make the smallest encroachment on a custom so long eftablished. The new piece he had procured was at length announced. The name of its author, I think, was McNamara. I am not altogether certain as to the title of this tragedy of tragedies, but I believe it was chriftened "Philoclea." The first night of its being performed, I went to Mr. Rich's, with an intent to accompany fome of his family into the house to see it. By fome incident or other we were prevented from carrying my defign into execution. About eight o'clock, we were greatly surprised to hear the most violent fhouts, and loudeft peals of laughter, that can be conceived, iffue from the theatre. Our curiofity being now excited, we all haftened in, to know what could occafion fuch unusual marks of diftinction to a ferious piece. We found the heroine of it, and another female upon the stage; and were informed, that they were the eighth or ninth characters, which had made their exit to be decapitated, and returned immediately with their heads on. This gave the piece, at least, the charms of novelty; and fhewed, that the author had adopted Bays's mode, to elevate and furprize: It could not, however, fecure it from being damned. Among other plays, Barry revived "Bufiris." But it was attended with no better fuccefs than that of his countryman. And the proprietor, loaded with fuch an additional expence, found this to be the leaft profitable season of any within my memory. During the prefent winter I obtained another patronefs, in the young Lady Essex. This lady, who was just married to the Earl, was the daughter of the celebrated wit, Sir Charles Hanbury Williams. Her partiality for me exceeded all belief. So extraordinary a prejudice in my favour can only be accounted for, by her mother's having never permitted her to go into public till her nuptials took place. It was a first impreffion; and those are generally lasting. To this amiable young lady I introduced Madam Montête, of whom I have already made mention. An honour which the repaid with the lofs of her life. LETTER LVI. G. A. B. March 1, 17-. -S you put a stop, or at least my imagination represented you as putting a stop to my reflections at the beginning of my last letter, I fhall in this enter at once upon my narrative. Only premifing, that you must indulge me in them now and then. The obfervations I am frequently led to inter fperfe fperfe through my " Apology," are such as naturally arife from the incidents: and they afford a needful relief. Hold pen !-Shall I not myself be guilty of as great an Hiberniacifm as the author of "Philoclea," if I make the introductory part of this letter a long one, at the very time I am afferting that I will proceed without any introduction at all?-I fear I fhall. But how to remedy it I know not; unless I either add to my blunder by adding a long ftring of apologies, or tear to pieces what I have already written. The former would probably put your patience to too fevere a trial; and the latter I am loth to do, left I should rob you of a smile which this little excurfion of my pen perhaps may excite.-I will therefore let it ftand as it is, and proceed. My benefits were increafing every year. And I was now fo accustomed to receive the tribute of the public, that I accepted their presents with as much eafy indifference as the Princefs in Dryden's Indian Queen does her lover's laurel. Fashion had for fome time made me her ftandard. But now I reaped more folid pleasure, and more lasting praise, from having my company courted by a * Doddington, at Lyttleton, a ‡ Williams, and a Mallet. To thefe * George Bubb Doddington, afterwards Lord Melcombe. + Lord Lyttleton. Sir Charles Hanbury Williams. I might I might add the modern Aristophanes, and all the wits And what was ftill more flattering to of the age. my pride, females of the first rank, and those exemplary patterns of rectitude, admitted me to their intimacy. A Powerscourt, a Dillon, and a Tyrawley, honoured me with their friendship. I vifited occafionally those ladies, and, though I was not in a fituation of life, even if I had been married, to hope for a return, they always returned my vifits, and accepted my invitations. As did alfo the Countess of Rochford, with whom I was lately become acquainted. Judging by thefe fortunate circumstances, for which I was more indebted to chance than to real merit, the world fuppofed me to poffefs as many mental qualifications, as the fuperficial ones fashion had given me credit for. I was too indolent to convince them of the contrary. I fuffered them to remain in the error. They, however, took it for granted. And though I might not be esteemed by my acquaintance a first rate wit, I was termed extremely clever. This opinion paffed current. And at that time I was too much beloved to have it contradicted. Thus does our confequence in the opinion of the world generally depend upon circumftances. Whilft fortune fmiles, we ftand high in their estimation; our most trivial accomplishments are magnified into perfections; and every word we utter utter abounds with good fenfe.-Yet let but a cloud appear to darken our prospects, and those who before were charmed with what bordered on folly, now become infenfible to our most refined wit. Mr. Fox continued at the head of the fame department, with univerfal approbation. He not only executed his high office with fatisfaction to himself, but to those who were dependent on him or had concerns with him. To those who came to tranfact business, or to folicit fuch favours as he could with propriety bestow, he gave a ready admiffion, and fent them away pleased with their reception. But those who applied merely to court the funfhine of his favour, met with an unreserved refusal. He did not, as is too often the cafe, buoy up their hopes with promifes he never intended to fulfil; on the contrary, he put a stop at once to further applications. And thereby prevented his levee from being crouded with vain expectants, to their great inconvenience and lofs of time. Mr. Calcraft's agencies increased daily. And my company and business kept pace with that increase. I was fo much interested in promoting his emoluments, that I did it at the hazard of my life. Hearing one night, at a late hour, of a promotion that was about to take place, I arofe from my bed, to which I was confined by illness, dressed, and went to a mafked ball, at the Hay-market, where |