OF HIS OWN LIFE, BY TATE WILKINSON, PATENTEE OF THE THEATRES-ROYAL, YORK & HULL. IN FOUR VOLUMES. IF I HAD HELD MY PEN BUT HALF AS WELL AS VOL II. YORK: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, By WILSON, SPENCE, and MAWMAN; Anno 1790. MEMOIRS OF TATE WILKINSON. HE winter of the year 1758, was pro THE ductive of many material theatrical revolutions. A fudden and unforeseen stroke happened at Drury-Lane, by the unexpected lofs of Mr. Woodward, the entire fupport of all the comedies where Mr. Garrick was not concerned, as his Marplot, Foppington, Sir Fopling Flutter, Duretete, bore testimony; and he was of great importance in many where Mr. Garrick was principal; such as his never equalled Bobadil and Mercutio, Mr. Garrick being Kitely and Romeo; all the pantomime department refted entirely on the thoulders of Woodward. In fhort, the lofs of that gentleman was fuch, as put fo dangerous a hatchet to the tree as made the old bark to tremble, not only for its VOL. II. B branches; but an alarm even of the cutting-up the root of the venerable oak, that had flourished on that facred spot, and which had been dedicated to the Muses for ages, and stood many a threatening blast and tempeft. ture been remarkably Had they not at that juncfeeble at Covent-Garden, by the lofs of Barry and others, the tears of Old Madam Drury would have had additional cause to flow. Woodward, not to his praise or wisdom be it recorded, left his enviable fituation, being in poffeffion of every comfort and affluence, and fecure of the hearts and smiles of the public, and on terms of amity with Mr. Garrick; yet with all these advantages he fled, which he never repented but once, and that for altogether. Woodward and Barry feduced from both the theatres, Mr. and Mrs. Walker, formerly Mifs Minors, (both living now I believe) Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Vernon, and also several useful performers, a fevere cut in a regular catalogue of stock-acting plays. That the loss of so many performers, with Woodward at the head of fuch a defertion from the royal ftandard, was confiderably felt is certain; but Garrick's name was a tower of strength: He therefore in a great degree ftopped the breach by his own force, presenting himself early after this revolt, not only in his characters of never failing |