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bridge, where, walking one day upon the Wells'-walk, with his friend, Mr. Fairbeard, of Gray's Inn, just as he came up to the bookseller's shop, the Countess of Drogheda, a young widow, rich, noble, and beautiful, came there to inquire for the The Plain Dealer. "Madam," said Mr. Fairbeard, "since you are for the "Plain Dealer, there he is for you;" pushing Mr. "Wycherly towards her. Yes," said Mr. Wycherly, "this lady can bear plain dealing; for she appears to be "so accomplished, that what would be a compliment to "others, would be plain dealing to her." “No, truly, 66 Sir," said the Countess, "I am not without my faults, any more than the rest of my sex; and yet, notwith"standing, I love plain dealing, and am never more fond "of it than when it tells me of them." "Then madam," says Mr. Fairbeard, "you and the Plain Dealer seem designed by Heaven for each other." In short, Mr. Wycherly walked a turn or two with the Countess, waited upon her home, visited her daily at her lodgings while she staid at Tunbridge, and at her lodgings in Hatton-garden after she went to London; where in a little time he married her, without acquainting the King. But this match, so promising in appearance to his fortunes and happiness, was the actual ruin of both. As soon as the news came of it to court, it was looked upon as a contempt of his Majesty's orders; and Mr. Wycherly's conduct after his marriage occasioned this to be resented still more heinously; for he seldom or never went near the court. The true cause of his absence, however, was not known. In short, the lady was jealous of him to that degree, that she could not endure him to be one moment out of her sight. Their lodgings were in Bow-street, Covent-garden, over against the Cock; whither, if he at any time went with his friends, he was obliged to leave the windows open, that his lady might see there was no woman in company. Nevertheless, she made him some amends by dying in a reasonable time. She settled her fortune on him: but his title being disputed after her death, the expenses of the law, and other incumbrances, so far reduced him, that, not being able to satisfy the importunity of his creditors, he was flung into prison, where he languished several years; nor was he released, until King James II. going to see his Plain Dealer. was so charmed with the enter

tainment, that he gave e immediate orders for the payment

THE LONDON THEATRES.

DRURY-LANE.

OCTOBER

27. Travellers. Koyan, Mr. BRAHAM (his 1st appearance this season) Three and the Deuce.

29. World.-Blue Beard.

31. John Bull Dan (for that night only), Mr. De Camp.-Blue Beard.

NOVEMBER

1. Cabinet. Count Curvoso, Mr. Penley.-Three Weeks after Marriage.

2.

She Stoops to Conquer. Young Marlow, Mr. De CampBlue Beard.

3. Country Girl.-Ib.

5. Stranger.-Ib.

7. Soldier's Daughter.-Ib.

8.

Haunted Tower. Edward, Mr. Russell; Lady Elinor (1st time), Miss Lyon; Adela (1st time), Mrs. Mountain.-Mayor of Garrat.

9. No performance, on account of the preparations for the new play of The Siege of St. Quintin.

10. [NEVER ACTED.] THE SIEGE OF ST. QUINTIN; or, Spanish Heroism. The Overture and Music composed and selected by Mr. Hook. Spaniards. Emanuel Philip (Duke of Savoy), Mr. Putnam; Count Egmont (second in command), Mr. Elliston; Theodore (his son), Master Wallack; Everard (the military Minstrel), Mr. Braham; Bertrand, Mr. De Camp; Alvarez, Mr. Ray.→→→ Adriana (wife of Egmont), Mrs. H Siddons.-English. Sir Leinster Kildare, Mr. Johnstone; Captain M'Intyre, Mr. Maddocks; Jack, Mr. Penley; Serjeant Sturdy, Mr. Cooke; Soldiers, Mr. Gibbon and Mr. Dignum.-French. De Courcy (governor of the castle), Mr. Raymond; Laroche, Mr. Smith; Rosa de Valmont, Miss Ray; Margaret, Miss Tidswell -Spoil'd Child. Little Pickle (1st time), Miss Kelly.

11.

Ib-Sultan.

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17. Ib.-Three and the Deuce.

18. Ib.-Matrimony.

19. Ib.-Of Age To-Morrow.

Mrs. Mathews, and Mrs. Mountain.

