brisk and lively;* but in reality | "London"); and, happily for himof very formal cut, anything but self, did not know that his asbrisk or lively, not in the least a sociate in a respectable business

cultivator of gaiety, on had already, impelled by a secret 1759. the contrary methodical passion he dared not openly Et. 31. and precise in the ex- divulge, gone privately to Ipswich treme, and always objecting to with that very manager Giffard, his brother's hankering for the and under the name of Lyddal stage, even from those youthful had played in Oronoko and the days when the sprightly lad of Orphan, and had performed Sir fourteen underwent sharp lec- Harry Wildair and our old friend tures from his grave senior of Captain Brazen. They were twenty, on the impropriety of partners still, as that year went getting up theatrical squibs, or on, though the business had writing comic verses against the fallen very low, and Foote always ladies of Lichfield. Davies, remembered Davy, as he said Murphy, Galt, and Boaden, all in his malicious way, living in tell us that their altercations be- Durham-yard with three quarts came at last so frequent, that in of vinegar in the cellar, calling 1740, by the intercession of himself a wine merchant. They mutual friends, their partnership continued even to be partners, was dissolved; but this I can when at last, on the evening of now show to be a mistake. They the 19th October 1741, the curwere partners to the close of tain rose on the performance of that year, though Peter even then Richard the Third in the theatre at had heard painful rumours of the Goodman's-fields.

younger member of the firm The tragic stage was then sunk being frequently seen in com- very low. Betterton had been pany with an actor and playhouse dead more than thirty years, manager, Mr. Giffard of Good- Booth had quitted the profession man's-fields. They were in fourteen years before, Wilks was partnership in the summer of the no longer one of its ornaments, following year, when Peter, on and even the traditions of that coming to London, found his brilliant time now chiefly lived brother subject to unaccountable with Cibber. When that veteran fits of depression, abstraction, tried his hand at tragedy, he is and lowness of spirits; warned careful to tell us what pains he him against play - actors and took to ground himself on some play-managers (notwithstanding great actor of the days of his advantages gained to the firm youth, to the minutest copy of by Mr. Giffard having recom-look, gesture, gait, speech, and mended it to supply the Bedford "every motion of him;' nor coffee-house, 66 one of the best in does it appear that at this time any higher impression of the

*Boswell, VI. 95.

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tragic art prevailed. In comedy, who saw Garrick's acting at the genius might yet be seen; it was age most impressible to all such something more than tradition emotions, and saw it side by side that shone in Mrs. Clive, Mrs. with the style of acting it Pritchard, and Mrs. Woffington;* displaced; who rememCibber still occasionally (and to bered it as vividly to the t. 31. good audiences) played one of close as at the opening of life; his comic parts, ** Quin's Fal- and who recalled it in language staff and Fondlewife were not yet which seems to vouch for the passed away, and originality, by truth and exactness of its rethose who had a taste for it in cord. no very tasteful form, might be The scene is Covent-garden, enjoyed in Harper, Neale, Hip- for the time is nearly five years pisley, Ben Johnson, Woodward, advanced from the first night at and Macklin. But the lovers Goodman's-fields; and the play, were now bellowed forth by which is Rowe's Fair Penitent, is Ryan, Bridgewater and Walker to be played by Quin and Ryan stormed in the tyrants, and the in Horatio and Altamont, by heroes belonged exclusively to Mrs. Cibber, Mrs. Pritchard, and Milward and Delane, except when Garrick, in Calista, Lavinia, and Quin, turning from what he could Lothario. The curtain rises, and to what he could not do, mouthed Quin presents himself. His dress forth Othello, Richard, or Lear. is a green velvet coat, emIn such a night of tragedy, it was broidered down the seams, an with the sudden effulgence as of enormous full-bottomed periwig, new-risen day that Garrick burst rolled stockings, and high-heeled upon the scene. It is not for one square-toed shoes. He goes who can speak but from report through the scene with very little of others, to pretend to describe variation of cadence. In a deep the effect upon those who actually full tone, accompanied, by a sawwitnessed it. But let me borrow ing kind of action which has the description of a sixth-form more of the senate than the stage scholar of Westminster-school, in it, he rolls out his heroics with

