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CHAPTER V.

In the recess thinks of her old friends in Yorkshire-Difference of nine months-Odd conjuncture-Mrs. Robinson the Prophetess-Return to Leeds of Mrs. Jordan on the night of that lady's benefit-Acts a single night, now dividing the house-Mrs. Jordan at Edinburgh-The Belle's Stratagem -Her own epilogue, its point-Death of Mrs. Baddeley at this juncture-Mrs. Jordan succeeds Mrs. Siddons at Hull and Wakefield-General Burgoyne translates Richard Cœur de Lion for Drury, in 1786, and Mrs. Jordan accepts Matilda-Death of Princess Amelia closes the theatres-H. R. H.'s clock, by Tompion-The royal vault-A friend of the Author's passes the night in it-His feelings compared with Juliet's imagination-Dodsley's Cleone, and Mrs. SiddonsLove for Love, and the Miss Prue of Jordan-Congreve and his preferments-Mrs. Jordan's Roxalana.

A CHANGE of condition so striking was calculated to try the firmest temper. Mrs. Jordan, certainly, was no stoic, and she would at any time have disdained to affect an indifference which she did not feel. All that was woman about her anticipated

her reception by the manager and the performers at Leeds, which she had so recently quitted, and the enjoyment of the first salary of one pound, eleven shillings and sixpence per week. She had now to consider in her carriage, on the supposition that Wilkinson might entreat her to play, with what terms she would condescend to be satisfied, now she had passed the assay in the metropolis, the metal being, to a scruple, precisely of the same value before the journey to London.

The "whirligig of time brings his revenges." Mrs. Robinson, the prophetess, had, like other false prophets, lived down her presumed wisdom. She had sneered at the expedition of Jordan, and pronounced her failure in town, and speedy wish to be again welcome at her old quarters. The London newspapers had since afforded her sufficient mortification. The first salary, two benefits, and immense presents, lavished upon a hated rival, were even at a distance barely to be endured. This unhappy lady," whose doom reserved her to more wrath," on the 16th of June, 1786, was to take her benefit at Leeds. She was to act Horatia in the Roman Father, which the genius of Henderson

had rendered popular, though it hastened his death, and had put up the Irish Widow for her farce, because Mrs. Jordan had selected it for her benefit in London. It announced as plainly as words could speak it, "Well! Leeds also has her Widow Brady, though the courtiers bear away the honours of the Tournament."

On this 16th of June, a Friday! Mrs. Jordan, attended by her mother and her sister, arrived in the town of Leeds, and, after dinner, made their appearance in an upper box at the theatre. It was the benefit of the very "fright" whom poor Mrs. Bland could neither bear to hear or see; and what I am afraid the old lady bore without much uneasiness, the house was far from being a good one. An absence of only nine months, with an audience so stationary as that of Leeds, was not likely to erase the features of Jordan from their memory, and she most certainly did not succeed, if she tried to keep herself concealed. But I do not imagine for a moment that the child of nature had so much art about her. I am sure she had an honest joy in the buzz that turned every eye up to the balcony box; and, during the farce, she came down behind the scenes, and made her compli

ments very gracefully to her former associates in the green-room. No people do these things so well as players-they are accustomed to assume every variety of manner, and, if, like others, occasionally insincere, they are never clumsy hypocrites. After having thus made herself free behind the curtain, she walked forward to the very edge of the wing, and, leaning with a fashionable air on her sister, observed the rival Widow Brady, and was fully observed by the audience herself. Tate makes himself very merry by glancing looks of defiance between the two ladies, which I dare say they were discreet enough to keep to themselves, But Tate seems to enjoy the mortification likely to be felt by Mrs. Robinson, and perhaps fancied only some contempt in the great woman because the humbler artist had disobliged him.

It was now the turn of Mrs. Jordan to be solicited, and she consented to act a single night, dividing the receipt with the manager after a deduction of fifteen pounds. To this he submitted, though he did not expect any great profit to either party; for he remembered that the Leeds people had enjoyed or neglected her for four summers in

succession, and not distinguished her parting benefit by any great patronage. But the fashion had operated a mighty change in her favour, and the good gentry of Leeds now longed most passionately to see the actress of whom they had so recently been weary. She was announced to act the Country Girl and the Romp on the 21st, and the house overflowed before the play began. The demand for places was so extraordinary, that seven rows of the pit were laid into the boxes. Both play and farce, it should be observed, by her town success in the heroines had been worn to the felt by the country hoydens; but she was no longer her mere self, but the minion of rank and taste, and London. The Siddons succeeded her upon the York circuit the month following, and Mrs. Jordan went to the north to fulfil her various engagements. At Edinburgh she ventured to speak of the only rival she could have, but it was not with Pope's humility to Bolingbroke.

Say, shall my little bark attendant sail,

Pursue the triumph and partake the gale?"

There seems to be a sly hint at the despotism of the turban, that bears no brother near the throne.