either old or new house) he obferved it was a pity Mafter Tate fhould not enjoy the diverfions. of the theatre.-When I heard this conversation, I felt an inconceivable objection, and dreaded the being forced into so terrible a place. My mother obferved, that Tate would think of prayers only, and could not be perfuaded to fet his foot in a theatre; but, on after-reflection, they obferved at what an easy rate, from the civility of Mr. Page, this entertainment could be procured, they determined to conquer my obftinacy by force. So, after my repeated refufals, my reverend dad at laft grew really angry, and infifted on my going there, with this conditional falvo, that if I was not pleased, he pledged his honour he would never urge me to see another. I, choked with grief, affented to this cruelty, as I really thought it was; and when from the Savoy I had with flow steps arrived at Southampton-street, I grew fulky, and the fervant to whom I was. intrufted had actually to drag me to Covent-Garden Theatre. On seeing Mr. Page, the man being in livery, Mafter Tate could not be let into the boxes or pit: this I esteemed a lucky circumftance to favour my return; indeed had I been left to myself, foon would I have faluted the Savoy steps; but the man wifhing to fee the play, during this new started difficulty kept me fast as his prifoner, I was

conveyed with him, and safely stowed in the upper gallery instead of receiving pleasure, fighs and fobs employed my time in this terrible place. Neither the noble theatre, nor the mufic had any charms for me: the whistling of the gods, and other noises of the gallery, only added to my dif gult and terror. The play, I well remember, was the Busy Body, with Mr. Foote's TeaBut, O reader! of what materials are we compofed !-scarcely had the first act finished before I imagined I was in the elyfium I had been praying for; the charms of the church, which the day before were so attractive and fublime, were diffolved

And, like the baseless fabric of a Vision,

Left not a wreck behind.

The theatre from that time banished all my fervent piety, and my whole thoughts were occupied with the fascinating charms of the playhouse, actors, and actreffes. My father-(O wicked man! fays one of the mock faints) was pleased with the change, and faid he was fure it would be the means of making me a better preacher I now reverfed my late tabernacleand employed my evenings in lighting pieces of candle, dreffing in any fantastical attire, and repeated, as well as I could recollect, parts in plays I had feen; which that Spring were nine in num

great care to vifit Mr. Page every morning for play bills; and was a conftant attendant by permission, at the morning rehearsals. In March I was fent to Mr. Tempeft's fchool near Wandfworth, where a nephew and two fons of Mr. Page's were placed; and I faw no more plays till the Winter following.

At the time I have now mentioned seeing plays at Covent-Garden Theatre, Mr. Quin had retired to Bath, from whence he wrote the following laconic note, in November, 1747:

"I am at Bath.

«Yours,

"JAMES QUIN.”

Which note was as laconically anfwered:

"Stay there and be damn'd.

manager.

"Yours,

"JOHN RICH."

Every actor of confequence was engaged by Mr. Garrick for Drury-Lane, except the Mr. Quin juft mentioned: This was Garrick's first year as At Covent Garden, in the month of February, they only acted three times in the week, and frequently difmiffed; and were in truth a wretched company, and low in public estimation. Mr. Foote's Tea, which he had given as an entertainment at Covent-Garden Theatre in February 1748, he had first acted in 1746, at the

Hay Market; it was then called The Diverfions' of the Morning, attended with great good fortune, and every fuccefs his moft fanguine wishes could fuggeft; but this being noticed by the Patentees of Drury-Lane and Covent-Garden, as an entertainment ftarted in defiance of the fevere act about that time paffed, when Lord. Chesterfield had obferved in the House of Lords, "How cruel it was to lay a tax on fo fcarce a commodity as wit."" Wit," continues Lord Chesterfield," is a fort of property of those that "have it, and too often the only property they "have to depend on.-It is, indeed, but a precari"ous dependence.-Thank God! we, my Lords, "have a dependence of another kind."

Mr. Foote had in this moment not only alarmed the treasury of the royal theatres; but, from his mimicry, had roused the indignation and refentment of all the performers. Application was made in confequence to the Lord Chamberlain, who fent to the juftices of that district, and the new raised troops were put to flight, by a fuperior force of conftables entering the theatre in terrible array! The audience was difmiffed, and the laughing Ariftophanes left leaning towards Melpomene, in doleful foliloquy.

After many days anxiety from fuffering this difgrace, a lucky thought occurred to him:-Being

1

1

certain of the good will of the Town, he advertised "Mr. Foote's compliments to his friends and the public, defiring them to drink Tea at the Little « Theatre at the Hay-Market, every morning, at "the play-house prices."—The joke succeededthe house was crowded-and he advanced before the curtain-being privately affured of protection, (his friends having been previously convened and informed of his intention) and faid-That while the Tea was preparing, as he was then training fome young actors for the stage, he would, with their permiffion, proceed with his inftructions. This manœuvre was highly relished; and it became the universal fashion every noon to drink a dish of Mr. Foote's Tea; and, for two or three years, he termed pieces of imitation giving of Tea. And thence arose the puzzle which often happened to myself (fome years after) on my giving Tea; and it frequently started difficulties and chagrin to a country audience.

The run of this morning's diverfion occafioned the actors one and all to exclaim they should be ruined by his mimicry; therefore Mr. Foote very pleasantly faid, Since that was the cafe, it was his duty to provide a fituation for each lady and gentleman, fo circumftanced; and that, inftead of murdering blank verfe, and affuming the characters of Kings and Queens, Lords and Ladies,

2