may be thofe 
 who will think I have not allowed him all 
 that he pofTefFed. In the delineation of a 
 man's perfon, or difpoiition, I confider like- 
 nefs to the original as the leading excellence, 
 and that I have attempted in the following 
 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 As an a&or he had many difadvantages 
 to cope with. His height was below the 
 common ftandard. He had an imcompacted 
 frame. His limbs were ill proportioned; 
 they were too mort ; he had not much of 
 that flexibility of countenance which anti- 
 cipates the tongue, that language of the 
 eye which prepares the fpectator for the 
 S 4 coming
 
 coming fentence, enchains attention, and en- 
 fures partiality. * 
 
 His voice wanted the melifluous iilver 
 found which charms the ear, and was de- 
 ficient in that dignified ftrength which com- 
 mands refpect. It was not fuited to the 
 foftnefs of ^ love, where the very found pro- 
 duces fympathy, nor to the wild rage of 
 tyranny, which awes the multitude, 
 
 But the ftrength of his judgment, and 
 the fervency of his mind, broke through 
 the mounds which nature feemed to have 
 placed between him and excellence, 
 
 His 
 
 * He frequently faic', * Whenever he threw meaning 
 into his eye, it was from fcnmukat whiib lay btbind it t 
 for he was confcious, naturally it was heavy, and de- 
 ftitute of expreffioa." In the hours when his counte- 
 nance was lighted up, it bore a ftrong refemblance to 
 9 portrait of Betterton, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, in the 
 . Samuel Ireland,
 
 His comprehenfion was ample, his 
 knowledge diveriified, and his elocution 
 accurate. 
 
 Where feniible recitation was the leading 
 feature of a character, he had no fuperior. 
 In the varieties of Shakefpeare's foliloquy, 
 where more is meant than meets the ear, 
 he had no equal. 
 
 In that fpecies of eloquence, he difcri- 
 minated with peculiar propriety the me- 
 lancholy Jacques, and the pen live Hamlet, 
 the whimfical Benedick, and tke voluptuous 
 Falftaff. In the whole of that part he 
 was without a competitor, and not having 
 left any lawful fucceflbr, the humour of the 
 fat knight muft be confined to the clofet. 
 
 Being little acquainted with fencing, or 
 dancing, his deportment was neither eafy 
 
 nor
 
 ( 266 ) 
 
 nor difengaged, and in fcenes where the 
 former accomplishment was necefTary, ap- 
 peared to great difadvantage. Sometimes 
 the fuperior fkill of his opponent flrudc the 
 fword from his hand, at the moment which 
 required its firmeft grafp yet the character 
 of Hamlet, he fuftained with fuch tafle, feel- 
 ing, and propriety, that we forgot every 
 light imperfection ; and, except when he 
 would faw the air with rather too much 
 famenefs, he approached very near perfection. 
 His manner of fpeaking three words, '* Tbe 
 fair Ophelia /" ftill vibrates upon my ear. 
 It was equal to Mrs. Crawford's, 'was be 
 ive ? Superior it could not be. 
 
 In the instructions to the players, it will 
 not be violating truth, to fay, he excelled 
 Mr. Garrick. In one, we faw the Manager ; 
 in the other, the Prince of Denmark. 
 
 His
 
 His range was extenfive, efpecially in 
 comedy. I do not fo much mean in the 
 number of parts, as their oppofition of 
 character*. 
 
 In the flimfy declamation of modern tra~ 
 gedy, he added little to his reputation. 
 Shakefpeare was the deity he worlhipped, 
 entered into the fpirit of the characters, as 
 drawn by that mighty matter of the human 
 heart, and feeling with enthufiafm, exhibited 
 them with ardour. Yet to fome he was 
 unequal ; and who has been able to per- 
 fonate all the creations of a Shakeipeare's 
 boundlefs fancy ? 
 
 He 
 
 * To inflance a few. What can be more diffimilar 
 than lago and Benedick ; Hamlet and Falfaft j Shylock 
 and Pofthumus ; Jaques and Don John ; Brutus and 
 Comus ; Cardinal Wolfey and Sir John Brute ; Leon 
 and Sir Giles Overreach,
 
 ( 268 ) 
 
 He had moft uncommon powers of imi- 
 tation, and gave, with the voice and gefture, 
 the countenance, turn of thought, and lan- 
 guage of the perfon whofe manner hs 
 aflumed*. 
 
 Of his abilities as a writer, I have had 
 fo frequent occafion to give my opinion 
 
 in 
 
 * I recollect a circumftance, which will more fully 
 explain what I mean. 
 
 When I once came with him from the late Doctor 
 Johnfon's, I remarked that we had forgotren to mention 
 one of his old friends having juft married a third wife. 
 I added, " What would the Dodor have faid to it r" 
 w Sir," replied Henderfon, " he would would have faid, 
 man is born to be deceived. We fee daily inftances 
 where expe&ation fubdues experience. This will be 
 an additional example of the fallacy of hope, and difap- 
 pointment of expectation. Yet we mud allow the man 
 has cturage, or after the fufferings of two campaigns, he 
 would not voluntarily expofe himfelf on the forlorn hope. 
 He will be blown up, Sir /"
 
 in this volume, that I will not repeat 
 what has been already {aid I fubmit them 
 to the judgment of the reader. 
 
 He was a clofe and acute reafoner, and 
 an expert logician. Though ignorant of the 
 names of his weapons of argument, he 
 could wield them with adroitnefs and 
 power. 
 
 In the polite arts he had a good tafte ; 
 to an eye that quickly difcerned defects in 
 fculpture, or painting, he joined a freedom 
 of ridicule, which did not add to the 
 number of his friends amongft the fecond 
 clafs of artifts. 
 
 His memory was uncommonly tenacious, 
 and to that he was more indebted than to 
 laborious ftudy, or clofe application, for in 
 his early years he was indolent. But his 
 
 quicknefs
 
 quicknefs of perception foon attained what- 
 ever he attempted, and once attained it be- 
 came his own. 
 
 He ufed to expatiate on Dr. Johnfon's 
 tendency to fuperftition, and affected more 
 freedom of thinking than he pofTefled, for 
 he believed much which he would not ac-' 
 knowledge. 
 
 His fpirits were generally high, but there 
 were hours, even after he had the mofl 
 flattering profpects of fame and fortune, 
 when they funk into the lowefl depreffion.* 
 Whether he acquired this tendency from 
 
 the 
 
 * At fuch times he has often told me the following 
 ftory : When his brother was ten, arid he not more 
 than eight years of age, their well being depending upon 
 the life of their mother, file was affli&cd with a violent 
 
 nervous
 
 y 
 
 the books he read, or his difpoiition led 
 him to fuch ftudies, I will not determine $ 
 it is however certain that his reading was 
 
 uncommonly 
 
 nervous diforder, which had funk her into a deep melan- 
 choly. While fuffering under this, me one morning 
 left her houfe and children, who waited her return with 
 impatience* Night approached, but their parent did 
 not come. Full of terror, the two boys went in fearch 
 of her. Ignorant what courfe to take, they wandered 
 until midnight, about the places where fhe ufed to walk, 
 but wandered without fuccefs. They agreed to return 
 home, but neither, of them knew the way. Fatigued, 
 alarmed, diftrefled, they fat down on a bank to weep, 
 when they obferved at fome diftance a luminous ap- 
 pearance, and fuppofing it a candle in fome friendly ha- 
 bitation, haftily directed their fteps towards it. As they 
 moved, the light moved alfo, and glided from field to 
 field, for a confiderable time. At length, it feemed fixed, 
 and on their near approach, vanished on the fide of a 
 large piece of water. On the margin, they found their 
 mother in a ftate from which fhe was roufed by the 
 prefence and tears of her children, 
 
