us. This circumftance was very agreeable to me, as well as to my mother. She in particular was pleased with it. For as fhe was now entirely engroffed by her meditations, which were ufually employed on two different fubjects, namely her favourite Mr. Crump, and the approach of a more agreeable figure called Death, fhe was glad I had a companion in whose friendship she could rely, and who would forward her wifh; that of uniting me to Mr. Crump. One day my mother being more than ufually importunate on this fubje&t, I was fo difpleafed at the odious topic, that I answered with great warmth, "I wifh, "Madam, you would marry him yourself. I can. "have no objection to him for a father-in-law; but "have a most infuperable one to him for a husband." My afperity feemed to grieve my mother much more than it had ever done before. A few months, how.. ever, declared her motives, and made her unhappy the reft of her days.

Mrs. Woffington played the first night with her ufual eclat, in the character of Sir Henry Wildare; in which she was esteemed fo very excellent, that fome years before, it was the fupport of the theatre for the whole feafon. Mrs. Ward foon followed. Her beautiful face and novelty infured her applause But her fituation, as well as

at her first appearance.

her figure, being against her, fhe did not conclude

the part of Cordelia with any degree of credit. Mr. Garrick food unrivalled in Lear; but as Mrs. Ward's acting did not tend much to the fupport of the piece, it was not repeated. The great veteran Quin had not made any of Shakespeare's characters his ftudy, except that of Falstaff, in which he was inimitable, and that of Henry VIII. in which he likewife excelled.

Though Mr. Quin appeared to be reconciled to me, I found, to my forrow, that he did not treat me with that confpicuous tenderness and regard he had. formerly fhewn me. His behaviour to me then, as I have already obferved, was more like that of a fond father towards his darling child, than ́ of a mere well-wifher. I was now invited but seldom to those envied parties, which at once flattered my vanity, and enlightened my understanding. And although I had at this time many more admirers, he difcontinued to favour me with his advice and cordial regard.

Notwithstanding a timid apprehensive modesty is commendable in the younger part of the fair fex, yet? this amiable virtue might be carried to a detrimental extreme. A consciousness of rectitude, even where appearances are great'y against them, will support the innocent under the most discouraging cenfures; and not only fupport under them, but flimulate to a due exertion

exertion of every means in their power, towards their vindication.-Bold in the purity of my intenti ons, and conscious that I had not offended, even in thought, against the facred laws of chastity, though carried off by the contrivance of an avowed admirer, I fhould have contemned the fneers of the prude, the exultations of the coquette, the pity of the feeming virtuous, and the cenfures of the whole world. By fo doing I should probably have foon been able to vindicate my conduct to my friends, and have recovered the character I had fo undefervedly loft.-As the noxious dews of the night are exhaled by the earlieft rays of the fun, fo would the fcandal with which I was loaded have been quickly difperfed by the discriminating beams of truth. But unhappily a falfe delicacy prompted me to fly from, instead of repelling, the casual attack; and by it, among other inconveniences and misfortunes, I loft the favour and affection of this worthieft of men.

At length I was foon announeed to bring up the rear of our theatrical forces in the character of Belvidera. When, to my great furprize, instead of the crowded house I had flattered myself with playing to, it was far from full. This was the more mortifying, as it was unexpected. My own reception indeed, was as warm as it had ever been; but ftill I was diffatisfied. At the conclufion of the piece, however,

B 3

however, Mr. Town, whom I have already taken notice of, hearing another piece given out for the following evening, cried out, "The fame! the "fame!" The audience joined, as usual, in the cry; and by this eventual stroke, the same play, "Venice "Preserved," was performed, for four fucceffive nights, to crowded houses; and continued one of our moft drawing performances, to the conclusion of the feafon.

At this period it was cuftomary to play "Tamerlane" on the 4th of November. That day drew near; and neither Mrs. Woffington nor myself had been spoken to, relative to it. We were the more furprised at this filence, as Mr. Quin was reputed to be the best Bajazet that ever trod the stage. One evening, before the piece then performing was con cluded, he fent to the green-room, defiring to speak with me in his dreffing-room. I immediately rofe from my feat, and went to the door; but hearing voices within, I stopped for fome time, left I should interrupt business, or be one too many. As I flood, I distinctly heard the Fox fay, (for Volpone was then exhibiting) "Why, my Lord, we have Woffington "at the receipt of cuftom, and who bids more! "Ward, flatter than a half-baked pan-cake-and "little Bellamy as cold as ice, and as conceited as "the devil."

Having heard this fine eulogium, I waited till the laugh, which was partly at my expence, had subfided, and then made my appearance. I found, on my entrance, Lord Orford, and Thomfon, who conftantly attended his friend Quin, and who had brought Shenstone, so much admired for his pastorals, to make his bow. As foon as Mr. Quin saw me, he thus accofted me: " My dear girl, I have a "favour to beg of you, and defire you will not deny " me." I inftantly replied, "You can make but "one requeft, Mr. Quin, relative to the theatre, " which I can refuse you; and I beg you will not

give me fo fenfible a pain, as that of not being " able to acquiefce in every request of yours." He returned, with a frown, "It is what you point at, "and you had better comply with a good grace, for "you fhall and must do it."

This threat, as my difpofition is not framed to bear compulfion, nettled me fo much, that, with the air of queen Catherine, I faid, "I revere you, fir, “as a father, and esteem you as a friend; but if

your request relates to Tamerlane, I must tell you, "that little Bellamy has too much conceit to play

Selima to fuch a half-baked pan-cake as Ward." My affumed confequence fo highly diverted the company, that good humour was immediately re flored; and they joined in telling Quin, thát, in