Horace Walpole (who however was an air of dignified indifference seldom a just, and never an indulgent that seems to disdain the plaudits critic of theatres) was thus writing to bestowed on him. Then enters Mann three days (22nd October 1741) Mrs. Cibber, and in a key high

after Garrick's first appearance at Good

66

man's-fields. "I have been two or three pitched, but sweet withal, sings, "times at the play, very unwillingly; for or rather recitatives, Rowe's nothing was ever so bad as the actors, lines: but her voice so extremely 46 except the company. There is much vogue in a Mrs. Woffington; a bad ac- wants contrast, that though it "tress, but she has life." Coll. Lett. 1. 84. does not wound the ear it wearies ** "Old Cibber plays to-night, and all it; when she has once recited "the world will be there." Walpole to Mann, Dec. 3, 1741. Coll. Lett. 1. 98. two or three speeches, the man

ner of every succeeding one is the abiding delight of the few known; and the hearer listens as who had the taste or powers of to a long old legendary ballad appreciation of this Westminster of innumerable stanzas, scholar. But if any such were 1759. every one of which is present, they have made no sign Et. 31 chanted to the same tune, for us, and the glories of that eternally chiming without varia- night are passed away. What tion or relief. Mrs. Pritchard survives of it, and alone I can follows; and something of the exhibit, are the fears that dashed habit of nature, caught from the triumph; the misgivings incomedy, enters the scene with separable from the calling on her. She has more change of which little David had entered; tone, more variety both of action the sense as of a shameful forand expression; and the com- feiture of station, which had parison is decidedly in her favour. lowered the son of a marching"But when," continues Richard captain into a mean stage-player; Cumberland, for it is he whom I and the trembling deference and quote, "after a long and eager deprecation with which tidings expectation, I first beheld little had to be conveyed to the sedate "Garrick, then young and light and respectable Lichfield wine"and alive in every muscle and merchant, that his younger bro"in every feature, come bound-ther had taken that fatal step in "ing on the stage and pointing at life, which at no distant day was "the wittol Altamont and heavy-to associate him with whatever "paced Horatio-Heavens! what the land contained illustrious by "a transition! it seemed as if a birth or genius, to open to him "whole century had been stepped such instant means of giving inover in the passage of a single nocent pleasure to great masses "scene; old things were done of his fellow-creatures as any "away, and a new order at once other human being has perhaps "brought forward, bright and never enjoyed, to load himself “luminous, and clearly destined with wealth, to lift above neces"to dispel the barbarisms of a sity all who were related to him, "tasteless age, too long super- and to make the name they bore "stitiously devoted to the illu- a pleasant and long-remembered "sions of imposing declama-word all over England. "tion."*

One of the audience on that Such was the actor whose 19th of October was a staid, Richard first blazed forth on the elderly gentleman of Lichfield, night of the 19th October 1741, one Mr. Swynfen; and the letter to the sudden amazement of all which he wrote on the following whom sympathy or chance had day to "Mr. Peter Garwick" lies brought to Goodman's-fields, and now before me, with post-mark *Memoirs, 1. 80-1, corresponding to its date of the

1759.

Et. 31.