 This
 
 uncommonly multifarious. It compre- 
 hended all books upon apparitions, illufions 
 of the devil, and vifions, from Adyes Can-> 
 die in the Dark to Califs Wonders of the 
 invifible World. He had trod the whole 
 circle of witchcraft, from the Htftory of the 
 Witch of Endor, to the Story of Mary 
 Squires. Books of horror he had perufed 
 from Fox's Martyrohgy, to the Account 
 of the Dutch Cruelties at Amboyna. To all 
 this he added a thorough knowledge of the 
 Englifh claffics, whofe beauties he fully 
 conceived, and eminently difplayed, by the 
 judgment, variety, and humour of his pub- 
 lic readings. He knew the French lan- 
 guage 
 
 This he has often aflertcd, he religioufly believed to be 
 neither an ignusfatuu^ nor a creation of the imagination, 
 but a kind intcrpofition of Providence, for the pre- 
 Arrvition of the widow, and the widow's fons.
 
 ( *73 ) 
 
 guage well, and fpoke it with great fluency 
 and elegance* 
 
 His temper was placid, and under very 
 uncommon government ; I have not the re- 
 collection of ever having feen him in a paf- 
 iion . He was not amamed of obligations, 
 but frequent in his acknowledgment ** 
 
 In the acquirement of friends he was for- 
 tunate. The kter years of his life were ho- 
 noured with the notice of men from whofe 
 converfation much was to be gathered, and 
 his own equability of temper, and accomo- 
 dating manners conciliated their regards* 
 
 If there was fometimes a little inter- 
 change of flattery, it was perhaps equally 
 gratifying to each party. Henderfon faid, 
 lf it is the commerce of life, and wheri 
 any one avows himfelf fo faftidious that 
 T his
 
 ( 274 ) 
 
 his mind revolts at fuch incenfe, we may 
 fairly prefume, he pretends to rejeft what 
 was never offered, and rails at that branch 
 of devotion, becaufe he is not the object 
 of it." He acknowledged it pleafed him, 
 and boldly afTerted that no a<flor could per- 
 form well unlefs he was flattered, both in 
 and out of the theatre. * 
 
 Like 
 
 * I think it was the late Mr. Topham Beauclerc, 
 who inferted as a note in Gibber's Apology That Mr. 
 Ganick told him, when he read Lethe to his Majefty, 
 he felt fuch a preflure upon his fpirits, as difabled him 
 from giving any force to the different characters of his 
 own farce. His powers were frozen, and he was fcarce 
 capable of reading it to the conclufion. " Conceive to 
 yourfelf, faid he, a man wrapped up in a wet blanket 
 reading a play to a king, and you will have a perfect idea 
 of my filiation," 
 
 This proves what Gibber aflerts inhis Apology, vol. 2. 
 page 76. That attars accuftomed to loud and gtneml plait-* 
 Jits cannct txtrt themjelvts without.
 
 Like his predecefTor in his mofl popular 
 character, he was not averfe to the pleafures 
 of a good table, and they were well be* 
 flowed upon him - y he became exhilarated. 
 I never faw him play FalftafFwith fo much 
 glee, as one evening of a lord-mayor's day, 
 when he had dined and drank fack and fugar 
 at the houfe of a friend. His eye was lighted 
 up, and his whole countenance beamed VQ-* 
 luptuous humour. 
 
 Having been early forced into the practice 
 of ftricl: oeconomy, he was fully fenfible of 
 the value of money, and acquired a habit 
 of rejecting all expence which was not ab- 
 folutely neceflary, and the criterion was not 
 his income, but his wants. With this at- 
 tention the wages of his labour naturally ac- 
 cumulated, and confidering him as knowing 
 fo well how to profit by his talents, he was 
 T 2 a fingular
 
 fingular inftance of prudence being united 
 with genius. 
 
 I think if he had lived as long as Mr. 
 Garrick, he would have been at leaft as 
 rich. 
 
 The letters and poems which follow, 
 having no immediate connexion with the 
 anecdotes, it was thought beft to infert them 
 at the latter end of the volume. Thofe let- 
 ters which are without dates, I have, near 
 as my recollection enabled me, placed in 
 the fame progreffion of time in which they 
 were written. 
 
 To
 
 ( 277 ) 
 
 To the Rev. Mr. P- 
 
 . London, Oftober ift, 1769. 
 
 I differ from you. I believe objects of 
 fpeculation have more power to charm the 
 foul from a fenie of its afHi&ion, than atfs of 
 real and folid benevolence. 
 
 The greatnefs of mind which impels men 
 to beneficent actions, prevents their dwelling 
 upon them. When a man has acquired an 
 habitual generofity, and greatnefs of foul, 
 the exercife of that generofity, makes little 
 or no durable impreifion upon his mind; 
 it is become a part of his nature, and per- 
 formed without attention. It is not fo with 
 that fpecies of wifdom which impels the 
 ibul to dart into the regions of enquiry and 
 inveftigation. The fpirits are agitated, the 
 T 3 pafiions
 
 paflions are engaged, and expand in the pur- 
 fuit. With what extacy does the mind glow 
 upon every new acquifition, How in a fine 
 frenzy rolling, doth it 
 
 " Glance from heaven to earth, 
 
 c From earth to heaven, 
 
 " And as imagination bodies forth 
 
 " The forms of things unknown, 
 
 " Turns them to (hape, 
 
 a And gives to airy nothing, 
 
 " A local habitation and a name." 
 
 Every faculty is in exertion pain, fick- 
 nefs, poverty, and all its confequential 
 horrors, where are ye funk, loft, and trem- 
 bling, at the throne of Genius. -What 
 but ito wondrous potency could invigorate 
 fo many great men, and turn the darknefs 
 of their dungeon into light. 
 
 Hath
 
 ( 279 ) 
 
 Hath not the foul continued its purfuits, 
 with lank and flefhlefs famine on one fide, 
 and refllefs juftice, bearing in her hand 
 an iron key, on the other. Gracious hea- 
 ven ! When affliction reareth the mafly club ! 
 When oppreffion fhaketh the whip of fcor- 
 pions ! give me but one fpark of this di- 
 vine enthufiafm, and I will endure the 
 blow. * * # * * * * * * 
 
 T4 To
 
 To the Rev. Mr. P 
 
 L ondon t December 21, 1769, 
 
 I HAVE received your prefent j I gave one* 
 
 of the pheafants to Mr. I thank 
 
 you for the other I ate it where you were 
 cordially drank to make a pun of that, 
 9.nd you may fuppole we toafted you in, 
 Geneva. 
 
