in the green-room; we agreed, but I made it conditional, which was, provided we had fomething to eat as well as to drink, as mutton-chops or beef-fteaks. He affented, and Mrs. King agreed to cook them, and I was to affift her. About ten o'clock, wine, rum, and oranges, entered the room, and the mutton-chops, properly fprinkled with pepper and falt, were placed in order on the well-rubbed gridiron, which a fervant fet close to the fender, waiting for further orders. I complained of cold, and the only feat in the green-room was, as ufual, benched round, and immoveable. Chairs were called for-two were immediately brought-I answered for procuring a third for myself-and recollecting Mrs.. Fitzhenry's dreffing apartment was adjoining to the green-room, where I had feen an elbow... chair, and Mrs. Fitzhenry as Hermione fitting in her royal robes, I went in the dark, feized the chair by the elbows, but when I brought it nearthe fire-fide, by a fudden jerk off flew the bot tom, and, O ye powers! by the violence of the fhock, the regalia, the treasures of Queen Eliza beth and Cleopatra rushed like a golden tide over our mutton-chops and bright gridiron. Reader, turn the leaf and guess the reft, or do not guess at all, juft which fuits your fancy. However, for one hour it cured all complaints of cold or hun ger. While we retired, the fervants of the the atre had the disagreeable trouble to affist to put the room in order, which indeed required fome patience and care to accomplish. When the ftable was cleanfed, eating was out of the question; we had an excellent bowl of punch, which proved falutary, palatable, and restored us to harmony, and we passed two or three very cheerful friendly hours. Early in February I received the following letter from my mother; it may not be thought worthy attention to readers in general, but every parent will be pleased with the genuine language of Nature. I fhall therefore occafionally introduce a few letters as they occurred from a pattern of parental goodness.. To Mr. WILKINSON, Abbey-street, Dublin. "I reckoned every day and hour until I heard "how you got over fo daring a part as that of "Othello is faid to be, which, by the information "of yesterday's letter from Ireland, I find you "have executed beyond my expectation. My "wifhes for all the joy, pleafüre, and advantage "in that way of life, with unfullied reputation, “ you may be affured of; with the fame from "Mr. Townsend's, where the account of this "great character was as impatiently wished for as "you are looked upon as fo confiderable a person "in Dublin; and am of your opinion, that in "all respects you will never find the stage again fo "much fuited to your own humour. "I dined yesterday in Dean-street, with Lady "Forbes, the two, Mifs Wilfons there, and "the Captain just come home: We had a very good dinner, and were all in good hu "mour, and very merry. very merry. I got home by day to "meet your letter; then to Mrs. Townfend's "with the contents. "You don't say one word of Mr. and Mrs. "Chaigneau, nor the Kellys. I take for granted "they are all well, and went to see Othello. The "houfe at Covent Garden is quite forfaken, "and Rich gives away his box tickets by the "dozen. "Mrs. Davis has wrote, that fhe will fend "fnuff by you to Lady Forbes. I would have. you pay your respects there, now and then, "as I believe his Lordship to be what he profeffes. "Beg you would prefent my moft fincere and "grateful refpects in Abbey-ftreet; wishing a long "continuance of good fpirits, and lafting fatis"faction, "I am, your most affectionate mother, London, January 28, 1758. P. S. An IMPROMPTU, by Mifs JONES, Upon hearing that you played the part of Cadwallader, in the Style of FOOTE, who was then acting the fame part at Drury-Lane. "ONE night when fleepless in my bed, His legs fo handsome-tho' they're short A FOOT he'll place upon each stage." It had not at this time been usual to have plays acted on Saturday nights, as they never had. turned out beneficial or fashionable, though put into practice, when Woodward and Barry opened at Crow-street, and from ufe foon became as good a night as any other for the manager, but not I believe to this day as a benefit.-The prevalence of custom is aftonishing-a Lady in London will go to a known bad opera on the Saturday, and though the profeffes being an amateur in mufic will not go on the Tuesday, though a good opera, because it is Tuesday. A Lady will go to the theatre at Edinburgh, Bath, and York, though acted, on the Saturday, because it is Saturday; yet the best acted comedy fhall be offered to the public, at either of those three theatres, on any other night, and be totally neglected, unless it is hinted that the night is to be fashionable, which alters the cafe. At Hull, the houfe would not even be a decent one, to whatever play might be performed, if it was a Saturday, unless the fashion. Ar Doncaster and Wakefield, there is not any material distinction as to nights. I am led to these observations, by recollecting, when in Dublin, on this my firft excurfion, I judged it neceffary, early in February, to wait upon Mr. Sheridan, in order to appoint a night for my benefit, which had been ftipulated to be in that month, in confequence of my continuing with him. Mr. Sheridan obferved; that my being a young man and a stranger, it could never anfwer for me, to venture on the expences of the theatre, the charge being forty pounds (but at prefent, fixty or seventy pounds per night). But he had an expedient to ferve me more effectually, which was, to permit me the privilege of difpofing of tickets, dividing the fum taken for those tickets between us; and he would himself play, and secure its being serviceable to me. In fact, this fecret service of his playing, he thought would make my ftrenuous friends pour in tickets, and he |