20th of October 1741. Many "Third; for I believe their was there are, this good old citizen "not one in the House that was does not question, who, because "not in Raptures, and I heard their fathers were called gen-"several Men of Judgment tlemen, or themselves the first so "declare it their Opinion called, will think it a disgrace "that nobody ever exand a scandal that the child of "celled Him in that Part; and an old friend should endeavour "that they were surprised, with to get an honest livelihood, and "so peculiar a Genius, how it is not content to live in a scanty "was possible for Him to keep manner all his life because his "off the Stage so long." It is to father was a gentleman. But Mr. be hoped that Mr. Peter was Swynfen thinks he knows "Mr. able to read thus far with reason"Garwick" well enough to be able patience; but, if he had convinced that he has not the opened his old friend's letter same sentiments; and he knows first (as David, who no doubt better of his friend's judgment suggested it, seems to have than to suppose him partaking reckoned on his doing), one may of the prejudices of other country imagine the nervous haste with friends of theirs, who have been which he now took up another most used to theatrical per- letter that had travelled to him formances in town-halls &c. by by the same post, superscribed strollers, and will be apt to in the well-known hand of broimagine the highest pitch à man ther David himself.

can arrive at on the stage is It began by telling "Dear about that exalted degree of "Peter" that he had received his heroism which they two, in old shirt safe, and was now to tell days at Lichfield, used to laugh him what he supposes he may and cry at in "the Herberts and already have heard; but before "the Hallams;" but, as he does he lets him into the affair, it was not doubt but that Mr. Peter will proper to premise some things; soon hear "my good friend Da- that the writer may appear less "vid Garwick performed last culpable in his brother's opinion "night at Goodman's Fields than he might otherwise do. He "theatre," for fear he should has made an exact estimate of hear any false or malicious ac- his stock of wine, and what count that may perhaps be dis- money he has out at interest; agreeable to him, "I will give and finds that since he has been. "you the truth," says the good a wine-merchant he has run out old gentleman plunging into it, near four hundred pounds, and, "which much pleased me. I was trade not increasing, he became "there, and was witness to a most very sensible some way must be 'general applause He gain'd in thought of to redeem it. Then "the character of Richard the out ventures a weakness never

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66

before confessed. "My mind (as "towards my part of the wine "you must know) has been al-"you have at Lichfield. Pray "ways inclined to ye Stage, nay "write me an answer imme"so strongly so that all "diately. I am, Dr Brother, yrs "my Illness and lowness "sincerely D. GARRICK. I have Et. 31. "of Spirits was owing to "a farce (ye Lying Valet) coming "my want of resolution to tell "out at Drury Lane." "you my thoughts when here. Ah, poor David! a brother who "Finding at last both my Inclina- has the charge of a respectable ❝tion and Interest requir'd some business, who is the eldest of a "new way of Life, I have chose family, including two sisters, that ye most agreeable to myself, have yet to hold up their heads "and though I know you will be among the gentlefolks at Lich"much displeas'd at me, yet I field, who has to bear the up"hope when you shall find that I braidings of an uncle too pros'may have ye genius of an Actor perous in trade to have any "without ye vices you will think toleration for those who do not "less severe of me, and not be prosper, and who has never him"asham'd to own me for a Bro-self done anything to discredit "ther." After this appeal to the your father's memory and red fraternal sympathies he falls back coat, is not propitiated so easily. on business again. He is willing Peter's reply is now only to be to agree to anything Peter shall inferred from the prompt repropose about the wine. He joinder it wrung from David, will take a thorough survey of bearing date the 27th October, the vaults, and making what and too plainly revealing to us Peter has at Lichfield part of the all that both brother and sisters stock, will either send him his had suffered from the dreadful share, or settle it any other way news. He begins by assuring his he shall propose. Then, at last, dear brother that the uneasiness out comes the awful fact which he has received at his letter is can no longer be withheld; and inexpressible. However, it was then, as suddenly on the heels of a shock he expected, and had it, as if ashamed of the brief guarded himself against as well show of courage he had made, as he could. Nay, the love he the wine business again! "Last sincerely bore his brother Peter, "night I played Richard ye Third together with the prevailing ar"to ye Surprise of Every Body, guments he had made use of, "and as I shall make very near would have been enough to over"300 per annum by it, and as it throw his own strongest resolu"is really what I doat upon, Itions, did not necessity (a very "am resolv'd to pursue it. I believe pressing advocate) on his side "I shall have Bower's money, convince him that he was not so "which when I have it shall go much to blame as Peter seemed