EUROPEAN MAGAZINE, AND LONDON REVIEW, For OCTOBER 1791. ACCOUNT of Mr. KING, of DRURY-LANE THEATRE. (WITH A PORTRAIT OF HIM, IN THE CHARACTER OF SIR PETER TEAŹLE, IN THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.] THIS Gentleman, naw a veteran of of 1749, was, according to Mr. Wil, the Stage, has had the good fortune kinfon, seen there by Mr. Whiteliead to be esteemed equally by the public in and Mrs. Pritchard, who conceiving a his theatrical capacity, and by his friends favourable opinion of him, the former for his fociable and engaging qualities as procured for him the part of Valerius in a member of society. He was, according The Roman Father, and the latter was the to the Biographia Dramatica, born in means of his being put into the part of London in august 1730 ; but by the George Barnwell. He had also a small majority of his Biographers is said to be character in the then new play of Edward the son of a Gentlemar. in the northern the Black Prince. part of the kingdom, who, after giving Of the merits of his tragic efforts the him a good education, placed him with memory is loft, and perhaps without any an Attorney. To a disposition like Mr. injury to his reputation. He himself, King's, then volatile and thoughtless, however, judged rightly of his own powe the dry practice of the law was not likelý ers, which certainly were confined to Coto afford much gratification. He became medy. In this walk he had then no chance enamoured of the Stage, and forfeited the of lignalizing himself, all the characters favour of his father by an elopement from to which he aspired being engrossed by the anthority of his master; when en- Woodward, Yates, and Shuter, all then gaging in a strolling company, he ex. engaged at Drury Lane. He therefore perienced moft of the niseries incident to determined to seek another field to display that vagabond and defultory mode of life. his abilities in, and at the end of the fea This, however, could not have con- son of 1749 quitted Drury Lane, and tinued long, as in the year 1748 we find went to Ireland, where, and at Bath, he him engaged at Drury Lane Theatre, continued improving himself by practice, where, on the 19th of October, he ap. until he arrived at å degree of excellence peared in the character of Allworth, in which made his return to Drury Lane easy the revived Comedy of A new Way to pay to him a few years afterwards. old Debts, which was, as the play-bill In 1753 he had the direction of the of the day declare:d, his first appearance in Theatre at Bath, and in 1757, when the any character. At Christmas, on the formidable opposition to Mr. Sheridan revival of The Emperor of the Moon at in Dublin, by Barry and Woodward, both houses, he had the part of Cinthio commenced, Mr. King was then of to assigned him ; but, from whatever cause much importance, and had become so it might have happened, we do not find great a favourite with the Public, that each that the early eflays of his theatrical life party was desirous of having his aflistance. in London were much noticed. He con- He was then engaged with Mr. Sheridan, inued at Drury Lane two seasons, and who, in a splenetic moment, had refused being engaged at Bristol in the summer to give some fecurity, which had been re liz quired, quired, for the due payment of the salaries, Before the end of the season which pros and by that means threw Mr. King into duced The Clandestine Marriage, Mr. the arms of his opponents. This defec- King had the misfortune, by a tall from tion was one of the misfortunes which his horte in May, to break his thigh, which brought on the ruin of that Theatre. however was set, and he was restored to Ai length the time arrived vihen Mr. the stage, after five months confinement, King was to return to Drury Lane. In in November following. In the course of 1759 he was engaged by Mr. Garrick, this funimer he married his present wife, and on the ad of October appeared in the Miss Baker, then an eminent dancer becharacter of Tom in The Conjcious longing 10 Drury-lane Theatre. Lovers. He afterwards performed Brufs; In 1768 he produced another Farce at Sir Harry, in High Lise belov: Stairs; Mr. Cautherley's benefit, entitled Wit's Sir Amorous Vainwit, in Woman's a last Stake, and continued adding to his re. Kidule ; Harlequin, in The Invasion; putation by the number and variety of his William, in Tke Way to Keep Him, and performances, until the retirement of Mr. other characters which established his re- Garrick from the stage in 1776. On that putation as one of the first comic per. cccafion, the quondan Manager Chewed foririers of the times. his respect for Mr. King, by presenting In 1761 Mr. Churchiil's Rofciad ap- him with his itage foil, which he received peared, and Mr. King was characterized with the following letter : in the following lines : Adelebi, June 25, 1776. Behind came King-bred up in modest lore, “ DEAR KING, Basful and young he fought Hibernia's “ Accept a small token of our long and More, constant attachment to each other. I faiHibernia faid, 'bove every other grace, ter myself that this sword, as it is a theaFor matchless intrepidity of face. trical one, will not cur love between us, From her his features caught the gen'rous and that it will not be less valuable to you flame, for having dangled at my lide for fúrne And bid dcfiance to all sense of shame : part of the last winter, Tutor'd