Tancred, and Richard.

His next visit was to Birmingham, on the advantageous terms of dividing with the manager, Mr. M'Cready, the receipts after deducting the nightly charges and a benefit. Here he performed the first week, Douglas, Hamlet, Rolla, Richard; the second week, Hamlet, Osman, Douglas, Romeo, and Achmet (Barbarossa); and the third week, Frederick (Lovers Vows), Hamlet, Octavian (Mountaineers), and Richard, with considerable fame and emolument. Here Mr. Justice Graham, one of the managers of Drurylane, saw his performance, and made him an offer of half a clear benefit for seven nights; a proposal naturally rejected, when he was making upwards of £60 per night in the country. As the friends of the boy now demanded 50 guineas per night, and a whole clear benefit, the Drury-lane managers began to deliberate, and Mr. Harris, in the interim, engaged him on the terms proposed. This roused the Drury-lane managers, who immediately sent their deputy, Mr. Wroughton, to Liverpool, where our young hero was now adding to his fame having also gathered laurels at Sheffield-to outbid their rival, and to remind his friends that they had made a prior proposal. His friends, however, swayed by honour, observed that Mr. Harris, had made a prior engagement; however, as the agreement between them did not forbid Master Betty from performing elsewhere in London during the intervening nights or weeks, the managers of Drurylane availed themselves of this opportunity, and engaged him for the intervals between the Covent Garden nights. His first appearance in London accordingly took place at Covent Garden on Saturday De

cember 1, 1804, in Achmet (Barbarossa), which character he repeated the following Monday, and the same week appeared in Douglas and Frederick. On Monday, December 10, he appeared at Drurylane in Douglas, which character he also repeated at that theatre, and likewise performed Achmet; but having been suddenly taken ill on the day intended for a repetition of the latter character, many hundreds were disappointed of witnessing that night his extraordinary abilities. Great have been the en

comiums bestowed upon this young gentleman, which, though they have raised high expectations, and created universal curiosity, have not, like the generality of puffs, been productive of disappointment. That a boy could perform such arduous characters in a style superior to many of our veteran actors, was seemingly an exaggerated account; consequently many prejudiced and incredulous critics attended his performances in London, to point out all his defects; among these were several performers, who chiefly occupied the best seats. Prejudice however vanished, and incredulity recanted! The most fastidious saw his beauties, and could not deny his merit; while the performers, who were only spectators that night, beheld in him a faithful mirror, which pointed out to then their own defects. Mr. Knight, the comedian, we are told, would not credit the accounts of his merit, till ocular demonstration satis fied him: and Mr. Stephen Kemble, deriding the idea of his excellence, gave it as his opinion that it must be 66 a Tom Thumb exhibition." However, this Lilliputian actor certainly brings more money in a few nights to the theatrical treasu ries, than Falstaff Kemble will in a whole

a whole season. The writer of this confesses, that he disbelieved all the reports in his favour, but he owns he was agreeably surprised, and highly entertained, by his performance; still he must think that Master Betty would perform to greater advantage, if playing with gentlemen and ladies of his own age; for, notwithstanding the characters he has played in London, except Octavian, are really juvenile, yet, when on the boards with Mr. Barrymore, &c. the disparity of stature, as well as years, greatly diminishes his worth. Merit, in deed, made Garrick "six feet high," but then he spoke like an adult he acted like a man: this Master Betty, on account of his puerile voice and appearance, cannot do; and therefore when a tall, masculine Lord Randolph becomes jealous of our Young Norval, or an Irene, old enough to be Zapphira the mother, falls in love with a Selim thirteen years old, we cannot overlook his age and stature. This remark is not made to detract from the young gentleman's merit, but merely to point out to how much greater advantage it might have been displayed: and surely, as Mr. Colman lately produced a pieceFairies' Revels-chiefly performed by children, the managers of the winter theatres might, on this occasion, have provided a juvenile company. There is an impropriety in calling him the Young Roscius. Roscius was the best Roman actor of whom we have any account; and the public were so justly dazzled by the splendour of Mr. Garrick's talents, that having no person, in the memory of man, to compare, him to, but having some indistinct ideas of transcendent merit in Roscius, they borrowed that name as the only compliment they

