the actor's own peculiar merit effected more. When he came to that part of the play where his dead fon is brought in upon the bier, in Speaking these words,

Thanks to the Gods!-my boy has done his duty," he fo affected the whole houfe, that they cried out with a continued acclamation, Booth outdone! Booth outdone!

Yet this was not the fummit of his applaufe; for when he repeated the famous foliloquy, he was encored to that degree, that, though it was fubmitting to an impropriety, he indulged the audience with its repetition.

Here he remained without a rival full ten years, though the ftage underwent various fluctuations during that period; at the clofe of which he was engaged by Fleetwood, the manager at Drurylane, at a very extraordinary falary; where he prefided over rehearsals, and the perufal of fuch new plays as were offered. "A poet had put a tragedy which he had just finished, into his hands, one night behind the fcenes whilft he was ftill dreffed for the character he had performed. Quin put it into his pocket, and never thought any more about it. The bard, who was very impatient to know his fentiments with regard to the piece, waited upon him one morning, in order to hear his doom. Quin gave fome reafons for its not being proper for the ftage, after having learned the title and fable, which he was before entirely unacquainted with: upon which the poet, whofe mufe had flattered him with the perfpective view of a new fuit of cloaths, as well as the clearing

1

At the end of the winter of the year 1748, Queen having taken umbrage at Rich's behaviour, retired in a fit of fpleen and refentment to Bath, notwithstanding his being under engagements to that manager. Though Rich ought to have known that Quin never put up with any infult, and though he too late repented of what he had done, yet he thought, by treating him with filent contempt, to make him fubmit to his own terms. the other hand, Quin, whofe generous heart began now to relent having ufed his old acquaintance fo cavalierly, refolved to facrifice his refentment to his friendship, and wrote early the next feafon a laconic epiftle to Rich in these words:

I am at Bath. QUIN.

On

--

year 1720, that he had an opportunity of difplaying his great theatrical powers. Upon the revival of the Merry Wives of Windfor at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, of which the late Mr. Rich was then manager, there was no one in the whole company who would undertake the part of Falftaff; Rich was therefore inclined to give up all thoughts of reprefenting it, when Quin happening to come in his way, faid, if he pleafed, he would attempt it. "Hem!" faid Rich, taking a pinch of fnuff, you attempt Falstaff! Why (hem!) you might as well think of acting Cato after Booth. The character of Falstaff, young man, is quite another character from what you think;" (taking another pinch of fnuff), it is not a little faivelling part, that, thatin fhort, that any one can ão. There is not a man among you that has any idea of the part but my felf. It is quite out of your walk. No, never think of Falfaff- -never think of Falstaffit is quite indeed, young man."

quite out of your walk,

This was the reception his first effort of stepping out of the faggot walk met with, and for fome days he laid afide all thoughts of ever doing Falstaff, or indeed fpeaking upon the ftage, except it were to deliver a message. Ryan, who at that time had the car and confidence of Rich, having heard Quin, long before he thought of coming upon the ftage, repeat fome paffages in the character of Falstaff, prevailed upon the manager to let Quin rehearse them be fore him; which he accordingly did, but not much to his mater's

fatisfaction. However, as the cafe was defperate, and either the Merry Wives of Wind for muft have been laid afide, or Quin perform Falstaff, this alternative, at length, prevailed upon Rich to admit him into this part.

The first night of his appearance in this character, he furprifed and astonished the audience. No actor before ever entered into the fpirit of the author, and it feemed as if Shakespeare had by intuition drawn the knight, fo long before, for Quin only to represent. The juft applaufe he met with upon this occafion is incredible: continued clappings, and peals of laughter, in fome measure interrupted the reprefentation; though it impoffible that any regularity whatever could have more increased the mirth, or excited the approbation of the audience. It would, however, be injustice to the other performers, not to acknowledge that they greatly contributed to the fuccefs of the piece, which had a very great run, and was of eminent fervice to the company.

was

The next capital character he appeared in, was that of Sir John Brute, in the Provoked Husband; foon after which he engaged at Drury-lane, and fucceeded the elder Mills in all his capital parts in tragedy. Upon Booth's quit¬ ting that ftage, "Quin thone forth in all his fplendor; and yet he had the diffidence, upon the first night of his appearing in Cato, to infert in the bills, that the part of Cata would be only attempted by Mr. Quin. The modefty of this invitation produced a full houfe, and a favourable audience, but

the

the actor's own peculiar merit effected more. When he came to that part of the play where his dead fon is brought in upon the bier, in Speaking these words,

"Thanks to the Gods!-my boy has done his duty," he fo affected the whole houfe, that they cried out with a continued acclamation, Booth outdone! Booth outdone!

Yet this was not the fummit of his applaufe; for when he repeated the famous foliloquy, he was encored to that degree, that, though it was fubmitting to an impropriety, he indulged the audience with its repetition.

"A

the chandler's fhop fcore, in a faltering voice defired to have his piece returned. * There" (said Quin) 'it lies in the window." Upon which poor Bayes repaired to the window, and took up a play which proved to be a comedy, and his muse had brought forth a direful tragedy; where upon he told Quin of the mistake; who very pleasantly faid, "Faith them, Sir, I have certainly loft your play."- Loft my play! cries the poet, almoft thunder-ftruck. "Yes, by G-d, but I have," replied Quin; but look ye, here is a drawer full of both comedies, and tragedies take any two you will, in the room of it."

