original excellence, although the district where thefe fheep have been kept is not of the best quality for theep-farming; the draughts from this flock, that have been annually fold by auction, have always exceeded in value the expectation of the purchafers, in every country to which they have been carried that is not too damp for theep.

"The weight of their fleeces is from fix to twelve pounds each, and thofe of the rams are fometimes heavier.

"Sheep of the ordinary coarse-wooled breeds, when croffed by a Spanish ram, produce fleeces double in weight, and far more valuable, than thofe of their dams; and if this crofs is carefully continued, by fupplying rams of the pure Spanish blood, the wool of the third or the fourth generation is fcarce diftinguishable from the original Spanish wool.

"These mixed breeds are more eafily maintained, and can be fattened at as fmall an expence as the ordinary breeds of the country.

"No fpeculation whatever offers ad

vantages fo certain, and fo confiderable, to those who embark in it, as that of the improvement of wool, by the introduction of rams and ewes of the true Spanish race among the flocks of France, whether the fheep are purchased at Rambouillet, or elsewhere. In this buhnefs, however, it is of the greatest importance to fecure the Spanish breed unmixed, and the utmost precaution on that head fhould be ufed, as the avarice of proprietors may tempt them to fub. ftitute the croffed breeds inftead of the pure one, to the great difappointment of the purchafer.

"The amelioration of wool at Rambouillet has made fo great a progrefs, that in a circle from twenty-four to thirty-fix miles in diameter, the manufacturers purchase thirty-five thousand pounds of wool, improved by two, three, or four croffes. Those who with to accelerate the amelioration of their flocks, by introducing into them ewes of this improved fort, may find abund ance to be purchased in that neighbourhood at reasonable rates."

MACKLINIANA;

OR,

ANECDOTES Of the late MR. CHARLES MACKLIN, COMEDIAN:

TOGETHER WITH

MANY OF HIS OBSERVATIONS ON THE DRAMA, AND GENERAL MANNERS OF HIS TIME.

ON

(As principally related by Himself, and never before published.)

66

(Continued from Page 95.)

N Barry's return to London in 1766, he had no previous engage ment at any of the Theatres here; he trufted entirely to the force of his long and established merit, and fuch merit was furely no bad letter of recommendation." He, however, had been between eight and nine years abfent (an age in the world of taste and fashion), in which time new audiences had started up, new prejudices and attachments had arifen, which are often fatal to moderate abilities, and require even the efforts of great genius to recover.

He arrived here about the beginning of July, when the two Theatres were hut, a great part of the Nobility and

principal gentry out of town, whilst Foote, at the Little Theatre in the Haymarket, attracted the remaining part of the públic who preferred his wit and humour to the rounds of Ranelagh and the faunters of Vauxhall. In fuch a fituation, it may very well be fuppofed, that Barry had no other alternative than to wait for the opening of one of the winter Theatres but nei ther his fpirit nor purfe could brook fuch ordinary delays. He hired the Opera Houfe in the Haymarket for a certain number of nights,, and, with the affiltance of Mrs. Dancer, afterwards his wife (now Mrs. Crawford), the late Mr. Lee, and a few others, he opened

• This must mean fleeces unwashed, or in the yoke, as it is technically termed.

that

that Theatre with the tragedy of Othello.

This celebrated character had almoft lain dormant on the theatrical shelf fince Barry left Covent Garden Theatre. Garrick was wife enough not to rifque his reputation on it after one trial, and though now and then a few young performers made the attempt, experience thewed them their inability; fo that, like the armour of Achilles, it lay neglected in the abfence of the mafter; little known to the stage or the public. So far it had novelty. Barry's name was another novelty; and thefe cooperating, produced one of the finest houfes that could be expected at that time of the year.

It would be needless to say how he performed this character, after his long and established reputation in it, did not his particular exertions this night demand a particular encomium. The generality of the audience receiving him entirely in the light of a new performer, waited with filent expectation till after his fpeech to the Senate, which he fpoke under the impreffion of fo commanding a figure, fuch a melodious and captivating voice, as drew forth the unanimous approbation of the whole Houfe. The Pit and Boxes gave him all the applause confonant to the good breeding of that meridian-whilft the Gods above (amongst whom we could diftinguish the voices of feveral of Barry's countrymen) shouted in roars of triumph.

He proceeded regularly gaining on their admiration till he came to the third act, when Iago first gives him the hint of jealoufy. Here, and through the whole course of this act, he gained entire poffeffion of their feelings, and the general buz of the houfe was (when they could recover from their tears), Who is this charming man? Whence comes he? &c. &c.; for fuch is the fluctuating state of the public, and fo much do their memories want temporary flappers, that many of the audience never faw him before; others might have feen him before their tafte had been ripened into any judgment; others as they fee every thing elfe, without the leaft trace of memory or obfervation; whilst a comparatively fmaller number faw and felt an actor return to the stage who had been long one of its brightest fupports and orna

ments,

VOL. XXXVIII. SEPT. 1800.

We must likewife confefs, in justice to the whole of the performance, it was very ably fupported. Mrs. Dancer, who played Defdemona, was then in the bloom of youth and beauty; the had been for fome years under the tuition of Barry, and, to a fine natural genius for her profellion, the acquired the harmony of his tones. Defdemona too was a part feemingly congenial to her feelings; and it inuft be remembered, through the whole courfe of her stage life he had no competitor in this charac ter-a character which, like the fimplicity of fine writing or good breeding, induces many to attempt, without this preparatory knowledge, "That art is neceflary to conceal art."

Lee's Iago, too, was very respectable, and thewed a good judgment and thorough reprefentation of the character. This actor was not without confiderable pretenfions, were they not more than allayed by his vanity. He had a good perfon, a good voice, and a more than ordinary knowledge in his profeffion, which he fometimes fhewed without exaggeration; but he wanted to be placed in the chair of Garrick, and, in attempting to reach this, he often deranged his natural abilities. He was for ever, as Foote faid, "doing the honours of his face ;" he affected uncommon long paufes, and frequently took fuch out of the way pains with emphafs and articulation, that the natural actor feldom appeared. In this coxcombry he was fupported by many of his bottle companions, as well as thofe difappointed critics who were glad of an engine against Garrick; but the confequence of this temper was, he was chaffeed from almost every Theatre but that of Bath, where, between lecturing and acting, he continued till he died.Another fad memento of the folly of weighing a man's merits in the balance of his own imagination.

Othello was played feveral nights to overflowing audiences; to which fucceeded many of his principal partsfuch as Jaffier, Oreites, Effex, Lord Townly, &c. &c. In fhort, the feafon was fo fuccefsful to him, both in point of profit and fame, that Foote jocularly faid," he had much rather give him board and lodging at his own bouse for nothing, than have him fo troublefome a neighbour." The confequence was, he engaged Barry and Mrs. Dancer for the next feafon at his Little Theatre in

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the Haymarket; and after the former had gone over to Dublin "to make up his mangled matters as he could," he returned to London as the place of his future principal refidence.

confeffed, "a hoft within himself;" the fecond with very refpectable abili ties; and the laft having just reached that point of fame which ranked her one of the firft actreffes of her time. Garrick, in making this liberal en

Their re-appearance was in the fummer of 1767; and as Foote had pre-gagement with Barry, no longer confipared the town for the reception of his celebrated vifitors, he fecured to himfelf crowded audiences. The infenfibles of fashion followed him because it was the rage the critics hailed him as one of the great fupporters of theatrical tafte-and John Bull fimply for the gratification of his feelings-fo that all concurred fo much in their admiration of him, that although the fummer was a remarkably hot one, the House continued to fill night after night to the conclufion of the feafon.

dered him as his rival. He had in himfelf a fatiety of fame, fairly given him by applauding nations for a course of near thirty years, and which he knew how to maintain with unimpaired bril. iancy. He was likewife arrived at that period of life, when other paffions blend themselves with the love of fame, viz. the love of accumulation; and who fo likely to add to the reputation of his stage, and the profits of his manage. ment-as two fuch performers? Befide this, Garrick wanted an occafional writ of eafe for himself; and as he knew Barry, from his novelty and merit, would draw audiences, he endeavoured to render his fituation as agreeable to him as he could, by giving him an uncontrouled choice of parts, and confulting his eafe and convenience as much as the bufinefs of the Theatre would admit.

Merit like this could not long remain trufting to fuch cafual engagements. Garrick caft his eye upon thofe two performers the fummer before, as neceffary reinforcements to his theatrical corps; and this fummer he often made one of the pit in the Haymarket at fome of their capital reprefentations. He had long before known, and justly appreciated Barry's merits. Mrs. Dancer was This arrangement answered every a novelty to the London boards; but purpose of the contracting parties. the made her impreffions fo forcibly on Barry and his fair heroine carried all this great judge of his art, that he can- before them: fhe was the Defdemona didly confefled "fhe had capabilities to to his Othello-the Rutland to his Effex make a first-rate actrefs." He accord--the Monimia to his Caftalio, &c. &c. ingly engaged them both for the next feafon at Drury Lane, at the very liberal falary of fifteen hundred pounds.

The state of Old Drury had about this period been in a declining condition; principally owing to that ravager Time, who ultimately "fpoils every thing he takes in hand." Mrs. Cibber had just clofed a life of high theatrical reputation, where her tranfcending merit in a great variety of parts mnt be feelingly remembered by all thofe who had the pleasure of feeing her. Powell, a rifing young actor, from whom much was obtained, and more expected, had no fooner revolted to Covent Garden (where he had purchafed a fhare in the patent), than he fell a victim to a raging fever; Mrs. Pritchard was on the eve of retirement; fo was Mrs. Clive; whilft Haverd felt a decline of powers (never much above par) which rendered moft of his parts very imbecile performances; fo that the whole weight of the Theatre lay between Garrick, Holland, and Mrs. Yates-the firk, it must be

whilft Mrs. Yates, in the loftier tread of Imperial Tragedy, gave very confiderable affistance. In this group, too, must be numbered the late Mrs. Pope (then Mifs Younge): she was at that period juft making her debût on the ftage; but even in this early trial, the exhibited fuch ftrong marks of theatrical genius as evidently proclaimed the would not long be content with a fecond place. Time juftified her pretenfions, as fhe was for many years as great an ornament to her profeffion as the was refpectable in the duties of private life.

From this period (1768) to 1774 Drury Lane was in its highest point of attraction. The frivolity of modern times had not then reached either Green Room-the Managers were content principally to fubfift on the good old stock of Tragedies and Comedies left them by Shakspeare, Jonfon, Otway, Rowe, Cibber, Steele, Addison, Congreve, &c. &c. now and then reinforced by more modern productions, whofe authors were fuppofed to have fome capacity for writing, as well as fome

little