had to bestow. Now as the English Roscius is still in memory, the compliment to Master Betty should have been the Young Garrick-not the Young Roscius: and even this compliment should not have been presumptuously paid him by the managers or his friends, till a London audience had, by their approbation, conferred it on him. At Covent Garden he was properly announced as Master Betty, but the Drury-lane managers copied the title which was given him in the country bills; not considering that what may be allowed in the country, by way of attraction, is quite. unnecessary in London. A report that this young gentleman was a ward in Chancery originated from his having been introduced to the Lord Chancellor, who desired to see him: the proprietors of Drurylane, however, for the laudable purpose of insuring to him hereafter his present earnings, generously endeavoured, but without effect, to confirm this report. He is about four feet six inches in height; his features are handsome, but not peculiarly marked; his eye is quick and brilliant; his habits and observations are puerile, unless questions ́ are put to him in order to try the force and provoke the exercise of his mind: then his answers are so appropriate as to excite surprise. His heart is excellent, as the following anecdote will prove:—While at Birmingham a proposal was made to him to perform for the benefit of one of the minor performers, who was in a state of indigence: he immediately assented; but the manager, who very naturally consulted the interest of his own engagement, interfered, and his benevolent purpose was of course defeated. Upon being informed of this prohibition, he was angry and

dejected.

dejected. He shed tears, declaring he would do his utmost to serve the poor man. As it was the custom then at Birmingham to invite him to every fashionable party, he took a number of his tickets with him, the night he was informed of the manager's resistance to his wish, to a large company, and succeeded in selling about six dozen. We have been told, that during the rehearsals in London, he refused to be instructed by any of the performers, and even directed the business of the stage himself, pointing out some improprieties in those who were acting with him. It is, however, an idle opinion, that nature has been his only mistress; he has been well tutored by his mother, and by Mr. Hough; and is not only to be admired for his docility and retentive memory, but for the able manner in which he executes those instructions.

by Mr. Isted, and fed by the Duke of Bedford. It measures, in height, one foot eleven inches; in length, from rump to snout, three feet nine inches; and in girth, across the shoulders, four feet nine inches.

SPORTSMAN'S CABINET;

OR

A Correct Delineation of the various Dogs used in the Sports of the Field; including the Canine Race in general: consisting of a Series of rich and masterly Engravings of every distinct Breed, from original Paintings taken from Life, purposely for the Work, by P. Reinagle, A. R. A. engraved in the Line Manner, by Mr. John Scott, by whom the Plates to Mr. Daniel's Rural Sports were executed; and interspersed with beautiful Vignettes, engraved on Wood. Forming a Collection of Superb Sporting Subjects, worthy the Attention of Amateurs of Field Sports, and Admirers of the Arts in general.

Α

CURIOUS PIG.

An Engraving.

ALTHOUGH, pigs, are

not sporting animals, except in the case of that belonging to Sir William Mildmay's game-keeper, of which we gave an account in a former volume, yet, in compliment to the very respectable gentleman who sent us the drawing from which this is taken, we cheerfully give it a place, under a persuasion, that it will meet the approbation of our friends.

This pig was exhibited at Lord Somerville's cattle-shew, in Dixon's Yard, Barbican, March 4, 1805. It was then nine months old, between Chinese and Leicester, bred VOL. XXVI. No. 152.

happy to say, is at length completed in twenty-five numbers, super-royal quarto, which have been published monthly. The regularity with which the Sportsman's Cabinet has been conducted, from the first number to the last, reflects considerable credit on its proprietors.

The work is already so well known, that it would be a waste of time to go into further particulars on its peculiar merits, than just to observe, that we have received much gratification in the perusal of the whole; and for that of our readers, who may not have had the same opportunity with ourselves, nothing but want of room prevents us from making a copious extract, which must be deferred till our next publication.

PUGILISM.