Here he remained without a rival full ten years, though the ftage underwent various fluctuations during that period; at the clofe of which he was engaged by Fleetwood, the manager at Drurylane, at a very extraordinary falary; where he prefided over rehearfals, and the perufal of fuch new plays as were offered. poet had put a tragedy which he had just finished, into his hands, one night behind the fcenes whilft he was still dreffed for the character he had performed. Quin put it into his pocket, and never thought any more about it. The bard, who was very impatient to know his fentiments with regard to the piece, waited upon him one morning, in order to hear his doom. Quin gave some reasons for its not being proper for the flage, after having learned the title and fable, which he was before entirely unacquainted with: upon which the poet, whofe mufe had flattered him with the perfpective view of a new fuit of dloaths, as well as the clearing

At the end of the winter of the year 1748, Queen having taken umbrage at Rich's behaviour, retired in a fit of fpleen and refentment to Bath, notwithstanding his being under engagements to that manager. Though Rich ought to have known that Quin never put up with any infult, and though he too late repented of what he had done, yet he thought, by treating him with filent contempt, to make him submit to his own terms. On the other hand, Quin, whofe generous heart began now to relent having ufed his old acquaintance fo cavalierly, refolved to facrifice his refentment to his friendship, and wrote early the next feafon a laconic epiftle to Rich in these words:

year 1720, that he had an opportunity of difplaying his great theatrical powers. Upon the revival of the Merry Wives of Wind for at Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, of which the late Mr. Rich was then manager, there was no one in the whole company who would undertake the part of Falstaff; Rich was therefore inclined to give up all thoughts of representing it, when Quin happening to come in his way, faid, if he pleafed, he would attempt it."Hem!" faid Rich, taking a pinch of fnuff, you attempt Falstaff! Why (hem!) you might as well think of acting Cato after Booth. The character of Falstaff, young man, is quite another character from what you think;" (taking another pinch of fnuff), it is not a little fnivelling part, that, that in fhort, that any one can do. There is not a man among you that has any idea of the part but my felf. It is quite out of your walk. No, never think of Falftaff-never think of Falftaff · it is quite quite out of your walk, indeed, young man.”

-

This was the reception his firft *ffort of stepping out of the faggot walk met with, and for fome days he laid afide all thoughts of ever doing Falstaff, or indeed fpeaking upon the ftage, except it were to deliver a message. Ryan, who at that time had the ear and confidence of Rich, having heard Quin, long before he thought of coming upon the ftage, repeat fome paffages in the character of Falstaff, prevailed upon the manager to let Quin rehearse them be. fore him; which he accordingly did, but not much to his mater's

fatisfaction. However, as the cafe was defperate, and either the Merry Wives of Wind for muft have been laid afide, or Quin perform Falstaff, this alternative, at length, prevailed upon Rich to admit him into this part.

The first night of his appearance in this character, he furprifed and aftonished the audience. No actor before ever entered into the fpirit of the author, and it seemed as if Shakespeare had by intuition drawn the knight, fo long before, for Quin only to represent. The juft applaufe he met with upon this occafion is incredible: continued clappings, and peals of laughter, in fome measure interrupted the reprefentation; though it was impoffible that any regularity whatever could have more increafed the mirth, or excited the approbation of the audience. It would, however, be injustice to the other performers, not to acknowledge that they greatly contributed to the fuccefs of the piece, which had a very great run, and was of eminent fervice to the company.

The next capital character he appeared in, was that of Sir John Brute, in the Provoked Husband; foon after which he engaged at Drury-lane, and fucceeded the elder Mills in all his capital parts in tragedy. Upon Booth's quitting that ftage, "Quin Thone forth in all his fplendor; and yet he had the diffidence, upon the firft night of his appearing in Cato, to infert in the bills, that the part of Cata would be only attempted by Mr. Quin. The modefty of this invitation produced a full houfe, and a favourable audience, but

the

the actor's own peculiar merit effected more. When he came to that part of the play where his dead fon is brought in upon the bier, in Speaking these words,

"Thanks to the Gods!-my boy has done his duty," he fo affected the whole houfe, that they cried out with a continued acclamation, Booth outdone! Booth outdone!

Yet this was not the fummit of his applause; for when he repeated the famous foliloquy, he was encored to that degree, that, though it was fubmitting to an impropriety, he indulged the audience with its repetition.

.

Here he remained without a rival full ten years, though the flage underwent various fluctuations during that period; at the clofe of which he was engaged by Fleetwood, the manager at Drurylane, at a very extraordinary falary; where he prefided over rehearfals, and the perufal of fuch new plays as were offered. "A poet had put a tragedy which he had just finished, into his hands, one night behind the fcenes whilft he was still dreffed for the character he had performed. Quin put it into his pocket, and never thought any more about it. The bard, who was very impatient to know his fentiments with regard to the piece, waited upon him one morning, in order to hear his doom. Quin gave fome reafons for its not being proper for the ftage, after having learned the title and fable, which he was before entirely unacquainted with: upon which the poet, whofe mufe had flattered him with the perfpective view of a new fuit of cloaths, as well as the clearing

in the room of it."

At the end of the winter of the year 1748, Queen having taken umbrage at Rich's behaviour, retired in a fit of fpleen and refentment to Bath, notwithstanding his being under engagements to that manager. Though Rich ought to have known that Quin never put up with any infult, and though he too late repented of what he had done, yet he thought, by treating him with filent contempt, to make him fubmit to his own terms. On the other hand, Quin, whofe generous heart began now to relent having ufed his old acquaintance fo cavalierly, refolved to facrifice his refentment to his friendship, and wrote early the next feason a laconic epiftle to Rich in these words: