fee it. By fome incident or other we were prevented from carrying my design into execution. About eight o'clock, we were greatly furprised 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 distinction to a serious 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 showed that the author had adopted Bays's mode, to elevate and furprize. It could not however, secure it from being damned.

Among other plays, Barry revived “Mi"thridates." 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 feafon of any within my me

mory.

During the prefent winter I obtained another patronefs, in the young Lady Effex. 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 pre

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 firft impreffion; and those are generally lafting. To this amiable young lady I introduced Madam Monnet, of whom I have already made mention. An honour which the repaid with the lofs of her life.

A

S you put a stop, or at least my imagination represented you as putting a ftop to my reflections at the beginning of my laft letter, I fhall in this enter at once upon my narrative. Only premifing, that you must indulge me in them now and then. The observations I am frequently led to intersperse through my "Apology," are fuch 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

to pieces what I have already written.-The former would probably put your patience to too fevere a trial; and the latter I am loath 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 prefents with as much easy indifference, as the Princess in Dryden's "Indian Queen,' does her lover's laurel. Fashion had for fome time made me her standard. But now I reaped more folid pleafure, and more lasting praife, from having my company courted by a * Doddington, at Lyttelton, a § Williams, and a Mallet. To thefe I might add the modern Ariftophanes, and all the wits of the age. And what was ftill more flattering to my pride, females of the first rank, and thofe exemplary paterns 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

*George Bubb Doddington, afterwards Lord Melcombe. + Lord Lyttelton.

§ Sir Charles Hanbury Williams.

1

and accepted my invitations. As did alfo the Countefs 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 circumstances. Whilft fortune fmiles, we ftand high in their eftimation; our moft trivial accomplishments are magnified into perfections; and every word we utter abounds with good fenfe.Yet let but a cloud appear to darken our profpects, 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 fatiffaction to himself, but to those who were dependent on him, or had concerns with him. To thofe who came to tranfact bufi

nefs,

nefs, 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 unreferved refufal. He did not, as is too often the cafe, buoy up their hopes with promises 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 increafed 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 arose from my bed, to which I was confined by illness, dreffed, and went to a mafqued ball at the Hay-market, where I heard the two gentlemen I wanted to apply to were, on purpose to remind them of their promises. These were Colonel Lafcelles, and General Honeywood. They recollected having given me a promife, and I fucceeded in my application. But the fatigue I went through to do this occafioned my being confined to my bed for a fortnight.

The increafe of business Mr. Calcraft now experienced, rendered it neceffary, from the additional