flatter myself this work (befides its authenticity) poffeffes ftage materials, and many whimsical fitutions, that, in the hands of a Mr. Mu py, might have been so pleasingly dreffed, as to have fuftained the being viewed and examined: But I fear, like Bayes, I have a knack of making myfeif not understood.-I mean it as a kind of register for all perfons attached to the theatres, and who wish for information relative to the London and Dublin ftages: It may relieve an heavy hour on a rainy day; and to theatrical proteffors 1 think I may recommend it, as containing as impartial and true an account of the progrefs of the principal events of playhouses as any book i can recollect on the subject; and at the fame time truly lament its thousand deficiencies, and improprieties, which, I am fenfible, will be infuperable bars to its profperity. However, I wrap myself in one idea, which is, I think it will not, cannot be, on examination, more indifferently and contemptuously estimated, than all my friends, and even my foes combined, (I dare fuppose) expect it to be; and las freely declare, on the perufal, it is better, with all its prolixity, than I ever expected it would or could be. But I must in its behalf request my readers to obferve, as a ftrist truth, that the printers, to their inceffant fatigue, can testify, there never has been one regular sheet, or a legible one; and, though a strange affertion, it is incontrovertibly true: the incorrectness of what I had fcratched down from one corner to the other, was not intelligible even to myself the day following, and therefore it was next to impoffible to properly divine the meaning; confequently many paffages and words have been mifconftrued, and unavoidably retained and printed; and hence feveral of my wife observations and informátions, from abfolute neceffity, have been entirely obliterated, or not properly inferted; frequently from my own splashings and alterations, as I fo bewildered the printers, that they declared it incomprehenfible and impoffible to proceed;-that they never had fuch a job in their lives, and heartily prayed they never might have fuch another.However, the prefs, after groaning, has produced to light the mishapen deformity. Indeed it may with propriety be observed as matter of surprise, all circumftances confidered, that my truly good friend, (in the fulleft fenfe of the word) Mr. WILSON, has accomplished a work in ten months, in spight of the several insurmountable obstacles, and ftriking impediments, which obftructed its ever gliding smoothly into the road of either credit or fame. All this confidered will easily gain kind allowance why its delay need not be wondered at, and my lameness apologize for tardy steps; for when I first printed the proposals, I had at that time only begun the toilfome task I had fet myself; and though brevity is the first word, I fear tautology would with justice feize the eldership and right. But, notwithstanding its ricketty origin, be it known to all men, that there is a fecret pride, which, however I would endeavour to conceal, will burst out when I perceive four volumes in print-By TATE WILKINSON. I reflect on it with astonishment, and look with wonder at my patience and perseverance, as philofophy and steadinefs, I dare affert, rarely attend my hobbiing morning or evening walks. Every one will readily admit the materials to be the genuine spinning from my own brain; and allow me, like Touchftone, to be contented with my own ill-favoured thing, which no one elfe will claim. I muft obferve, it has been a tedious collection from me *The Tablet being an after-thought, rendered some repetition requifite, and feveral anecdotes are omitted there, as a reference to the first and second volumes will fupply many deficiencies.-The reader will allow for the different dates I have mentioned when writing, and not allude to the year of perufal. For an account of Mrs. Baker, whofe letters conclude Vol. IV. (See Vol. III. page 64.)--Mentioning London performers in a future publication, intitled "The Wandering Patentee," is to be understood as meant not to extend beyond those who have favoured the York Theatre with their fervices, not to the performers at large, as that would be taking too great a liberty. mory, not having a fingle note except the interfperfed genuine letters and ancient play-bills, which have been preserved merely by accident (not defign) from the ruins of time, and snatched from the blaze of hundreds *. If my ability equalled my inclination, it would be as elegant and heartfelt an offering as real genius ever presented to a difcerning public. Such as it is I fubmiffively requeft their acceptance of it; and, like good-willed Francis's pennyworth of fugar, can only lament it is not better.-Now earnestly wishing for more friends, without the need, and their every profperity, I am their highly indebted, much obliged, and respectful humble fervant, &c. OCYORK, 1790.} TATE WILKINSON. N. B. To Mr. SWALWELL I look on myself as much indebted, for the bufinefs could never have proceeded, but from his inceffant exertions and indefatigable perfeverance. * Except two printed play-bills, one of 1748, the other 1750, as inferted in the Memoirs, I am not poffeffed of one prior to 1753; all the others are actually from memory. |