introducing that gentleman again to your notice; it is likewife to give you a fpecimen of his wit, and his promptitude to take advantage of an incidental circumstance, which the character gave him an opportunity of doing.

· Mrs. Hamilton's refufal to play for my benefit, brought on a converfation in the Green-Room; during which, I foolishly faid "I never am two hours

in the fame mind; for the divine Shakfpere, as well "as Rollin, have painted Cleopatra, as actuated by the "fame fentiment."

Mr. Smith, who was prefent, did not let fo fingular a declaration pass unnoticed, and he inftantly determined to make a proper advantage of it. Accordingly, as we were playing together the characters of Lord Foppington and Lady Betty Modifh, upon my making the apology in the laft fcene, with an inexpreffible grace, and a nonchalance which happily became the character, he made me the following reply: after respectfully bowing, he said with a smile, “O, "Madam! I beg your ladyfhip will not be under the « confufion of an apology on my account, for I am "never surprised but when a lady continues in the "fame mind two hours together. It was that en"chanting variety which captivated the imperial "Anthony, and made him think a world well loft in "gaining Cleopatra.”

I could not help laughing at the humourous im

promptu,

promptu, and the audience, although they were unacquainted with the circumstances that had occafioned it, fhowed, by their loud plaudits, their approba

tion of it.

The season turned out more lucrative to, the proprietor than he had reason to hope, from the weakness of his company; especially as it was oppofed by Garrick, Moffop, Woodward, Cibber, Clive, and Pritchard. At the conclufion of it, I found myself preffed for money. I had encreased my debt with Mifs Meredith to twelve hundred pounds; and I owed as much more to Deard, Maffineuve, and Lazarus, for an addition I had made to my jewels.

This being my fituation, I determined to come to a ferious explanation with Mr. Calcraft. But he always had fuch crouds of company, that I fcarcely ever was with him alone. I likewise was prevented by that inexpreffible averfion I always had to enter into a conversation on money matters. And more particularly fo, when I had occafion to folicit from the perfon I despised, what he would term a favour. This made me prefer borrowing fome

hundreds of Mr. Sparks;

which he was happy to lend me, as he forefaw a return that in the end doubly repaid him.

The present summer was productive of nothing agreeable. Lord Tyrawley wrote to his lady, requesting that she would join with him in difpofing of the

Bleffington

Bleffington eftate. This eftate was to come to Lady Tyrawley upon the death of her brother, the Earl, who, together with his lady, were in a deep decline, brought on by the loss of an only fon. Upon this occafion her ladyship asked my advice. I gave it as my opinion, that she ought to return his Lordship a positive denial. For, as he had already difpofed of every acre of his own eftate; and from having brought him no fortune, fhe had only a nominal eight hundred pounds a-year, badly paid; fo that if his Lordship died before her, she would have nothing to live upon but her penfion as a General's widow; I told her the eftate he requested her to fell would prove a good referve for her.

Her Ladyfhip accordingly followed my advice; which I ingenuously acknowledge I was the more induced to give her, as she had frequently faid, she would leave what he died poffeffed of to myself and my children. She immediatly wrote him word, "That "fhe was fenfible of her duty as a wife, though his "Lordship, till then, had forgot he was her husband. "And as he had given fuch incontrovertible proofs of "his difregard for her, fhe muft fo far take care of herself "as to prevent her having nothing but an Irish title. "to fupport her in case of his demife." She added, "that if his lordship could inform her how to difpofe "of that title, fhe was very willing to fell it a "bargain."

Lord

Lord Tyrawley, in return, wrote her Ladyfhip, "That he had always thought her head was bad, but

now he was convinced her heart was equally fo." To this Lady Tyrawley inftantly replied, "My Lord, "I never piqued myself upon the goodness of my “head; and my heart has been fo long in your "Lordship's poffeffion, I really cannot answer for it.” This laconic epiftle highly offended him. And having heard of her Ladyfhip's intimacy with me, he imagined I had dictated it. He, however, gave me credit for what I had no claim to; as I actually knew nothing of the answer, till some days after it was fent away.

I was juft at this time obliged to go to Malmsbury, to visit some ladies, who took particular care to feed their poultry in an extraordinary manner for my reception, and who disgusted me as much with their over-grown appetites, as with their infipid converfation. From thence I proposed going to Bristol. But as my laft expedition to that place was fhortened by illness, fo this was prevented by a concern of another nature. I was remanded back on account of there being, very unexpectedly, a contefted election at Windfor, for which place Mr. Fox was member. Notwithftanding his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumber land had been fo uncommon a benefactor to that town, and a constant employer of the poor of it, the inhabitants were fo ungrateful as to fupport a perfon almoft

almost unknown, in oppofition to the Duke's avowed friend Mr. Fox. They were however unfuccefsful.

As feveral of my intimates lived in the neighbourhood, who had influence with the voters, and to whom it was thought necessary that I should apply in person, to folicit their intereft for Mr. Fox, an exprefs was sent to me; and I haftened away to this place of noise and confufion. As foon as I arrived, I defired Sir Francis Delaval to endeavour to find out Mr. Nuthall, a folicitor, who was a very bustling man, and well versed in electioneering affairs. He had offered his fervice to Mr. Fox by me; but the offer was refufed upon account of his partiality for Mr. Deputy Paterfon. In confequence of this refufal he attached himself to Mr. Pitt; who afterwards appointed him Solicitor of the Treafury, and rewarded him with many other emoluments.

As I was standing at the door of the inn, waiting for Sir Francis's return, with Master Fox, late Lord Holland, by my fide, a fellow came up with a bludgeon in his hand, and aimed a blow at the young gentleman, crying at the fame time, "No Foxes! "no Doxies!" Providentially a perfon behind leyelled the fellow to the ground, just time enough to prevent the blow from taking effect. Sir Francis Delaval returned at that inftant with Mr. Nuthall, and the fellow was fecured. But as it was judged

that