formed, that I had acted wrong in making fuch an offer, as the acceptance of it would come under the denomination of felony. I am not, however, without my fufpicions, that another perfon found an advantage in my lofs. But as this is only conjecture, I fhall drop all thoughts of my lofs for ever; not doubting, but that even-handed. justice will return the ingredients of the poisoned chalice, if not in "the corrupted currents of this "world, where offence's gilded hand may shove

66

by juftice; and oft 'tis feen the wicked prize "itself buys out the law; it will above, where "there is no fhuffling; where the action lies in "it's true nature; and we ourselves are compel"led, even to the teeth and forehead of our faults, "to give in evidence *.

The dilemma I was thrown into by the lofs of my box greatly increased the anxiety I felt from appearing for the first time after my confinement; to which an ignominy is ufually annexed, however undeferved that confinement may have been, I was fo curtailed in my drefs by the lofs, that I was obliged to borrow even an under-petticoat. At length I was fupplied with every neceffary by the kind attention of Mrs. Whitfield, my dreffer: as I have fince lain under greater obligations to this worthy woman, as will be seen in the fequel, * Hamlet, A& III. Scene VIII. H 5

I think

I think it proper to mention her name, and to add, that she is an honour to humanity. The public received me with marks of the warmest approbation.

The lofs of my box made me refolve not to run the rifque of meeting with fuch an untoward accident again. I therefore changed my plan of refiding in my prefent lodging, and took one in Suffolk-ftreet.

The tragedy of " King Lear" was announced, in which Mifs Wilford had appeared in Cordelia at the last representation. Mr. Younger, the prompter, who had the best of hearts, imagined, by the reception I met with upon my late performance, that no manager would endeavour to add to my depreffion, by forcing upon the public a perfon of whom they did not approve; he therefore obliterated her name, and put mine in the bills.

At twelve o'clock, I received a vifit from Mr. Gibson, the deputy-manager, who informed me of the mistake, and requested that I would give up the part; telling me at the fame time, that the managers would, upon my doing fo, give out hand-bills to announce the error to the public. I was not then divested of that difpofition which fpurns at injuries. I felt the affront with more irafcibility than prudence perhaps would have permitted ;

6

permitted; but prudence was a virtue which, at that period, my best friends did not allow me to be poffeffed of; nor could I, indeed, with justice, lay any claim to it. It cannot be fuppofed, therefore, that I confidered the confequences that 1hould result from whatever answer I might give.

I inftantly replied, "I am an indulged fervant "of the public, and let what will happen, I will "not fuffer my name to be altered; but play “the character I will.” Mr. Gibson then left me, with feeming regret, declaring I should draw upon me the hatred of the family. To which I answered with fome warmth, "I have long fet "that at nought; I neither covet their favour,

nor fear their malice. I depend upon that patronage I have ever met with; and will stand "or fall by that candour and indulgence I have "always been treated with by the public."

Upon fending my fervant to look at the playbills, he brought me word that the men were at that moment changing them; and that the miftake was pointed out in a Nota-Bene. Hearing this, I inftantly fent to have hand-bills printed, and diftributed among the audience as they went into the house. In this bill only mentioned the circumftance which had occafioned it, fimply as it was; at the fame time telling them, that as I esteemed myself the acknowledged child of their favour,

H 6

favour, I thought it my duty to be ready in cafe I fhould, that evening, be honoured with the preference.

When the curtain drew up, there was an univerfal cry for your humble fervant; and upon Cordelia's appearance, notwithstanding she was the favoured child of the families of the Rich's and the Wilford's, fhe was obliged to withdraw and give place to me. Being ready dreffed for the character, I immediately made my entrée, amidst an univerfal applaufe; and I do not recollect that I ever met with more tokens of approbation, in so trivial a character, during my theatrical exiftence.

This event was the more flattering, as it assured me, that I was ftill held in eftimation by the public. It might be alledged, that my fair rival, who was undoubtedly an excel'ent dancer, had not then arrived at any reputation as a tragedian; and the vifible depreffion of a declared partiality might ftrongly operate in my favour.

The young lady, whofe mortification, it must be fuppofed, was very great, came into the greenroom, and faid, fhe was furprized any performer would prefume to affront Mrs. Rich. I could have told her, that her good coufin affronted the public much more, by forcing her then uninformed relation upon them; but as I neither

dreaded

dreaded the frowns of the Lady Directress, nor hoped for her favour, I held the little Cordelia's fpeech in too much contempt to make any reply to it.

G. A. B.

LETTER

LXXXVI.

November 6, 17

Ат

T the conclufion of this feafon my agreement at Covent Garden expired; and at the fame time the patent was difpofed of to Meffrs. Colman, Harris, Powell, and Rutherford. Hearing nothing for fome time from Mr. Colman, who was the acting manager, relative to a renewal of my articles, I gave over all hopes of engagement with them; however, Mr. Woodward called upon me one day, and informed me, that he had had an interview with the commandant, in which, having enquired whether I was engaged by them, our modern Terence had replied, "Yes! I depend upon "her; but multiplicity of business has prevented me from calling upon her; I fhall be obliged "to you, if you will inform her, that I propose "doing myself the pleasure very foon."

66

I was not only happy at being affured of a new engagement, but being under the direction of a

manager,