LETT ER LVIII.

March 21, 17

W

HILST the fcene defcribed in my laft letter paffed in my dreffingroom, Mr. Fox, who had an eye like an eagle, caft them upon the part of Alzira, which lay upon my dreffing-table. I faw that he wished to speak to me relative to it, but fome company coming in, immediately as Lady Lindsay went out, he was prevented from having an opportunity to do fo. A gentleman had, at my requeft, altered some paffages in the tragedy, which I propofed taking for my benefit, and in which he was to play Zamor. This gentleman had talents for the ftage, and made the first attempt on it: this feafon; but he was a better critic than an actor, and equally as good a play-wright as a critic: he has for fome years quitted. the ftage for the bar, at which he makes a confpicuous figure.

As there was company in the drawingroom when the Secretary at War came to dinner, and he was impatient to speak to me concerning the part of Alzira, he defired I would permit him to accompany me into another room for a few minutes. Mr. * Mr. Murphy.

Calcraft

Calcraft having been informed that Mr. Fox had been a confiderable time in my dreffing-room during the forenoon, he made no doubt but that I had been complaining to him, and acquainting him with the nature of our connexion; an event which he much dreaded and his fufpicion was confirmed, by feeing his patron enter without me, and not appearing to be pleafed. When the ladies and myself withdrew from table, his apprehenfions increased by feeing Mr. Fox take hold of my hand as I paffed by him, faying, at the fame time, "I defire you "will." Nor were they leffened by hearing me reply, "I will confider of it."

The ineffable contempt I had shewn towards Calcraft in the morning, had greatly alarmed him. His confcience, (no, let me correct that word) his fears left his deceptions fhould be difcovered, excited in his breaft unusual perturbations. For he still wished to preferve the appearance of that principle for which he had hitherto been famed, and which had procured him, as I have already obferved, the title of honest Jack Calcraft. It was not from any incitements of rectitude, or of humanity to me, nor from any regret for the falfhoods he had impofed upon me relative to his patron, (the particulars of which will be prefently developed) but the cenfures of the world, and the blafting his undeferved good character, that he was apprehenfive

prehenfive of; the time, however, was not yet arrived, when a difcovery of his cruel duplicity was to take place.

His infolence and meannefs made me defpife, though I did not as yet hate him. His love of money increased every day. And from accumulating, as he did, a fortune fo rapidly, he affumed a confequential air, which rendered him ridiculous even to his own fervants. For, endeavouring to appear the great man, his ignorance led him into vulgarity. Indeed, he poffeffed two qualifications neceffary to the acquirement and enjoyment of a fortune, and those in am eminent degree. These were the art of keeping a ledger, (which I have already celebrated) and an excellent judgment in wine. In the latter he was a complete connoiffeur. And as the intereft of his patron, and his connection with me, procured him the honour of the beft company at his table, he had an opportunity of difplaying this valuable branch of knowledge.

A propriety of demeanour upon an elevation from a low ftation of life to a high one, is what cannot be acquired by a little mind. The fame meannefs and contraction of foul will accompany them, though they are elevated to the highest rank, and become poffeffed of princely fortunes.---The only way that can enter into their narrow conception of increafing their confequence proportion

ably

ably to the increase of their wealth, is by affuming an haughty air, and an infolence of carriage towards their inferiors. An affumption which only ferves to point out the plainer, to every difcerning obferver, the rife that has taken place.-This counterfeit dignity fits as awkward upon them, as Beau Clincher's cloaths upon Tom Errand.-It is not only an infallible criterion by which to know the line. they have been brought up in, but is a true barometer of their fenfe and accomplish

ments.

As foon as I had left the room, Lord Melcombe rallied his friend, Mr. Fox, on the little inexplicable familiarity which had juft paffed between him and me. As the gentlemen prefent were all fuch as he could confide in, Mr. Fox, in return, acquainted him, that what he had faid to me as I went out, related to fomething which concerned them all. He told them, that, as he had reason to believe I knew the author who had written a parody in one of the public papers, which was replete with wit and fatire, and discovered a fund of political knowledge, and whom they had endeavoured in vain to find out, he had been trying to get me to give him up. He added, that his fufpicions firft arofe from fome papers he had caft his eye upon as they lay on my dreffing-table.

Mr. Calcraft, being relieved by this explanation from the apprehenfions he had en

tertained,

1

tertained, fent up, as mafter, for the part of; Alzira, which had given rife to Mr. Fox's fuppofition; but 1 abfolutely refufed to fend it, not knowing but I might injure the. author. My refufal hurt his pride; he, however, made another attempt to obtain. it; and for this purpose conftituted the chaplain his ambaffador. I was ftill inexorable; and continued fo, till I was affured it could not poffibly be attended with any bad confequences to my friend. What the refult to him was, I know not, but Mr. Calcraft's anxiety had not paffed unobferved. Doctor Francis, who was in my intereft, attributed it. to jealoufy. The reft of the company, however, imagined it to proceed from fome greater caufe; and his patron, very foon after, took occafion to fpeak to me upon the topic.

Our fuccefs this feafon at the theatre was not much more brilliant than the preceding. Mifs Noffiter had returned from Ireland, where he met with difapprobation, more from Barry's fuppofed attachment to her, his wife being one of the beft of women, than from her want of merit as an actress. Upon her return, fhe engaged herself at Covent-Garden. Mrs. Woffington's ill ftate of health obliged her to decline acting this feafon. Mr. Smith and Mr. Rofs were not capital men; the former was by no means fo well fkilled as he now is.

My