 I have a defign in meditation, which if 
 it fucceeds I fhall with promptitude convey 
 to you. I reafon upon your temper from 
 my own, ajid ftate you to myfelf as interefted 
 in all my concerns. -Holland the come- 
 dian is dead, and ranting is no more. . 
 Junius is outrageous, but vain is eloquence 
 lofes all fenfes, but that of 
 feeling.-^
 
 feeling. I write this in poor fpirits and 
 worfe health, an impertinent cold has fixed 
 upon my throat, and a troublefome pain 
 upon my head, and this I owe to Gar- 
 rick's playing Raftings the other night. I 
 mould be tempted to moralize here upon the 
 conftant fucceffion of pain to entertainment, 
 but that I wiU not ufurp your province, 
 
 I long to tranflate a fermon of Flechier's 
 Upon Chriftmasrday ; I never met with an 
 introduction fo fuitably majeftic, and lan- 
 guage fo full of dignity you may pofiibly 
 have it done by the next year, though I 
 don't know whether it would fuit your au- 
 dience.-^-There is another alfo, upon the 
 'wife mens offerings, which my heart burns to 
 copy. I never before confidered their offer- 
 ings of gold, and myrrh, as emblematical, 
 but only as prefents of honour and humi- 
 lity, 
 
 Mr.
 
 t 282 ) 
 
 Mr. D defifes to be remembered to 
 
 you ; I gave him a hint of the thirty fer- 
 mons you received. He looked a little dif- 
 concerted, and I believe repents his refu&l. 
 
 We have a new comedy ; I have not 
 
 feen it played, but I borrowed the pam- 
 phlet, and I do not recoiled: ever to have 
 read any thing more dull and uninter- 
 efting, and yet it fucceeds with the town. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 J. HENDERSON. 
 
 To
 
 To Mr. . 
 
 Who faid, " Hefometimes aftect againft the convifiion 
 cf bis feelings, rather than be unlike the reft of the world" 
 
 London Dec. 2$t&. 
 
 c Dare to be wife, begin, for once begun, 
 *' Your tafk is eafy, half the work is done." 
 
 HORACE. 
 
 A S long as the modes of fafhion con- 
 tinue to be repugnant to wifdom, this 
 counfel of Horace will deferve the clofefl 
 attention. To fleer againft the popular cur- 
 rent of error is indeed a noble daring. A 
 mere fpeculative theorifr., whofe ideas are 
 gathered, more from the volume 0f recorded 
 incidents, than from the fphere they were 
 acted in, would think it unneceflary to
 
 enjoin men to dare to be, that which his 
 books inform him every man ftruggles to be 
 thought ; but the man of the world fees 
 infbmces every day, either in himfelf or 
 others, where many opportunities of acquir- 
 ing wifdom, or difplaying it, are neglected, 
 not from actual ignorance, or inaptitude of 
 conception, but from an indolent or cow- 
 ardly adherence to the reigning fafhions of 
 vice, error, impudence, or prefumption. 
 
 True courage encreafes with the profpedt 
 of danger. That there is great danger 
 in oppofing the world in their mod ardent 
 purfuits, every one will allow who has ever 
 felt the bitternefs of neglect, or the poignancy 
 of ridicule. The foul in almoft every re- 
 fpect acts fuperior to the body; its fufFer- 
 ings are more acute, its pleafures more ex- 
 quifite. Many have by conftitutional vigour 
 dared to expofe their perfons to all the dan- 
 gers
 
 ( 285 ) 
 
 gers of dsftruclive war, whofe fpirits are Ib 
 Hibjed to diftrefs, that popukr clamours, or 
 even fhe pen of an eflayift, can hold them 
 in the continual perplexities of terror. 
 
 This argues a fpecies of courage, very 
 different from bodily daring to be necefTary 
 in Horace's advice, and a courage much 
 fuperior too. 
 
 It has fallen within my obfervation, to 
 fee impertinence and abfurdity, which 
 mocked the underflanding of every one 
 except the fpeaker, by mere dint of re- 
 folute perfeverance change their forms, and 
 become, if not admired, at leaft endured. 
 And indeed it hath been from fuch a con- 
 fident delivery, that impertinence and error 
 have forced their way into the world as 
 they have done. If folly can thus change 
 opinions, and render itfelf acceptable, how 
 
 much
 
 much more fb might wifdom. I /hall be 
 told, perhaps, that their qualities are fo dif- 
 ferent as to render the fame modes of per- 
 fuafion impra&icable. That error is pre- 
 fumptuous, and pofitive, and that the con- 
 comitants of wifdom, are meeknefs and dif- 
 fidence. I do not deny it. Horace himfelf 
 was of the fame opinion, and therefore re- 
 commended it to them by the higheft in- 
 citement of honour, to dare to be wife. He 
 thought even meeknefs and diffidence vir- 
 tues that were to be concealed, when the ho- 
 nour of wifdom was in queftion. You may 
 poffibly quote our great model of chriftianity, 
 as an inftance of wifdom and meeknefs, 
 united in the fame perfon : but I beg leave 
 to obferve, that he never delivered his laws, 
 or his injunctions with timidity He fuf- 
 fered for his manly and bold advancement of 
 them. He fuffered with meeknefs, but gave 
 laws with dignity, firmnefs, and vigour. 
 
 The
 
 * The world, I mean the enlightened part 
 of it, have long iince received his maxims, 
 and blufhed for the dishonour thrown upoa 
 the lawgiver. 
 
 Horace wrote in times very nearly refem- 
 bling our own. Folly was popular in 
 Rome* and fo was courage; he therefore 
 thought nothing fo likely to fUmulate his 
 countrymen to wifdom, as an exertion of 
 their favourite paffion. He would have, 
 folly vanquifhed, and lie in chains, to en- 
 creafe the triumphs of thofe who added king- 
 doms to the empire. 
 
 Philofophers have been ever accufed of 
 want of courage -, I think Dryden fome- 
 where calls them, cowards by profeflion. 
 But in this inflance, every one may become 
 a. hero. It belongs merely to the foul, and 
 wifdom fhould be afhamed to nurfe any opi- 
 nion,
 
 nion, which it dare not promulgate and de- 
 fend. 
 
 To mew of how great force example is 
 among us, I muft remark that when a genius 
 rifes, he gives law to thoufands ; kindles 
 imaginations that would have otherwife 
 funk into torpor, and warms thofe pens, 
 which elfe would have frozen. It would 
 be the fame, my friend, with every other 
 fpecies of wifdom Do but dare to begin, 
 with a refolute purpofe and countenance ; if 
 it does not anfwer, fay there is no truth in 
 
 SHANDY, 
 To
 
 ( 289 ) 
 
 To Mr. I 
 
 From the Banks of the Thames, June 18* 
 
 FOR the books you have my beft thanks. 
 I ufed to think I was fond of fifhing, but 
 I find it a very dull bufinefs. If the good 
 gentleman of Uz had been devoted to my 
 prefent fituation, and fixed among fuck a 
 fet of aquatic animals, his patience mud 
 have been exhaufted.* Sir, fuch a life as I 
 U 
 
 * Do&or Franklin's opinion [ef angling, may be 
 guefled at from the following ftory, which the fage of- 
 ten relates to thofe he thinks Kt with a tafte farpifeatory 
 delights. About fix o'clock one fummer morning, (faid 
 the philofopher) as I was riding by the fide of a running 
 brook in America, I obferved a gentleman with his fifh- 
 ing rod in his hand, a bafket, a bottle, and all the re- 
 quifites, by his fide. I afked him what fport ? -I have 
 
 not
 
 ( 2 9 ) 
 
 now lead, is fit for nothing but an otter, 
 and I believe in my confcience the animals 
 I am with are web footed, and have fins. 
 They are neither fifti nor flem, " A man 
 knows not inhere to have them," but yet I 
 cannot quit thcfe rods, and earth worms, 
 thefe ten days. Think what a treafure was 
 your parcel. 
 
