hearing me pronounce in a strange voice---" My Lord Foppington give me my fnuff-box.". She, after dinner, defired to know what I was talking of when shut up by myself? I was rather perplexed, and faid-I had fancied all that day I was fometimes Mr. Cibber, but oftener Mrs. Woffington, as she had acted Lady Betty delightfully. On this the fent for the play, and I ftudied different parts of it, and also the firft scene of Sir John and Lady Brute, which I had seen that winter: I was then, I believe, very like Mr. Quin and Mrs. Woffington; nay, am certain I was, as I can repeat the fame at this inftant in like manner; a proof what force firft impreffions make in the days of our youth.

This foon produced (when I was vifiting abroad, or when we had company at home) an intreaty for Mafter Tate to act Mr. Quin and Mrs. Woffington: The applause of the company added fuel to the flame.Drury-Lane Theatre I did not fee till the feafon 1750, and, ftrange to tell! did not wish to go there, fo ftrongly was I attached to fweet Covent-Garden ;-and a fomething like hallowed ground, to this moment, occafions reverence and awe for the steps and avenues of that theatre. A full houfe at Covent-Garden, then, was pleafing intelligence :-The preference and fuccefs of Garrick and Drury-Lane I could not relish.-

This employment I pursued with unremitting flavery, even to the prejudice of health.

In September 1749, I had an ague and fever, which could not be conquered, but kept me confined all the winter, except being permitted to fee three plays: Lady Jane Grey was one, and to this moment I recollect Quin, faying in Gardiner, "I hold no speech with hereticks and traitors."

September 1750 was the remarkable year Barry and Cibber joined forces with Quin and Woffington at Covent-Garden, as alfo Macklin. On feeing Mr. Barry and Mrs. Cibber, leffened in my opinion the merit I had alone allowed to my first favorites, Mr. Quin and Mrs. Woffington. The run of Romeo and Juliet was that season, when the famous controverfy happened between the two houses on account of this play, and which commenced at both Theatres on Friday the 28th of September. The following is an exact bill of the Covent-Garden play.

By the COMPANY of COMEDIANS.

At the

THEATRE-ROYAL in Covent-Garden.

This prefent Friday, being the 28th of Sept. 1750, will be prefented a Play, call'à

ROMEO AND JULIET.

The Part of Romeo to be performed

By Mr. BARRY.

(Being the first Time of his Appearing on that Stage.)
Capulet by Mr. SPARKS.

Montague by Mr. BRIDGEWATER.
Efcalus by Mr. ANDERSON. Paris by Mr. LACEY.

Benvolio by Mr. GIBSON.

Fryar Laurence

Gregory by Mr. ARTHUR.
Sampfon by Mr. COLLINS.

Lady Capulet by Mrs. BARRINGTON.
by Mr. RIDOUT.

Abram by Mr. DUNSTALL.
Balthazar by Mr. BRANSBY,

Mercutio by Mr. MACK LIN.
Tibalt by Mr. D Y E R.

Nurfe by Mrs. MACK LI N.
And the Part of Juliet to be performed

By Mrs. CIB BER.

An additional scene will be introduced, representing

The Funeral Proceffion of JULIET,

Which will be accompanied with

A SOLEMN DIRGE,
The Mufic compofed by Mr. ARNE.

With an occafional Prologue to be spoken

By Mr. BARRY.

Boxes, 5s.-Pit, 3s.-Firft Gal. 28.-Upper Gal. rs.
PLACES for the Boxes to be taken of Mr. PAGE,
at the Stage-door of the THEATRE.

The first play I faw at Drury-Lane was that year; it was the Mourning Bride-Osmyn, Mr. Garrick; Zara, Mrs. Pritchard; Almeria, Mifs Bellamy.-Garrick was not in my fecret opinion, fo enchanting as Barry-Mifs Bellamy very inferior indeed to Mrs. Cibber-but Mrs. Pritchard's Zara ftruck me with admiration. The farce was Lethe; in which the characters were fo inimitably performed by Woodward, Yates, Shuter, Blakes, Mifs Minors, and Mrs. Clive, that I felt actually angry at myself for being so pleafed with the performers of the Old Houfe, when in a comparative view with my favorites of the New. I mention this, as an inftance of the force of obftinate and headftrong partiality, whether we are young or old; and am forry to obferve, that conviction or reason, will not conquer our prejudices as we grow old, any more than prevail over the fentiments of waxen youth.

The Winter of 1750, I faw feveral plays; and for fear of being tainted with the prevailing powers of Drury-Lane, entered not that fashionable place of refort. The end of the season Mr. Quin left the stage; the opening play in the Septeraber following, (1751) was the Recruiting Officer, at Covent-Garden; Mrs. Woffington's name was inferted for Sylvia, but on fome fudden

difagreement she went off for Ireland, and a Mrs. Vincent performed the part.

In October 1751, was Mr. Moffop's and Mr. Rofs's first appearance at Drury-Lane, in the characters of Richard and young Bevil. I paffed my time as the preceding season, only with this difference, that I attended both Theatres; they clofed as ufual.-In the Autumn, what I had ardently wifhed for, two years before, came to pass; as my being sent to Harrow School was put into real practice, by my coming to the age of thirteen, the enfuing 7th of Nov. 1752, (being the year of the New Style). This, when at a distance, I thought pleasing, but for a Manager- a Critic, to be sent to school, was a stroke of real grief and horror; my pride prevented me from owning the truth, for I had fometime before petitioned for this indulgence, therefore would not let my veracity or refolution be called in question.-So, O woeful day! to Harrow School I was conveyed by my mother; where, on feeing my friend George Forbes, I endeavoured to compofe myself, and fubmit to flavery. He introduced me to the Duke of Gordon, and his brother, Lord Adam Gordon; alfo at that school, (which was then fecond only to Eaton in this kingdom,) were Lord Downe, Sir John Ruffiate, and the Capt.