far fuperior to any mechanism his carpenters could boaft of-and of their skill he had thus declaimed

"What eager transport ftares from ev'ry eye,
"When pullies rattle and our genii fly;
"When tin cascades, like falling waters gleam,
"Or through the canvas burts the real stream;
"While thirfty Iflington laments in vain,

"Half her NEW RIVER roll'd to Drury-Lane."

And a third reafon was, though laft, not of the least pleasing refult; as by this train of my alledged offences I was fecluded and kept at a proper distance, so as to prevent any approach to the throne; therefore my harvest did not promise to be a golden one, being forbid my appearance at court. This farce continued going on with quietness and fuccefs till near Christmas. During that time I was in a perpetual round of engagements and invitations, either with my own friends, or on parties with Mr. Foote at many of the fashionable tables, fuch as Mr. Calcraft's, Lady Vane's, Sir Francis Delaval's; and mixed with the first fet of gentlemen at the principal hotels and taverns in London. One day I was led into an error from vanity, but certainly not to my credit; however, as a faithful hiftorian I will not hide the circumftance.

As the glass and good humour went round, and each feemed on a level, I from intimacy, and

and really a liking to all my friend Shuter did, ufed frequently for half an hour together to introduce myself into company as Mr. Shuter, and being with him perpetually on his fober as well as his indiscreet frolics, it actually only seemed to those acquainted with his mode and manner as another Shuter, as his stage-acting or his private oddities. were become equally easy to be affumed by me. This caufed fo much laugh, applause, and flattery, which is much more fafcinating than a jack-alanthorn, and easily gains followers; that I was perfuaded to exhibit a likeness of Shuter on the ftage.. Foote defired Colonel Thornton, and feveral others to importune me, urging what was really true, that as a genius of comedy he could not receive any injury by the force of imitation; that as a man of humour he would even himself be entertained with it, and it was impoffible for him, on fuch a trivial occafion, to be seriously angry, as. he had more fenfe, &c. All thefe arguments. working on my eagerness for fame, feduced me, but not without fome pangs, as I really and truly, in the full fenfe of the word, regarded Shuter, and admired his faults full equally with his best qualities; for we had heard the chimes at midnight. Not any perfon now existing remembers this circumftance fo well as Mr. Austin; he and I were very intimate, and he was one of

the very few belonging to the theatre who wished me well; and when I informed him of Colonel Thornton and Foote's requeft, faid, "Why, Tate, you are a great rogue, but you may as well take off Shuter as not, it will only be a fhynefs for a few days, and then you will shake hands and all will be well again;" and that evening with my waggifh friend's advice, who loved a little mifchief, and which accorded with my own inclination, it was concluded, and the next night carried into execution.-I want, now (though all is over, and I am truly grieved to say Shuter is dead and buried) to lay the blame on the persuasive Joseph and the odd bottle that made us both much wifer than when we yawned over the firft. It awkwardly happened the next day after this confultation, that I met Shuter at dinner, and knowing my evil intentions, I felt like most people who are confcious integrity is not the strict rule of their conduct, for though not a criminal or a ferious matter, it certainly wanted a palliation, but I did not know how to act.-Shuter had ftuck by me from my very firft diftrefs-Shuter had ftood buff for me against a host of foes-and I knew not any able lawyer who could undertake my brief, and that brief weighed with fuch reafons, who could strictly acquit me even to myself. If I had asked him seriously, he certainly would have given

a negative, and still let fufpicion of his friend hanker on his mind in future, and on his refufal I could not think of doing it; therefore I determined like a young couple for Scotland, who marry first, and afk pardon afterwards. I cannot defend this conduct to Shuter to this moment, though I can boast, if that can be taken as an excufe, that I received great encouragement for the fame; but it deadened all Shuter's intimacy and mine. Yet like Parthenope you will find (with a little patience) it was not dead neither. I entered on the comic-tragical business I had promised on the very evening I had purposed. The amazingly strong likeness of fo popular a ftage character when I appeared in walk, gait, voice, and features, in M'Ruthen, the London cries, &c. was by the galleries instantaneously recognized for their darling friend Ned Shuter; and inftead of anger they received it with fuch joy, that when it was over I flattered myself Shuter would be as pleased as myfelf; but instead of that-No, no, it was quite the contrary. I called it a joke, Shuter did not; or if he would, those about him were fo little prone to good-nature, that they would not fufer any vegetation of that kind to grow or rest in his mind, but plucked it up by the roots. Applause I received it is very true, but by all Shuter's friends and acquaintance, which were very numerous, I

was fhunned and looked upon as treacherous. I think I had fome perpetual fatality in those (as well as the prefent) days, which quickly clouded my sunshine by heavy showers of perplexity.

This trifling imitation of mine (though very like) was truly nonsensical, and by no means injurious; yet it was so blazoned by all the performers of both houses, that I was represented in the blackest colours, as incapable of friendship, sensibility, or gratitude. This gave me many a twinge, but the want of his company at that time was a severe punishment indeed, as not being with him two or three evenings if practicable in the week required, in my young opinion, engagements of a fuperior kind to make amends for so great a loss as the fociety of my friend Edward Shuter; my only compenfation was the applaufe I received on my continued imitation, which I thought a very good joke. To keep up my spirits, added to my kind reception at the theatre, all my own particular friends in private life were ftaunch and good, and I had the pleasure of feeing the best of mothers perfectly happy, and every reasonable want at command. Many of my mother's and late father's acquaintance were, as may be fuppofed, in the vale

of years, and not of the frisky caft. At that time I frequently dined at the Thatched House, in PallMall, with Colonel Thornton of the Blues; and