 With Mifs Aikin's poems I am de- 
 lighted, they abound in elegance and fu- 
 blimity, and in harmony not inferior to 
 
 Pope's 
 
 not been here more than two hours, was the anfwer. 
 
 When I returned at the clofe of the day, the fame gentle 
 fwain was in exa&ly the fame place, and at the fame em- 
 ployment. I flopped my horfe, and afked him if he 
 had been well amufed ? "Exceeding well" was the reply. 
 Have you caught many fifh ? "Not any fir." Had 
 
 manybites ? " No, not one bite, but I have had a moil 
 
 glorious nibble ! ! !
 
 ( 291 ) 
 
 Pope's. Indeed, if oppofed to the Erlay art 
 Man, that verification is much excelled. 
 
 Until the arrival of yours, all the print 
 I could pick up in the houfe,- from gar- 
 ret to wine-cellar, was Bracken s Farriery r , 
 Hannah Glaffes Cookery (which by the way 
 I very much like, for the loft receipt in the 
 book is for ifurfeit) Pomfret's Poems, and 
 Popes Effay on Man -> which laft I have 
 read through, and think it very inferior to 
 his other ethic epiftles . It is wonderful that a 
 man of fo exquiiite a tafte, fo accurate an 
 eye, and fo delicate an ear, mould have de- 
 formed his pages, with fuch abbreviations 
 as Cham lor, Gen rat, Conquerors, Powrs, 
 Flow'rs, Ei) y ry f , Heavn ; I cannot fee how 
 his lines are fhortened by them. Heaven 
 will remain two fyllables in any mode I can 
 pronounce it, let it be fpelled how you will. 
 "T/j eternal, Tb* apparent, 1* ' inclofe, and 
 U 2 innumerable
 
 innumerable other examples might be 
 quoted. The phihfopby of the Eflay I will 
 not prefume to meddle with, but the poetry 
 is fome of it very unworthy of Mr. Pope. 
 Let us look at the firft page. 
 
 " The latent tra&s, the giddy heights explore 
 Of all who blindly creep, or figbtkfs foar, 
 Eye nature's walks, (hoot folly as it flies, 
 And catch the manners living as they rife." 
 
 Where a word ends with an S, a reader 
 finds it unpleafant and difficult to begin the 
 word following with the fame ferpentine 
 letter. Would not blindly foar , have been 
 equally poetical, and a better antithefis, 
 than fightlefs foar. I (hould think living 
 manners would have been quite as clear as 
 manners living. But this would be deemed 
 high treafon in the court of ParnafTus, fo 
 " farewel it," till we meet. 
 
 The
 
 ( 293 ) 
 
 The tranflations I have returned by the 
 coach. I made feveral attempts to read 
 them, but all in vain. I could not for 
 the foul of me get thro' three pages. That 
 you may not reproach me with returning the 
 books without an opinion, take the follow- 
 ing four lines. I fcribbled them in the 
 marginal leaf of the firft volume, but re- 
 collecting myfelf, thought it would be more 
 modefor to tear out the leaf, than let them 
 remain in the front of the book, in my 
 hand writing. 
 
 In holy church we fee divines tranfiated, 
 And mitres oft' times grace the empty pated. 
 How hard, how very hard's an author's fate, 
 When empty pated fellows will tranflate. 
 
 If you could get hold of Pontoppidan's 
 
 Norway, or Pierre Vaude, or Philip Quarles, 
 
 (I don't mean the Emblem merchant) I 
 
 U 3 would
 
 ( 294 ) 
 
 would thank you ; though we arc likely to 
 do fomewhat better now, for a good plea- 
 fant fellow joined our partle this morning. 
 I walked with him into the church-yard, 
 but there was nothing worth the trouble of 
 an Epitaph hunter. He has given me one 
 though which pleafes me. There is a good 
 climax in it. Have you ever feen it ? 
 
 Dr. Greenwood, his Epitaph on his Wife. 
 
 Ah Death ! Ah Death ! thou haft cut down, 
 The faireft Green -wood in all .this town ; 
 Her virtues and her good qualities are fuch, 
 She was worthy to marry a lord or a judge, 
 Yet fuch was her condefcenfion, and fuch her hu, 
 
 mility, 
 
 She chofe to marry me, a Doctor in divinity. 
 For this heroic deed fhe ftands confcft, 
 Above all otheis the phoenix of her fex ; 
 And like that bird one young (he did beget, 
 That fhe might not leave her fex difconfolate. 
 My grief for her lofs is fo very fore, 
 J can only write two lines more, 
 
 For
 
 ( 295 ) 
 
 For this, and every other good woman's fake, 
 Never let a blifter be put on a lying-in woman's 
 back. 
 
 This is a ftrange patched letter, part 
 profe, part verfe, and part neither. But 
 whatever my letters are, believe that / am 
 
 th the moft profaic fincerity. 
 
 Wi 
 
 Your's, 
 
 J. HENDERSON. 
 
 U 4 To
 
 ( 2 9 6 ) 
 
 To Mr. I . 
 
 Bath, Nov. 2, 1774. 
 
 AND fo you have been in France. 
 Prithee Jack tell me, is there that difference 
 in the faces, habits, and characteis, of thefe 
 people, which appeareth in the lively pour- 
 traitures we fee exhibited of them 5 are their 
 women either fb beautiful, or fo engaging as 
 ours. I have not any great ambition to be- 
 come either dominican, or capuchine, except 
 that I might in either of thofe characters fee 
 a nun en defoabille, 
 
 I fancy my face would be deemed too 
 friar-like already, to be admitted as a lay- 
 brother, but that thin, fafting, formal face 
 of thine, would be pofitively a letter of re- 
 commendation, and I think, my friend, you 
 
 would
 
 would give an attentive ear to the confeffions 
 of the young devote?*, and, upon proper 
 terms, grant them abfolution. I wifh I 
 had been with you. I long to look at a 
 noviciate ; but for a lady abbefs your de- 
 fcription hath fatisfied me. 
 
 What you fay of the French officers agrees 
 with all I have ever heard. They are gen- 
 tlemen by birth and education. The fu- 
 perior carriage of the foldiers is owing to 
 their being fo univerfally taught fencing, an 
 accomplimment fo ufeful, fo neceffary, but 
 in this country fo much neglected. As 
 tactics have never been my ftudy, I do not 
 feel any great defire to view their fortifi- 
 cations, notwithstanding the great things 
 you fay of them. Marlborough was cer- 
 tainly a fine fellow, and reward was pro- 
 portioned to his merit; but had even be 
 planted twice the number of cannon he had 
 
 in
 
 ( 298 ) 
 
 in France, againft his own Blenheim, and 
 employed Monfieur. Vauban for his engineer, 
 it would hare flood the mock: fo mally 
 and ponderous is that huge heap of littlenefs, 
 that I believe it will outlafl the pyramids. 
 
 Can their churches exceed Weftminfter 
 Abbey ? Thofe 
 
 " Storied windows, richly dight, 
 " Carting a dim, religious light." 
 
 impfefs me with a kind ef awe I do not 
 feel in any other place. If I were an ab- 
 folute monarch, I would oblige ftich of my 
 fubjects as had a fonoy for creeling churches, 
 to build them of the Gothic order. 
 
