was one of his "old guard," and was always faithful and true, and when leaving the stage had the unusual grace to write his old master a grateful and kindly letter. He was linked with the old days. Garrick had been truly kind, and after his last benefit, made him a present of a horse. The grateful actor wrote to him in language not familiar to those whom Garrick was in the habit of loading with his favours. He had given him all thanks behind the scenes, yet he must formally, and upon paper, express all he felt. The style is that inflated style to which all actors have a leaning, and which they seem to catch from the scraps of dramatic "fine" language floating through their brain. "Believe me, sir," he said, "these feelings are wrote upon my heart, and must continue as long as the frail tenement that contains it. May your health, and Mrs. Garrick's continue perfect, at least with so small a difference that it may only add a relish to the future enjoyment of it, as the absence of friends the more endears their next meeting. May every circumstance of your lives be easy, and

is very penitent for what he has done. If you can get me two good murderers I will pay you handsomely, particularly for the spouting fellow who keeps the apple-stand on Tower-hill; the cut in his face is quite the thing. Pick me up an alderman or two for 'Richard,' if you can; and I have no objection to treat with you for a fat, comely mayor. The barber will not do for Brutus, although I think he may succeed as a thief, in 'The Beggar's Opera.'

"D. G."

The Bishop had rehearsed the part of the Bishop of Winchester in "Henry the Eighth," with such good effect, that Garrick often addressed him as "Cousin of Winchester." He however never played the part; the reader will see the reason from the two subjoined letters :

STONE TO GARRICK.

"SIR,-The Bishop of Winchester is getting drunk at the Bear, and swears he'll be d―d if he acts to-night.-I am yours,

ANSWER.

"W. STONE."

“STONE,―The Bishop may go to the. I do not know a greater rascal, "D. G."

except yourself.

every wish completed! And now my heart is somewhat lighter." The prayer of this excellent old actor and really grateful retainer, is original and ingenious, namely, wishing one's friend only just so much inconvenience in the way of sickness as to give a whet to the enjoyment of health. This kind benediction could not, however, secure such a tempered indisposition for Garrick, who was to suffer acutely by-and-by.

Here too was Woodward, great master in "science of grimace," as Churchill a little unjustly puts it, taking only one side of his humour, which could be tempered by the sound association of the school around him, and exhibit fine comedy in such parts as Bobadil and the Copper Captain. Smith," the genteel, the airy," was a type lost to us now, invaluable in those gay comedy gallants and men of fashion, who indeed are not on the stage now. "I fancy," says Elia, "he was more airy, and took the eye with a certain gaiety of person." King, too, that admirable and solid actor, Elia had seen, and admired for that artificial air which he imparted to Sir Peter.*

It would be tempting to dwell long on this fine cohort, as well-disciplined as they were fine. These little sketches will just give us a hint of what characters they were, who moved round Garrick.

"His acting left a taste on the palate sharp and sweet like a quince, with an old, hard, rough, withered face, like a john-apple, puckered up into a thousand wrinkles, with shrewd hints and tart replies." There is a perfect picture in this description.

CHAPTER IX.

IN THE GREEN-ROOM.

1772.

IN those days, too, the principles which regulated the administration of the stage were of a dignified kind, and worthy of a great profession. Nothing, as I have said, was more surprising than the respect enjoyed by actors, or their importance. Garrick went regularly to Court; and this was expected, and commented on, if omitted.* Here was an official recognition of a great theatre, and the company whom the manager represented the choicest, best-trained corps of comedians in the kingdom. Now there is no cohesion-a leading actor or a "star," is the Company; any stray atoms-shifting and changing-do for a corps the officer is the attraction; any cheap sweepings will do for "privates." In those days too, the Drury Lane players had a scarlet dress-as being attached to the Royal Household.†

The great actor's own behaviour showed the respect, that he felt was owing to himself, and to the public. In his in the intervals between his scenes, he green-room, never gossiped, but kept a little apart, as it were living

* Even now the manager of the Dublin Theatre Royal is expected to present himself at levees.

† Dr. Doran mentions that Baddeley was the last who wore this uniform.

still in his assumed character. This was, of course, set dow to pride and self-importance. He told a friend, who was by no means inclined to conceal his faults, that he was never free from a certain nervousness and sense of responsibility. Any day that he was to play, he never dined out, but remained at home quiet and undistracted, taking some light repast at two o'clock, and admitting no visitors.* This was his custom to the end, and shows how little of " a trade " he considered his acting. It was remarked, that none of the great players, like Barry or Clive, could be induced to show themselves in the boxes, during the after-piece; but went home decorously, so as not to impair the impression left on the audience. Here was a wholesome and significant principle. There was then no cheap contact with the groundlings, no exhibition at fancy fairs, where the vulgar curiosity of seeing the grand professors in the cool air of daylight, so fatally impairs all respect, and certainly the value of the profession. Once, and once only, he owned that he had come on the stage intoxicated. He had been persuaded to dine at a great house, and had taken too much liquor. When he came on as Lord Chalkstone, he appeared all exhilaration and spirits, laughed as he tried to act, but could not utter a word. Friends in the house tried to cover this exhibition with exaggerated applause, and the greater part of the audience did not perceive what had happened, but he was dreadfully mortified, and it was a lesson to him. never to be betrayed into such a failing again.†

On the stage, then, there was an admirable tone and discipline-a perfect respect for the audience, more

* Stockdale.

VOL. II.

+ Cradock.

Y

than repaid by that audience by a respect as perfect for the actor. The familiarity known as "gagging" was kept under an almost ascetical restraint. How happy, how profound and nice, was their instinct, may be seen from a remark of one who was a very acute observer indeed.* Tolerant in most points, Garrick was known to be rigid in matters like this. Once, however, when playing in "The Way to Keep Him," with Mrs. Clive, that lady whispered some private joke, which so completely upset him that he could not finish, but was obliged "to make his bow, amid a roar of electrical laughter." But this was an accident. It was often repeated how Roscius had told Shuter, "not to be too comical." Advice for a whole line of Shuters.

He was unwearied in unwearied in "drilling" his actorswhatever their rank-and they had learned the custom of taking instructions from him with docility. Indeed, it is surprising to see what infinite power his prosperity and success in direction, his wealth and good gifts as an actor, gave him in the theatre. How much a play gained by this unity of conception may be conceived. To this was owing the unequalled success of "Every Man in his Humour,” which was rehearsed for months: and the manager was known to rigidly apply the same principles to

"O comical actor!" says Wilkinson, "it is a debt, and a dangerous debt, not easily forgot or forgiven; for how can the performer think that though, perhaps, the town last night laughed, and gave indulgence, that he is free? Far from it; he has lost the golden ore, their good opinion, and it will take a long time to regain it. For the actor is dreadfully wrong, who thinks, because himself and friends laugh at what is termed jokes, out of all time, place, and character, it is forgiven in general." There is admirable truth as well as philosophy in this.

+ Wilkinson owns that, something of the same sort having happened to him, he tried it again on purpose, on the next night-when there was a general “And I have remembered the lesson," he says, 66 ever since."

hiss.