most fatal effects to fociety have resulted; for, to the obstructions it has placed in the avenues which lead to the temple of Hymen, might, in a great measure, be attributed the numbers of unhappy females who infest the streets of this metropolis, to the great annoyance of the modeft part of the fex.

For a breach of this law, in marrying Mr. Vernon, the finger, to Mifs Poiter, the dancer, this clergyman was committed to Newgate; and being tried, was fentenced to be tranfported. One evening Mr. Ridout came into the green-room, and informed us, that having been to the prifon, to fee Mr. Grierson, he found him on the common fide, with the most abandoned felons; and in want of every neceffary. I had no fooner heard this account, than my humanity was awakened, and I determined to exert myfelf in favour of the unhappy man. For this purpofe, in the first place, I begged the favour of Mr. Ridout to return upon his fteps immediately, and in my name request of Mr. Akerman to take the old gentleman under his care, and place him in as commodious a fituation, as his confinement would admit of. This Mr. Akerman readily did, and I have always esteemed myself much obliged to him for fo doing. He removed him from the common fide to his own house and table, where he continued, till the hour arrived for his going abroad. In the mean time, we collected a large purse for him; and Mr.

Fox farnished him with credentials to secure him a living when he arrived at the place of his deftination. But the poor old man had fuffered too many hardfhips before I heard of his unhappy fituation, to reap any benefit from Mr. Fox's goodness. The fufferings he had gone through, and the uneafinefs of his mind, aided by the inconveniences of the voyage, put a period at once to his troubles and existence, before he reached the coaft of America.

A ridiculous circumftance.-The reflection of a moment tells me, that the ridiculous circumftance I am about to mention will stand a better chance of having the defired effect, if it be not related immediately after the foregoing anecdote.-It will be neceffary that the compaffionate emotions excited by the latter fhould be permitted to fubfide, and that the mind recovers its usual tone, before the chords receive a quicker vibration from a laughable incident. As in mufic, too fudden a tranfition from flow and folemn ftrains to quick and lively ones, rather bewilders the fenfes than roufes the paffion intended, fo in writing. -But why fhould I enter into a long difcuffion of what muft appear very plainly to you? You fee, as clearly as I do, that it will be proper to make a pause between the preceding fad incident and the fucceeding merry one.

G. A. B.

VOL. III.

Ꭰ

LET

LETTER LIX.

March 30, 17

A

Ridiculous circumftance happened during the getting up of the "Prophetefs," which, though trivial in itself, as it shows the abfurdity of the times, I am induced to give an account of. Mr. Rofs did me the honour to confult me in what manner he fhould drefs the character of the Roman Emperor. I gave him fuch directions as in my idea appeared moft confonant to the character. Among other things, I recommended to him to have a wig made as near a head of hair as it could poffibly be. He told me that Mr. Rich thought it should be a full-bottomed one. I could not help smiling at such an abfurdity. But putting on a grave look, I replied, "Then let "it be as large a one as you can get. And to "render yourself the more confpicuous," continued I, "must not you wear a hoop under your lamber"kins?" The ferious air I affumed whilft I uttered this deceived the hero, notwithstanding the propofal was fo apparently prepofterous; and he determined to adopt the mode I had pointed out.

Thus bedizened when he came on, the night of representation, there never furely appeared on any ftage fo grotefque a figure. The house was in a

roar.

roar. But no one was more diverted with the humourous fcene than myself. By this joke, which I could fcarcely believe paffable, was every perfoh prefent, except the poor Emperor himself, indebted to me for a laugh which I thought would never have an end. It, however, was attended with à good confequence, by breaking through one of the moft abfurd cuftoms that was ever introduced on the English ftage; that of dreffing the Grecian and Roman heroes in full-bottomed perukes.

The foregoing inftance reminds me of a custom juft as glaringly prepofterous, which is common on the French ftage. I have there feen Le Quin, in lieu of a helmet, fawing a little Spanish hat and feather between his hands, in the character of Oreftes, when every other part of the dress has been truly Grecian.

My benefit this year was, as ufual, very brilfiant; and lucrative to an excess. But the tragedy of "Alzira” has too little of incident, and too much of declamation, to fuit the tafte of an English audience. The pieces which were performed not being in my line of acting, I had not much bufiness at the theatre this feafon. I was not, however, much concerned at the 'want of employment there, and was very happy when it concluded.

The following fummer our houfe at Hollwood was crouded fo much, that it really became troublefome.

D 2

fome. I had fome time before made Lord Granby a prefent of a very fine horse, which Lord Tyrawley had fent me from Gibraltar. It was one of the fwifteft of its fpecies Arabia ever produced; and was able to carry any weight, which rendered it invaluable. The happiness I received from being able to make fuch a prefent to fuch a man, equalled the value of the gift.

Mr. Calcraft, who always liked to fee me well mounted, defired Captain Shaftoe to look out for a good horfe for me. The Captain informed him, that he himself had one of the finest mares that ever was mounted, but fhe was fo fpirited, that he could not, at times, hold her in; therefore he was fure no woman could manage her. My gentleman, having a great opinion of my skill in riding, (or fecretly wishing that my neck might be broke in the attempt) laid a confiderable wager, that I could not only ride, but completely manage her. He accordingly at dinner acquainted me, that he had made a purchase for me of the most beautiful mare that was ever seen.

The next day she was brought down to Hollwood. We all admired her; but it was with the greatest difficulty that I could be perfuaded to get upon her back. What made this reluctance the more extraordinary was, that my courage had hitherto never been known to fail me, as I was efteemed one of the boldest riders in the kingdom. I could truly

fay