 'Tis ftrange there fliould be only one good 
 picture at St. Omer's ; but 'tis made up by 
 plenty of reliques. I wifti his Moft Chriftian 
 Majefty were vifited by a dream of heaven 
 
 ajid
 
 ( 2 99 ) 
 
 and Mortimer But when Salvator's Witch 
 of Endor gives place to a Chinefe painting, 
 and that in the palace he inhabits ! what 
 can we expert ? 
 
 You fay Louis Quatorze will never be for- 
 gotten, though he had left no other me- 
 morial than the roads, planted and termi- 
 nated as they are ; yet, to an Englifhman, 
 after ten of their pojies royales, the profpedl 
 moft devoutly to be wimed is a good fupper, 
 which, it feems, you lacked. But though 
 both H - s and you naufeated frogs, I 
 dare fay you relifhed Burgundy. Yet the 
 juice of the grape, without fome folids, 
 would fhrink a Falftaff to a Mafter Slender. 
 After all, a capon and a cup of fack, are 
 better than fnails and Champagne. Such 
 
 jneagre fare and cold potations " I 
 
 hate it," 
 
 I am
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 I am now going to dine with a Jew : bis 
 will be a Mofaic treat. Fun, with oil inflead 
 of fauce, and a turkey fluffed with garlick 
 was our laft feaft. 'This may, perhaps, be 
 a boiled goofe and peafe-pudding, a flew of 
 venifon in four cyder, and a mutton- faufage 
 pafly. I wifh the worthies of old would 
 have confidered, before they made fo many 
 kws about eating, that though the tables of 
 the law were very properly in their depart- 
 ments, the dining tablesy&wWmore peculiarly 
 in the province of the ladies. If prohibiting 
 what is good be a lin, which I firmly believe 
 it is, both Mofes and Pythagoras have much 
 to anfwer for. They banifhed beans and 
 bacon between them, and that, let me tell 
 you, is no bad difh when a man is hungry, 
 in fpite of their philofophy. 
 
 I fuppofe the women are returned, heavy 
 laden with the labours of the loom and the 
 
 fpoils
 
 ( 3 01 ) 
 
 ipoils of the nunnery, and, I hope, efcaped 
 the Cuftom-houfe infpectors. Farewel : if 
 you, or your carafpofa, will return me as 
 much, and as complete nonfenfe as I have 
 written, I will acknowledge that you have 
 not travelled in vain, nor furveyed ftrange 
 countries for nought. 
 
 Your's, ever, 
 
 J. H, 
 
 To
 
 ( 3 02 ) 
 
 To Mr. I . 
 
 .Bath* Ottober iof&. 
 
 I B E G your excufe for my filence, 
 but I have fuch a multitude of bufinefs 
 upon my mind, that it takes away my 
 power, and abates much of my inclina- 
 tion to write. 
 
 You mufl not be offended at this, be- 
 caufe it contains no difrefpecT: or abatement 
 of the fincere and juft affection I have for 
 you. Make my compliments and thanks 
 
 to Mrs. for the waiftcoat, which is 
 
 ten times more admired than I am, and the 
 girls will run the length of the parade, to 
 fee my flower'd and gilt belly, who would 
 not quit their own threfhold to fee me. 
 Foote is down here, and I have talked to 
 
 him
 
 ( 33 ) 
 
 him a good deal, and dined at a gentle- 
 man's where he was, Garrick wrote a let- 
 ter to Mr. Taylor the other day, which I 
 faw, and he fpeaks very handfomely of me- 
 I play away here in the old way; I 
 played one new character laft wqek, (Pierre) 
 and am preparing with all my might and 
 main for twelve more at leaft. Doclor, 
 Dodd is here, and I have dined with him 
 too. Defire Mrs. to believe I love 
 
 her, and to leave ofFabufing me as fhe uled 
 to do, and do you think me unalterably, 
 
 Your's, 
 
 J. HENDERSON-
 
 ( 304 ) 
 
 To Mr. I 
 
 THANKS, thanks, thanks for your 
 care about my mother you make me very 
 eafy by telling me you intereft yourfclf for 
 
 her 1 cannot write long letters nor good 
 
 ones now, fo you muft be content with 
 friendly ones. 
 
 It is now one of the firft wimes of my 
 heart that * * may fwing, for who- 
 ever injures my dear friend * * mall 
 have all the bitternefs of my foul attend 
 
 him. Why or wherefore is no matter. 
 
 If I had intereft with the devil, (which by 
 the bye I believe I never mail have) I would 
 beg a double portion of remorfe and internal 
 torment for that rafcaK 
 
 To
 
 ( 305 ) 
 
 To Mr. I - k i 
 
 Birmingham , July 8, 
 
 MY DEAR I * , 
 
 IT is very fhange to me> thai my mother 
 
 fhould not have received my letters. ' I 
 
 wrote to her the day before I fet out for this 
 
 place. I told her of my defign to pafs my 
 
 fummer here However* on the receipt of 
 
 your's, I have again written to hen tf that 
 
 letter alfo mould mifcarry, pray* my dear 
 
 friend, tell her that it invited her to live 
 
 with me at Bath. It told her, that I would 
 
 procure her an apartment in the fame houfe 
 
 with me if I could j if not, I will provide 
 
 her with a lodging near me * but I rathef 
 
 think and hope, that we may live together* 
 
 1 fhall be there the latter end of September. 
 
 There is nothing in my power which I 
 
 X would
 
 Would not do, to make that excellent woman 
 happy She and you Jack, have but one 
 fault, and that is, too great a partiality for 
 a very filly fellow But be that as it may, I 
 fhall be uneafy 'till I have her with me. 
 As to yourfelf, my worthy friend, I fcarce 
 know what to fay; my heart longs to talk 
 with you, but its fenfations are fo fimple, 
 and fo boyifh, I know not how to write 
 them. I love your peace, your happinefs, 
 and would I could promote it : I love 
 *. ' * too ; pray tell her fo : tell her that 
 no one on earth> except thyfelf, my friend, 
 can have a better fenfe of her deferving, or 
 a truer afFedion for her. 
 
 Adkiiy 
 
 J. 3lj^ 
 
 J. HENDERSON.
 
 To Mr. I; 
 
 t 
 Birmingham, July 26, 1776* 
 
 tJEAR I -, 
 
 I HtAVE received a letter from my 
 mother, which I Have really had no time to 
 anfwef, arid now I know riot where me is. 
 Perhaps you d6, for me fells me me mould 
 go to London.' She objects to coming to 
 Bath, on account of the weight of her bag- 
 gage, and the expence of its carriage but 
 that is nothing. Pray tell her; Jack, that 1 
 mall be two feafons more at Bath, by ar- 
 ticles, and I had rather have her with mey 
 than that me mould be liable to incon- 
 veniences elfewhere.' I find that fhe has 
 been very ill treated in the cotfntryy and! 
 my heart aches to think of it $ for if there 
 ver was utfaffe&ed and genuine Simplicity;
 
 ( 3=8 ) 
 
 and innocence of heart, it is in my mother, 
 I mall not be at eafe if I have her not with 
 me; for I not only feel a fenfe of duty, but 
 a lively and tender affection for her I know 
 her peculiarities, and can indulge them bet- 
 ter than any other perfon, and I think it will 
 give her happinefs to fee and know my 
 manner of living, &,c. Do, my dearefl 
 friend, "tell her what I fay, and if me wants 
 money let her have it, and I will fend you 
 a draft for it without delay. 
 
 Believe me, 
 
 Your's, &c. 
 
 -nocni c* . ':]' 
 
 Zul *' ** '"' J- H. 
 
 i?r!f 'ti ic& ; ''. V- inl- 
 
 ^DMqma^afW^ be* fc&>* 
 
 Ta
 
 To Mr. I -- . 
 
 Birmingham, Aug. 31, 1776. 
 
 DEAR I , 
 
 I H A V E had letters from my mother, 
 who will be with me at Bath She will go 
 through London, . and if me calls on you, 
 which I defired her to do, I know your 
 friendship will fupply her with anv, money 
 fhe may want, and I will remit it to, you. 
 
 Mrs. Yates is here at prefent, and we 
 played The Wonder lafl night. You cannct 
 imagine how I am carrerTed by all ranks of ^ 
 people. I fhal Weave this place covered with 
 Birmingham laurels. 
 
 I play with Mrs. Yate,s again on Monday, 
 Roman Father, and mpft probably 
 X 3 Shylock
 
 afterwards. Things arc ripening 
 for me j I am not forty, even now, that I 
 did pot cpme to London. The end will {how 
 I fhall do very well I am, in the pieai; 
 
 ^ , f . f T 
 
 time, as happy as I have any notion qf being. 
 I wifh we could have a day or two together ; 
 fcu$ for that we mufl wait. 
 
 t .-K ;.--' -. . ... -v ^ ' I 
 
 farewell, 
 
 ]. HENDERSON,
 
 TO Mr. I- 
 
 Bath y Qftober 12, 1776, 
 ***** * * ********* 
 # * *. I am very ill at this writing, and 
 have been fo this week -, but it will go 
 away, or Doctor Schomberg and 1 ? with a 
 reinforcement of apothecaries, will drive it 
 away I hope you and * ... .. * are in 
 health j there is no one's health dearej? 
 to me. 
 
 Did I tell you that I have got my mother 
 here, and am combating with her legion of 
 gloomy blue D -s too ; but I ought tp 
 ^0 it ? and that is enough for me. 
 
 Adieu, 
 X 4 J. H.
 
 To the Reverend Mr, D -^ 
 
 Bath, Feb. ijtb, 1776, 
 DEAR DOCTOR, 
 
 I SCARCE know how to begin a 
 letter, I long to. write to you; I have many 
 times been about to addrefs you, and though 
 I never wanted, nor ever fhall want a fub-, 
 jeft, if I were to write all that my hear* 
 feels towards you; yet after, a certain time 
 has elapfecj in filence, one knows not how 
 to refume the fame familiarity, and with the 
 fame fpirit, as if no chafm had been made in 
 Our correfpondence $ at leafl I feel it fo. 
 J fhould hardly have had courage now if 
 
 Mr, had not told me you thought 
 
 it unkind in rne to be filent^-I would do 
 any thing to remove fuch an opinion 
 
 from
 
 ( 3'3 ) 
 
 from your mind, for I love and honour 
 you with fincere attachment, and refpect. 
 (f Something too much of this/' 
 
 I mail not wonder if you join with all 
 my friends in town, to condemn my flaying 
 here in preference to being in London, 
 becaufe I hear the buiinefs has been very 
 partially explained, but I think if it were 
 fairly and fully djfclofed to you, I mould 
 rather have your approbation. J am na- 
 turally timorous, and have an inftin&ive re-i 
 Juctance to engage in bufllej contention, 
 and intrigue, J have no talents for them, 
 and therefore think it would not be pru- 
 dent to quit the moderate and quiet path I 
 am iri, for fuch hazardous purfuits. I will 
 tell you, my mofl dear friend, the fimple prin- 
 ciple on which I acted, and I think it almofl 
 an axiom. If I am really wanted on the 
 JLpndon ftage, I ought to be placed there 
 
 on
 
 ( 3H ) 
 
 .on honourable and advantageous terms, and 
 I fhould be fb. If I am not really wanted, 
 I have no bufinefs there, nor can the de- 
 fign of having me there be other than trea~ 
 oherqus and pernicious. Yet farther. It 
 was only propofed to engage me for one 
 year; a propofal by which the manager 
 hazarded nothing, as the very novelty of 
 pne who had been talked of as I had been, 
 would have paid in very few nights the fa- 
 lary I was to receive ; and / hazarded every 
 {king by it, 
 
 My friend W * tells me he has. 
 
 thoughts of taking orders, a view which 
 I am perfuaded you will encourage, and 
 promote, as he certainly has not, any 
 more than myfelf, talents for bufinefs and 
 chicane > I was very fenfibly touched with 
 his misfortunes, and think the church is 
 $he only afylum he can meet with from
 
 ( 3'5 ) 
 
 them. But you will judge better than I 
 can. 
 
 I hope, my dear friend, you have health, 
 pnd that is all I need wifh to fuch a heart, 
 and fuch a capacity as yours ; felicity and ho- 
 nour will naturally follow fuch goodnefs, and 
 fuch understanding, if their operations arc 
 j>ot retarded by ficknefs. 
 
 Believe me, &c, 
 
 J, HENDERSON.
 
 Jnfcrlbed under the Pifture of a Lady who 
 bad flighted the Author. 
 
 (Written in 1769.) 
 
 O N W A R D it prefTes with an eager view, 
 More fplendid fcenes, and tranfports to purfue ; 
 Far as ambition's piercing eye can fee, 
 Nor once regards humility and me. 
 No gentle blandifhments arreft its fpeed, 
 Nor once it flops, though love and meeknefs Heed, 
 JJleed in its path, and tremble in its courfe, 
 Weak ties have love, againft ambition's force, 
 
 By pleafure urg'd urg'd by ambition's fting, 
 From Jove, from me, from tendernefs yoxj fpring, 
 Your picture, faithful to your heart as face, 
 Eludes my grafp, and mocks my fond embrace. 
 No more from folemn thought to mirth I fly, 
 No more the heart exults, no more the eye 
 Darting abroad, collects c?.ich fcattcred ray, 
 Which humour beam'd, and fancy led aftray, 
 
 MrM
 
 ( 3'7 ) 
 
 Inscribed under a Print of Orpheus playing 
 ou bis Lyre t being the Frontifpiece to a 
 young Ladfs Mujic Book. 
 
 ( Written in 1768, ) 
 
 WHEN Orpheus fung, or fweetly touch'd his lyre, 
 Such heav'n born founds the woods and groves infpire 3 
 The rugged rocks, and wood-clad mountains dance, 
 And wild with pleafure, at his fong advance 5 
 Such melody ftern Pluto's foul difarms, 
 From Pluto's throne Eurydice it charms. 
 At length by cruel hands bereav'd of breath, 
 (For mufic's felf cannot contend with death) 
 The fhepherds all their rural fports forfook, 
 And every eye aflum'd a mournful look, 
 Each nymph felt anguifh-^-grief felt ev'ry fwai% 
 In place of harmony, fee difcord reign. 
 Long in this ftate men liv'd, and had remain'd 
 
 So now i But you, my fair, have tfeign'd 
 
 To {both our cares, and foften all our grief, 
 And brought fweet melody to our relief.
 
