among the players, for a few lines inserted into the play before his uncle. Congreve received that compliment on writing Love for Love; a whole share in the concern, for a single play per year. It is fatal to withdraw from an author the stimulus of necessity; the author of four such comedies as Congreve's, could easily persuade himself that he had done enough for fame. Plunging a wit into the pipe-office, or making him a licenser of either coaches or wine, is like marrying an actress, and taking her from the stage; the parties are no better than others in the new situations; to extend their attraction, and therefore happiness, they should be left to exert their genius in its proper sphere. To reward utility, without abridging it, is a problem of difficult solution. We may be apt to think such a poet disgraced by his preferments. Congreve, however, did not wish to be considered as an author, yet it is only as an author that he enjoys a name among the illustrious of his country.

Dr. Johnson has said of Congreve," that he was an original writer, who borrowed neither the models of his plot, nor the manner of his dialogue."

A mind so perspicacious as the doctor's, had he been acquainted with the writings of Ben Jonson, could not have failed to discern innumerable points of similitude between them; as to the personages of the drama, and the manner of the dialogue. The great Lord Camden was fond of displaying them.

On the 15th of February, Mrs. Jordan assumed the character of Roxalana, in the Sultan, for the - first time. She had, like Mrs. Abington, skill enough to keep such a trifle as this from becoming contemptible. On the 12th of March, Mr. Holcroft produced at Drury Lane a new comedy called Seduction, but he made no use of the talents of Mrs. Jordan. Like Mrs. Siddons herself, she seems to have been considered as devoted to the writings only of men of genius.

108

CHAPTER VI.

King's management-Mrs. Jordan in the summer of 1787Miss Farren too in Yorkshire, distinguishes Fawcett, since a truly original actor-Kemble alters the Pilgrim for Mrs. Jordan Her Juletta-The character describes itselfBeautiful passages-Madness exhibited frequently on the stage The New Peerage-Old Macklin remembered when he had forgotten Shylock-Interesting appeal of the veteran -New plays by Miss Lee and Captain Jephson-Smith did not act much with Mrs Jordan-His last benefit-Anecdote of him when at Eton-His intimacy with Garrick-His comedy-Lewis and Bensley compared with him as gentlemen-Abington and Farren-Palmer returns to his ViolaMrs. Jordan's Sir Harry Wildair-Theatrical PoliticsKing's abdication.

It must be admitted that no theatre ever displayed so little management as that of Drury under King, from the time of Mrs. Jordan's first appearance. He had received two such accessions as no other period is ever likely to produce, and he contented himself with wearing them down. The stock plays

of a theatre are excellent things, we know; but an endless repetition of them will thin the most judicious audiences. Nothing could be done for Mrs. Siddons, as to original composition; and for JORDAN, whose sphere was less poetical, (though within the limits of Viola and the Country Girl, there was all the comic world of delicate feeling, poignant humour, and youthful simplicity,) nothing was attempted. I dare say Sheridan, in his visionary schemes, meditated to write for her; and the reverence at the playhouse for his powers might tend to discourage those, who, humbler in their pretensions, were more certain in their performances. The politics, too, that really engrossed the GREAT WIT, Sometimes were adverse to the humbler. Burgoyne was of the whig party; and Holcroft, however occasionally beyond their standard, was at all times in opposition. The theatre was never really and truly thrown open to such talent as there was among us. Sheridan would undertake every thing, and do nothing. There was a committee of proprietors who only attended to the economy of the wardrobe; and they could not be tempted by all the eloquence of Tom King to venture the

smallest outlay without the consent of Mr. Sheridan, who was always too busy either to give it or refuse it. Thus it was that Harris, at the other house, beat them, with all the cards absolutely in their hands.

The northern circuit, during the summer of 1787, again attracted Mrs. Jordan, and her three nights at Leeds were brilliantly attended; she acted Rosalind with Roxalana, Hypolita with Miss Lucy, Viola with Miss Hoyden. His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, her early patron and steady friend, supported her nobly on the night of her benefit. She could not stay longer with Tate Wilkinson, but assured him that her successor from Drury Lane, Miss Barnes, was a diamond of the first water. That lady made her first impression in Juliet, to the Romeo of Mr. Fawcett; but the expression of the garden scene, "Hist! Romeo, Hist!" was a piece of information, as well as a signal, for the audience literally hissed the young Juliet to a degree that precluded any repetition of the offence. Tate always considered Mrs. Jordan to have amused herself on the above occasion; for she was not easily deceived as to the requisites for her profes