by Her, all rivals to surpass, “ May health, success, and reputation 'Mongst Drury's sons he comes, and still continue to attend you ! thines in BRASS. “ I am, dear King, This character, at the tinie of its pub “ Your's, very vuly, lication, was thought to be dictatud more " D. GARRICK. by spleen than truth, and time has given 66 Farewell! Remember me !" it no aiditional support. We Mall not minutely follow Mr. King In 1782 Drury-lane Theatre was open. in his progreis in the Theatre. It is futa ed under the management of Mr. King, ficient to ebterve, that each succeeding with a Dramatic Ode written and Ipoken year thewe: his induttry, his genius, and by him. In this tituation he continued his improvement. In 1763 he proxiuced until 1788, when he religned his fituation a Mutical Farce called Lotie at first sight, in disguit, for reations which he alligned to in which he exhibited himself is a new the public, and for which we mutt refer to light, that of a singer ; and in 1766, by our Magazine for October in that year. his performance of Lord Ogleby in The On relinquishing the management of the Clandestine Marriage, reached the summit Theatre, he wint to Dublin and Edinof his reputation. His exhibition of this burgh, at each of which places he met character, we have heard, was totally dif- with great patronage, and returning to ferent from that in which Mr. Garrick London, engaged for part of the lealun of had conceived and intended to have re- 2789 at Covent Gardien Theatre, where presented it. On hearing Mr. King's re- he produced a Farce, taken from Vanheartal of it, however, he declared himself brugh's Mificke, entitled Lovers Puurlatisfied with it, and encouraged him to rels. Since that time be has returned to expect, what he afterwards received, the his fituation at Drury-lare, much to the universal applaufc ot every spectator. The fatisfaction of his employers and of the treinulous, feigned voice which Mr. King Public. adopted, has, by a late writer, Mr. Wils We shall conclude this account with kimion, heen taid to be an imitation of a the following lines which appeared a few very refpectable printer at Exeter. years since in the public papers : - foremost ACCOUNT of Mr. KING, of DRURY-LANE THEATRE. WITH A PORTRAIT OF HIM, IN THE CHARACTER OF SIR PETER TEAZLE, IN THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL.] THIS Gentleman, now a veteran of the Stage, has had the good fortune to be efteemed equally by the public in his theatrical capacity, and by his friends for his fociable and engaging qualities as a member of fociety. He was, according to the Biographia Dramatica, born in London in August 1730; but by the majority of his Biographers is faid to be the fon of a Gentlemar. in the northern part of the kingdom, who, after giving him a good education, placed him with an Attorney. To a difpofition like Mr. King's, then volatile and thoughtlefs, the dry practice of the law was not likely to afford much gratification. He became enamoured of the Stage, and forfeited the favour of his father by an elopement from the authority of his master; when engaging in a trolling company, he experienced most of the miferies incident to that vagabond and defultory mode of life. This, however, could not have continued long, as in the year 1748 we find him engaged at Drury Lane Theatre, where, on the 19th of October, he ap. peared in the character of Allworth, in the revived Comedy of A new Way to pay old Debts, which was, as the play-bill of the day declared, his first appearance in any character. At Chriftmas, on the revival of The Emperor of the Moon at both houfes, he had the part of Cinthio affigned him; but, from whatever caufe it might have happened, we do not find that the early effays of his theatrical life in London were much noticed. He continued at Drury Lane two feafons, and being engaged at Briftol in the fummer of 1749, was, according to Mr. Wilkinfon, feen there by Mr. Whitehead and Mrs. Pritchard, who conceiving a favourable opinion of him, the former procured for him the part of Valerius in The Roman Father, and the latter was the means of his being put into the part of George Barnwell. He had also a small character in the then new play of Edward the Black Prince. Of the merits of his tragic efforts the memory is loft, and perhaps without any injury to his reputation. He himself, however, judged rightly of his own powers, which certainly were confined to Comedy. In this walk he had then no chance of fignalizing himself, all the characters to which he afpired being engroffed by Woodward, Yates, and Shuter, all then engaged at Drury Lane. He therefore determined to feek another field to display his abilities in, and at the end of the feafon of 1749 quitted Drury Lane, and went to Ireland, where, and at Bath, he continued improving himself by practice, until he arrived at a degree of excellence which made his return to Drury Lane easy to him a few years afterwards. In 1753 he had the direction of the Theatre at Bath, and in 1757, when the formidable oppofition to Mr. Sheridan in Dublin, by Barry and Woodward, commenced, Mr. King was then of fo much importance, and had become fo great a favourite with the Public, that each party was defirous of having his affiftance. He was then engaged with Mr. Sheridan, who, in a fplenetic moment, had refufed to give fome fecurity, which had been re quired, |