 So foft the founds, of grace and eafe pofleff, 
 Such airs melifluous humanize each breaft, 
 No longer need you envy Orpheus' fame, 
 Since a new Orpheus reigns in * 's name. 
 
 A Receipt to make a Pajlorati 
 
 TAKE firft two handfuls of wild thyme^ 
 Or any herb that fuits your rhyme, 
 And fhred it finely o'er your plains, 
 Fit to receive your rolling fwains. 
 With crocus, violets, and daifies,' 
 Be fure to fill the vacant places ; 
 Then plant your groves and myrtle bowers, 1 
 (Well water'd with celeftial fhowers) 
 And, to avoid the critics quarrel/ 
 A fprig or two of Virgil's laurel. 
 Your ground thus laid, your trees thus plac'i 1 
 Sweeten'd with flow'rs to your tafte, 
 Your fhepherd take, and as is wo/it,' 
 Baptize him at the poet's font. 
 Adorn him with fcrip, crook, and reed, 
 And lay him by for farther ne.ed. 
 
 That*
 
 3 ' 9 
 
 Then take a damfel neat and fair, 
 And in a fillet bind her hair, 
 Give her a flock of tender fh'eep, 
 And keep her by you She will keejy 
 
 An Imitation of a French Paftoral; 
 
 i 
 
 DAPHNIS one day his flock had led 
 
 Into a verdant grove : 
 Not far off, Phillis in the ffiade,< 
 
 Had brought her lambs to rove : 
 
 Both of them met each other, 
 
 Her Daphnis faw, 
 
 Him Phillis law, 
 
 Each of them faw the other,; 
 
 ii. 
 
 Good day, fweet flieepherdefs, faid hey 
 
 Shepherd laid fhe good day, 
 In yonder orchard prithee fee, 
 
 The grafs how freih and gay 5 
 
 Botfc 

 
 ( 3* ) 
 
 Both inftantly went thither 5 
 
 Daphnis fat down, 
 
 Phillis fat down, 
 They both (at down, together. 
 
 III. 
 
 A nqfegay then of violets made, 
 
 For Phillis the fhepherd pull'd, 
 Phillis for him, in order laid 
 
 Some flowers nicely cull'd, 
 Both offer'd them each other j 
 Hcr'sy Daphnis took, 
 His, Phillis took, 
 Each took them of the other. 
 
 IV. 
 Permit, upon thy breaft, he cry'd, 
 
 That I this nofegay place, 
 With mine the pretty lafs replied, 
 
 I'd fain thy bofom grace. 
 
 Both granted one another j 
 
 His, Daphnis plaa'd, 
 
 Her's, Phillis plac'd, 
 
 Kach plac'd them on the other. 
 
 V. To
 
 ( 321 ) 
 
 V. 
 
 To ever true and conftant be, 
 
 ' Make me, faid he, a vow, 
 
 To conftant be, and true, faid fhe, 
 
 The fame to me do thou j 
 Both promis'd one another. 
 
 This Daphnis did, 
 
 This Phillis did, 
 They did fo by each other*
 
 ( 3" ) 
 
 The following little Fragment he wrote foon 
 after his arrival at Bath. There is, I 
 think, a fort of whimfical humour about 
 it, fomewhat refembling the Hi/lor it 
 which Mr. Henderfon read into repu- 
 tation : but as neither John Gilpin's Race> 
 nor Mr. Henderfon's very outrt manner 
 of reading it, ever gave me any very 
 extatic pleafure, I think fome apology 
 neceiTary to the reader, for inferting an 
 imperfea: Ballad. 
 
 A New Ballad. 
 
 YE lords and lordlings lend an ear, 
 
 No wicked lies I write, 
 The truth moft truly you fliall hear, 
 
 For your cafe and delight. 
 
 In Bath a wine-merchant did dwell, 
 
 And C y was his name, 
 
 Who by the bleffing of the mufe, 
 
 1 now tranfmit to fame. 
 
 This
 
 ( 3^3 ) 
 
 This wine-merchant a daughter had, 
 
 A daughter brown had he, 
 Who when flie wore both cap and (hoes, 
 
 Reach'd to her father's knee* 
 
 When other miflcs dreft their dolls, 
 
 She dreft her mind, I ween, 
 And when her play- mates made dirt pies, 
 
 She at her book was feen. 
 
 Full broad the ribband which flie wore, 
 
 To bind her head around, 
 And right fantaftic were the (hoes, 
 
 Which kept her from the ground. 
 
 And now; when time had form'd her ear, 
 
 To mufic (he it bent, 
 And pleas'd the neighboring gentles alii 
 
 And all folks where flie went. 
 
 Her father grew exceeding proud, 
 
 Exceeding proud grew he, 
 And afk'd the gentles all around, 
 
 His daughter for to fee. 
 
 Hopii
 
 ( 3*4 ) 
 
 Hoping, that fome of noble birth, 
 Would be caught by a Cong, 
 
 And carelefs of her low eftate, 
 In wedlock bind her ftrong. 
 
 The gentles ftar'd, and knew not what 
 
 To do, or what to fay ; 
 They wip'd their faces as they could, 
 
 They bow'd, and came away. 
 
 Now fee' how pride deftroyeth all 
 The knowledge God hath fent, 
 
 Sith he who ferv'd full many a man, 
 Could harbour fuch intent. 
 
 For once, before his heart grew proud, 
 
 A livery he wore, 
 And us'd to wait with hat in hand, 
 
 His mafter to the door. 
 
 So well he did in this behave, 
 
 So humble then did fecm., 
 That r.o one though' of pride or ftate, 
 
 This merchant e'er could Jicam. 
 
 The
 
 ( 325 ) 
 
 The nobles, therefore, notic'd him, 
 And bought his wine, to ihew 
 
 That merif they would patronize, 
 Though fprung from ne'er fo low. 
 
 Yet all this while no lordling came, 
 
 With offex of his hand, 
 Nor fquireling fpruce, nor parfon trim, 
 
 With cafTock and with band. 
 
 What fliall I do, the father cry'd, 
 My daughter will grow old, 
 
 And all her wit, and all her voice, 
 Will ferve her but to fcold. 
 
 Then to the fynagogue went he, 
 And brought out many a Jew, 
 
 To hear her play, and hear her fing, 
 And of her take a view. 
 
 From Pontus, and from Phrygia, 
 
 From Cappadocia eke, 
 Thefe wandering pilgrims came I ween, 
 
 Two or three times a week.
 
 They fat, they heard, and took their fnuff, 
 And wondering, roll'd their eyes, 
 
 And then protefted, that without 
 Some wine they could not rife. 
 
 Then Franco thin, and Cappa fat, 
 
 Declar'd upon their word, 
 They thought her for a Jew too good, 
 
 And bid her wed a lord. 
 
 But now comes on a dreadful tale, 
 
 I tremble to relate, 
 Oh, that fome lord, or bifliop had, 
 
 Torn out this leaf of fate. 
 
 To Bath there came a ftrange young man, 
 
 Nobody knew from whence ; 
 Prefuming on fome foolifh gifts, 
 
 Of talent and of fenfe. 
 
 Unto the playhpufe ftraight he wenr, 
 
 The manager to fee, 
 Who gave immediately confent, 
 
 A player he fhfuld be. 
 