Sophia, and Maria (1'st time),

21. John Bull. Sir Simon Rochdale, Mr. Penley; Dan, Mr. Mathews -Blue Beard.

22. Duenna-Mayor of Garrat.

The Siege of St. Quintin, of which the following is the plot, was written, hastily of course, to benefit, and be benefited by, the cause in which the Spanish nation is at present so gloriously engaged. We do not think that the object has been successfully attained. The Spaniards have, it is true, in this siege, the advantage over the French, but it is by a paltry stratagem, viz. by getting possession of the pass-word, and so finding their way into the VOL. IV.

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of his debts; adding withal a pension of 2001. per annum while he continued in England. But the bountiful intentions of that Prince had not all the designed effect, for Wycherly was ashamed to give the Earl of Mulgrave, whom the King had sent to demand it, a full account of his debts. He laboured under these difficulties until his father died; and then too the estate that descended to him was left under very uneasy limitations, since, being only a tenant for life, he could not raise money for the payment of his debts. However, he took a method of doing it which few suspected to be his choice; and this was, making a jointure. He had often declared that he was resolved to die married, though he could not bear the thoughts of living in that state again : accordingly, just at the eve of his death, he married a young gentlewoman with 1500%. fortune, part of which he applied to the uses. he wanted it for. Eleven days after the celebration of these nuptials, on the 1st of January, 1715, he died, and was interred in the vault of Covent-garden church.

BARTON BOOTH,

WITH a very classical and highly improved judgment, possessed all the natural powers of an actor in a very eminent degree. "He was of a middle stature, five feet eight; his form rather inclining to the athletic, though nothing clumsy or heavy; his air and deportment naturally graceful, with a marking eye, and a manly sweetness in his countenance.

"His voice was completely harmonious, from the softness of the flute to the extent of the trumpet: his attitudes were all picturesque : he was noble in his designs, and happy in his execution *."

To this testimony Aaron Hill (a writer of great theatrical knowledge) adds, "It was this actor's peculiar felicity to be heard and seen the same, whether as the pleased, the grieved, the pitying, the reproachful, or the angry. One would be almost tempted to borrow the aid of a very bold figure, and, to express this excellence the more significantly, beg permission to affirm, that the blind might have seen him in his voice, and the deaf have heard him in his visage.

* Victor's History of the Theatre.

Though Booth, from the possession of these qualifications, must by attending to them, have necessarily reached the top of his profession, it was not till the production of Cato that he gained his eminence; and as the manner by which he obtained this part shews ingenuity and address on his side, as well as judgment on the side of the managers, we shall here relate it.

When Mr. Addison carried this admirable tragedy to the green-room, he, of course, as the author, read it first to the players: but being a man of uncommon bashfulness and diffidence, after this he desired Cibber would supply his place, who read it so much to the satisfaction of the author, that he requested him to perform the part of Cato.

Cibber, though otherwise a vain man, knew his own forte too well to risk his reputation in a character so much out of his way; he therefore preferred the part of Syphax, whilst Wilks took that of Juba. Cato, however, still remained undisposed of, till they both agreed that Booth would be the most likely representative, from figure, voice, and judgment, of this virtuous Roman: but Wilks, fearing that Booth would think himself injured in being cast for so venerable a character, (he being then a young man,) had the good nature to carry the part to his lodgings himself; to inform him of its importance; and to persuade him, if necessary, to accept it. Booth, who told this anecdote to Victor, said, “that he sunk the importance of the character, and seemed to accept it entirely at the manager's desire; which condescending behaviour, with his performance of the part so much to the delight and admiration of the audience, gave both Wilks and Cibber the greatest pleasure." However, when the consequences began soon after to appear, viz. a reputation and interest to obtain a special licence from the Queen to be included as fourth manager of the theatre, this pleasure was converted into remorse and disappointment, and ended with one of the managers (Dogget) retiring in disgust from the stage for ever.

The parts which Booth principally distinguished himself in, beside Cato, were Pyrrhus, Othello, Brutus, Lear, Marc Antony, Aurengzebe, Jaffier, the Ghost in Hamlet, &c.

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