66

Mr. Beard informed me, one evening, that Coriolanus" was commanded for the following Thursday. I immediately pointed out to him, the impracticability of my recovering fuch a part as Verturia in a day. He anfwered me very short, that I muft pofitively play it, as I had been exprefsly named; and, confequently, it must be. So flattering a distinction could not fail of affording me the greatest pleasure, and exciting my utmoft emulation. But the very anxiety which urged me to excel, made me the more imperfect; and I had the mortification to feel, that I never played fo ill in my life. This failure was greatly exaggerated, by being contrafted with the fuccefs I had usually met with in this character. It had always been efteemed one of thofe in which I most shone. Indeed, to speak the truth, I verily believe, that no performer, entitled to the leaft merit, could fo completely have maffacred a Roman matron, as I unfortunately did that night.

My fecond mortification was relative to Lady Townley. As I had always gained great reputation in that character, had it been properly announced, there was every reason to conclude that the audience would have been brilliant; but being only fubftituted in the place of an opera, upon the indifpofition of a finging performer, it was confequently represented to a very indifferent house.

5

Mr.

Mr. Woodward had at this period diffolved the partnership, which he had very injudiciously entered into with Barry. This gentleman, as I have already observed, had accumulated, by his uncommon talents, and his oeconomy, the fum of eleven thousand pounds. Upon his having some dispute with the great Rofcius, who, it is well known, could bear no brother near the throne, he went to Ireland, as before related; where, after four years labour and vexation, he found himself ftripped of every guinea he had been poffeffed of, befides being involved in the joint debts. He had therefore commenced a fuit in Chancery against his late partner, and returned to England.

The subsequent winter he engaged at CoventGarden, where his fuccefs was attended with great advantage to the proprietors. This excellent actor was known in the theatre to have formerly been my profeffed admirer. The attention he now feemed to pay me was therefore immediately fet down to the fame account. Mifs Elliot's ill health obliging her often to decline playing, all the characters I had once poffeffed now reverted to their owner; which occafioned Mr. Woodward and myfelf to appear generally in the fame pieces.

Unfortunately for me, a disagreement fubfifted between him and the manager, although they.

had

had formerly lived in the stricteft intimacy. Mr. Woodward's feeming partiality towards me confequently involved me in Mr. Beard's displeasure. Another circumftance tended to augment this unmerited impreffion: The manager had lately married Mr. Rich's daughter, with whom, as I have informed you, I was fome years back fo intimate. This lady, however, having indiscreetly repeated fome converfation which paffed at Mr. Calcraft's table, he defired I would decline receiving her vifits. A great coolness was the refult, and we never after were upon friendly terms. I can account no other way for this alteration in the behaviour of the manager, which had always been cordial till that event took place.

Sir George Metham at length came to town; and, foon after his arrival, he defired I would invite Mr. Alderman Cracroft and Mr. Forrest to dinner, in order to fettle the preliminary steps towards the difpofal of the estate he propofed to fell. He, upon this occafion, repeated the promise he had made me, when at Cave, of discharging all my debts as foon as he received the purchase money. But ill fortune was ftill to pursue me. Mr. Cracroft was not able, among all his connections, to get any one to purchase the estate at the price fet upon it. The hopes I had indulged, and with so good a profpect of their completion,

were confequently fruftrated; for a coolness foon after took place, which obliterated all thefe profeffions; and the money I expected went to purchafe an annuity for a lady he afterwards formed a connection with.

When my benefit came to be fixed, the manager and myself had fome words relative to Mifs Wordley's performing on the occafion. That young lady wished to try her fortune upon the London ftage. I defired much to indulge her, as I was at this time fo attached to her, that I feared she would be obliged to enter into fome country company, or go to Ireland, if fhe could not get an engagement in town. The play performed on my night, was "Romeo and Juliet ;" and the after-piece was, "Mifs in her Teens;" in which fle was to make her entré in Tag.

I fucceeded in carrying my point as to the introduction of my friend, and the receipt was the greatest that had ever been known. My great gold tickets, however, failed; for I received but one hundred from Lord Holdernefs; fifty a-piece from General Monkton, Lord Granby, and Lord Pigot; and one fifty in a blank cover, which I have often fufpected came from Mr. Woodward.

G. A. B.

LET

LETTER LXXXII.

Sept. 30, 17

THE day after, Sir George Metliam fent to inform me that my fon was much indisposed, and requested me to come to Palace-yard. Having a vifitant with me, that was just come from Scotland, I could not obey the fummons till after dinner. I then went, with a promise of returning as foon as poffible; having been informed, by the fervant who brought the meffage, that my dear George had only a flight cold.

When I arrived, I found Mr. Macklin tête-à-tête with Sir George; who had informed the baronet that I was going to be married to Mr. Woodward. The abfurdity of fuch a report could only be laughed at, on its being mentioned to me; and anfwered with, "Yes, to be fure!" After the veteran was departed, Sir George preffed me much to stay the evening. I told him I could not poffibly comply with his requeft, as I had left company at home, to whom I had promised, and good manners obliged me to return. Notwithftanding this, forgetting his ufual politenefs, he entreated me again to stay; and, in fpite of all his ufual non-chalence, I verily believe, had I

been