 The
 
 ( 327 ) 
 
 The day was fixt, the day was come, 
 
 That he fhould firft appear, 
 When lo in Hamlet as he flood, 
 
 He (hook his hat with fear. 
 
 This damfel faw, this damfel figh'd, 
 
 And bath'd her jetty eyes, 
 And faid, my heart is near breaking, 
 
 For Hamlet when he dies. 
 
 The father ftorm' J, and lock'd his doors x 
 
 This player to prevent, 
 Swore, like Ophelia, fhe fliould drown. 
 
 Before he'd give confent. 
 
 But fay what bolts or bars, can keep 
 
 A woman from her will j 
 'Tis more than mortal man can do, 
 
 ********* * 
 
 Catera defunt. 
 
 4 EPIGRAM
 
 EPIGRAM 
 
 6n Artaxerxes^ and other Opera^ performed at the Theatres 
 
 OUR Englifli ftagc, which was at firft defign'd, 
 To raife the genius, and improve the mind, 
 To expofe the various follies of the town j 
 S^bms now contented to expofe its awn. 
 
 The Blighted Wreath. 
 
 VIVID and green, the laurel Rofcius wore, 
 Still water'd with the foftering dew of praife, 
 
 'Till vanity and avarice fwore, 
 *To have a pluck at his long-envied bays. 
 
 They waited on him welcome guefts they were, 
 And artful, took pofleffion of his heart ; 
 
 Then flrove to bkft, the wreath they could not tear, 
 With venom foul, infus'd by fpecious art.
 
 Moft natural magic, and dire property, 
 Alas, too plainly to the world were feen, 
 
 On wholefome fame ufurp'd immediately, 
 And fickly yellow gain'd upon the green. 
 
 Almoft, each night, fome leaf its verdure loft, 
 Yet they his weak and cred'lous heart confol'd $ 
 
 They bade him prize his laurel by its coft, 
 When ev'ry leaf fhould be transformed to gold. 
 
 Pernicious alchemy ! ah, treacherous friends, 
 How could you, nature's darling thus deceive ; 
 
 That you have cotnpafs'd your infidious ends, 
 The foul of Shakefpeare, and the mufe fhall grieve. 
 
 Ah, what avails- it, that on Thames's fhore, 
 Three hundred thoufand pounds his banker keeps, 
 
 Whilft Phoebus and the Mufes all deplore, 
 His avarice waking, whilft his genius fleeps. 
 
 Thefe pounds, indeed, will many a flatterer buy ; 
 But ah ! where then are brother George's hopes ; 
 
 Thefe pounds, were dooin'd his children to fupply, 
 Not pay tor fcribbling metaphors and tropes t 
 
 An
 
 An Impromptu on Mr^ GARRICK'J- 
 Funeral. 
 
 AS from the borders of Cocytus* wave, 
 Not yet enfranchis'd by the clofing grave, 
 Garrickjuft peep'd into the world above, 
 And faw a fombrous long proceflion move ; 
 Saw the ftrand glitter with the tawdry irate, 
 Part grave, part gay, part tinfel, and part plate ; 
 The prim deportment of lugubrious mutes, 
 And the taught tofiings of the feather'd brutes. 
 
 <c Another jubilee, he cried, appears, 
 ** Go bid the managers difmifs their fears j 
 '* No more from empty theatres defpair, 
 <c And dread of duns, deliver to the air ! 
 " Call all my carpenters bid George attend, 
 ** And ranfack Monmouth-ftreet from end to end j 
 u Buy all the blacks, defraud the ftarving moth, 
 * c Or let him, if he will, defile the cloth : 
 " Bring moth and all we have no time to loie 
 u If there's not black enough, then buy the blues. 
 
 " Dye
 
 ( 33' ) 
 
 * c Dye all the truncheons, and their edges gild, 
 
 * c All but that truncheon I was wont to wield ; 
 
 " Buy from the paftry-cooks their twelfth-night flags, 
 
 " To flame in front, the rear be cloth'd with rags 3 
 
 4 * The dirtieft wardrobe will the rear fupply, 
 
 < Our (lage perfpe&ive will deceive the eye : 
 
 " All to your feveral offices repair, ^ 
 
 " Whilft I determine in what place or where, V 
 
 " This gaudy mummery may beft appear. J 
 
 " If for Ophelia, by young Hamlet mourn'd ; 
 
 " Or for poor Juliet, yet alive inurn'd." 
 
 Thus far he fpoke, in an imperial tone, 
 And quite forgot the funeral was his own. 
 
 Alas, poor Garrick, in Elyfian meads, 
 Where new delight to new delight fucceeds ; 
 Still lhall the phantom wealth thy fteps purfue. 
 And tinge thy pleafures with a careful hue. 
 
 The two foregoing Jeu d'Efprits I feveral 
 years ago fubmitted to the infpe&ion of my 
 friend, Mr. Mickle, whofe tranflation of 
 
 the
 
 ( 332 ) 
 
 the Lufiad will remain a monument of his 
 poetic talents, while this country retains 
 tafte for luxuriant imagery, adorned with 
 harmonius numbers He thought that they 
 contained mv^h wit, but more feverity, and 
 hoped that Mr. Garrick's various powers as 
 an adlor, and generofity as a friend, would 
 be held in remembrance, when his little 
 foibles, as a man, were forgotten ; and that 
 it was rather unfair to lam bis memory for 
 the gaudy mummery of a funeral, originating 
 in the folly and ridiculous vanity of furviving 
 friends. " I will mow you (faid he) what 
 is my opinion of Mr. Garrick," and gave me 
 the following lines. 
 
 Upon
 
 ( 333 ) 
 
 Upon Mr. G A R R I C K. 
 
 BY MR. M I C K L E. 
 
 FAIR was the graceful form Prometheus made, 
 Its front, the image of the God difplayed : 
 All heaven approved it, e'er Minerva ftole 
 The fire of Jove, and kindled up the foul. 
 
 So Shakefpeare's page, the flower of poefy, 
 E'er Garrick role, had charms for every eye ; 
 'Twas nature's genuine image, wild and grand, 
 The flrong marked picture of a mailer's hand. 
 
 But when his Garrick Shakefpeare's Pallas came, 
 The Bard's bold painting burft into a flame : 
 Each part, new force and vital warmth received, 
 As touched by heaven and all the picture lived. 
 
 N I S.
 
 E R R A T 
 
 Page. 
 
 Line. 
 
 
 15 
 
 2 
 
 read circumfbnces -for circumftancCi 
 
 22 
 
 3 
 
 thy thine. 
 
 4 2 
 
 8 
 
 he it. 
 
 45 
 
 7, and 
 
 8 fhould hot be divided, but the fkroe 
 
 
 
 paragraph continued. 
 
 9 1 
 
 12 
 
 read hands for (lands. 
 
 105 
 
 18 
 
 witches wifhes. 
 
 125 
 
 3 
 
 wit wits. 
 
 138 
 
 2 
 
 Dec. 22, 1774 OL 24, 1772. 
 
 196 
 
 7 
 
 manner in which he manner he. 
 
 196 
 
 8 
 
 juftified fatisned. 
 
 218 
 
 2 
 
 1778 1780. 
 
 224 
 
 4 
 
 unwillingly unwilling. 
 
 290 
 
 II 
 
 are not inferior not inferior. 
 
 294- 
 
 12 
 
 were are.
 
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 OCT 192004 
 
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