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LETTER LXIV.

May 10, 17

BOUT this time Mr. Dodfley, a gentleman justly admired for his private virtues, as well as his literary productions, offered Mr. Rich a tragedy called " Cleone." The fituations in the piece were most affecting. And the fubject of it being a family diftrefs, that pre-determined the public in its favour. The fuccefs of it depended entirely upon the heroine, which fell to my lot. And this, as our company then ftood, was a double recommendation; for Rofs and Smith. exerted their talents much better under the aufpices of Thalia, than of Melpomene.'

Mr. Garrick had declined the piece; but from what reafon I could never guefs. Mrs. Cibber had done the fame. It, however, had merit. Domeftic feelings ftrike more to the heart, than thofe of crowned heads. The language was fimple, and I determined that my performance of it fhould be the fame. It was an effort worth trying; as from its novelty, I fhould, at least, have the merit of its being all my own.

My attendance upon Mr. Calcraft had injured my health, which made me with to protract the performance. But I found that my attempts to put it off were confidered only as the effect of caprice. I know, this

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has

has been practifed by many performers, in order to enhance their value; but it was a manœuvre I always defpifed. And I was fo much above being capable of fuch an artful mode of proceeding, that I could not even bear the fuppofition of it, much lefs the imputation. I therefore, although very unfit for the tafk, accorded to the wishes of the author in this point.

All Mr. Dodfley's friends, who were numerous, attended the rehearsal of his piece; particularly the literati. Among thefe was Lord Lyttelton; who, notwithstanding his great partiality for me, gave the author his opinion, that I had totally misconceived the character. The public had been fo accuftomed to noife and violence in their mad ftage ladies, that it was fuppofed from my manner, which was weakened by real indifpofition, and prevented my rehearsing out, that the piece, which totally depended upon me, would not fucceed.

Among our vifitors at the last rehearsal, upon which occafion the ftage was much crowded, I was ftruck with the fight of Mr. Metham. As we had never met fince our feparation, it is natural to fuppose I did not feel myself in the moft agreeable fituation. I own, that I fincerely wifhed myself abfent, or that there had not been fuch a number of fpectators prefent' to be witnesses to the farce I knew him capable of performing.

Accord

According to my apprehenfions, he began by affuming the most ineffable effrontery, which was, if poffible, fuperior to that of Cibber, when, in the character of Lord Foppington, he approaches Amanda.

Taking a pinch of fnuff, in a careless manner, he walked up to me, with the moft confequential air, accompanied with a fignificant non chalance, and wifhed me joy; regretting that he had not had an opportunity of doing it before. He then told me I looked more angelic than ever. Having done this, he turned to a perfon who was near him, faying, "I certainly am the hap

piest being in the univerfe, in having "been bleft with the affection of two of the "first actresses, and moft accomplished wo

men, in Europe." Then, making a low bow, he retired. I never in my life received any compliments with lefs relish than those lavished upon me at that time. They raised fuch a contrariety of emotions in my mind, that I was on the point of leaving the rehearsal, and returning home, without any

ceremony.

I was fo totally difconcerted by this adventure, that what had only been fuppofed by the author and his friends, was now openly declared; and it would not admit of a doubt with them but that I had mifconceived the part. When I came to repeat, "Thou shalt not murder," Doctor Johnson F 6 caught

caught me by the arm, and that fomewhat too brifkly, faying, at the fame time, "It is "a commandment, and must be spoken, Thou shalt not murder.' As I had not then the honour of knowing perfonally that great genius, I was not a little difpleafed at his inforcing his inftructions with fo much vehe

mence.

The fcene I had juft before gone through with Metham, added to this not over polite behaviour of the Doctor's, fo increafed my indifpofition, that I was advifed not to appear the next day in fo trying a part. But the public were not to be trifled with. As their favoured fervant, I thought it my duty to do all in my power to deferve that favour. The piece was accordingly advertised with my name in the bill, and I was determined to go on, let what would be the confequence. I was likewife refolved to play the character agreeable to my own conception, though against the united opinion of all the literati.

Upon my going to the theatre to drefs, Mr. Dodfley accofted me with all the apprehenfions of an author for his darling bantling. He intimated to me, that all his friends, as well as himself, imagined I was not forcible enough in the mad fcene.

The

pain I was in from a blifter, which my indifpofition had rendered neceffary, together with the anxiety naturally attendant on appearing in a new character, made me anfwer

that

that good man with a petulance, which afterwards gave me uneafinefs. I told him, that I had a reputation to lofe as an actress; but, as for his piece, Mr. Garrick had anticipated the damnation of it, publicly, the preceding evening, at the Bedford Coffeehoufe, where he had declared, that it could not pass mufter, as it was the very worst piece ever exhibited. Having faid this, I left him, not very well pleased with me for my freedom. And he afterwards informed me, that he greatly regretted having chofe me for his heroine.

The unaffected naïveté, which I intended to adopt in the representation, was accompanied by the fame fimplicity in my drefs. This was perfectly nouvelle, as I had prefumed to leave off. that unwieldy part of a lady's habiliments, called a hoop. A decoration which, at that period, profeffed nuns appeared in; as well as with powder in their hair.

Novelty has charms which cannot be refifted. And I fucceeded in both points beyond my moft fanguine hopes. Indeed the applaufe was repeated fo often, when I feemingly died, that I fcarcely knew, or even could believe, that it was the effect of approbation. But, upon hearing the fame voice which had inftructed me in the commandment, exclaim aloud from the pit, "I will "write a copy of verfes upon ber myself," I

knew