no longer restrain himself, but fuddenly cried out moft vociferously,-" Why d-n it, Johnson,you, you, you will deftroy all my books !"-At this Johnson raised his head, paufed, fixed his eyes, and replied, "Lookee, David, you do understand plays, but you know nothing about books!" which repartee occafioned an irresistible laugh at Garrick's expence, as well as that of his having given them a good dinner, with plenty of choice viands.

But if these are to be my memoirs, it is neceffary to rehearse over the fcenes of my fecond night's performance.

-The house was what

we of the theatrical tribe like to fee, and term chuck full in every part,—not only from the alarm the first exhibition had given, but by many who were inimical to my performance, as well as those who approved of it; for several actors had A naturally rouzed their friends to crush me in the fhell if poffible, and not only fcotch the fnake but kill it.- -On my firft entrance there were marks of difapprobation, and on my fecond founded to me at fuch an alarming height, that I thought all was over; but the multitude of well wishers, and the number whofe curiofity had been raised, longed to be fatisfied, and bore all before them; and very trifling marks were heard or fuffered after, fufficient to create any great tremor or uneafinefs to be concife; the oppofition proved

a favourable circumftance, for it fixed me as the Fashion, and fuperior to my master Foote as an im tator, and I was triumphantly given out again with as much fatisfaction to three parts of the audience, as if I had been an actor of the first confequence on thofe boards.A little ill-nature evidently fhewn is the luckieft circumstance that can happen to an author or performer of any merit; but beware of a great deal.

A fingle critic will not frown, look big,
Harmless and pliant as a fingle twig;

But crowded, here they change, and 'tis not odd,
For twigs, when bundled up, become a rod.

This little piece went on in a most flourishing ftate till about the fifth or fixth night, when Mr. Sparks of Covent Garden theatre felt himself so wounded by my attack on his acting, (which truly was a very picturesque one, and those who remember him and me at that time will allow what I have here faid) that he waited on Mr. Garrick, and requested he would not fuffer him, as a man of credit in private life, and an actor of eftimation in public, to be deftroyed by fuch an illiberal attack on his livelihood; and, as it ftruck at his reputation, hoped he would not permit it in future as far as regarded himfelf, whom it had rendered miferable.-Garrick faid, "Why now

I

hey, Sparks! why now, hey, this is so strange now, hey, a-why Wilkinson, and be d-d to him, they tell me he takes me off, and he takes Foote off, and fo, why you see that you are in very good company."-" Very true, Sir," fays Sparks, "but many an honeft man has been ruined by keeping too good company"-and then Sparks made his bow and his exit. Mr. Garrick, however, came to the theatre at noon, paraded with great confequence up and down the stage, fent for me, and when I obeyed the mighty fummons he was furrounded by most of the performers; I fancied it had been fome lucky good-natured thought of his to serve me; but why should I have imagined fo!

Down, bufy devil, down

For he foon convinced me to the contrary, as he began a fiery lecture with "Now, hey, dn it, Wilkinson!-now, why will you take a liberty with these gentlemen the players, and without my confent? you never confulted or told me you were to take off as you call it; hey, why now, I never take fuch liberties.. Indeed I once did it, but I gave up fuch d-d impudence*. Hey now,

*And in faying this the good Manager forgot he dd thofe arts that caufed himself to rife."

that is I fay-but you and Foote, and Foote and you, think you are managers of this theatre.-But to convince you of the contrary, and be d-d to yet, I here order you, before these gentlemen, to defist from taking any liberty with any one of Covent Garden theatre; and I think it neceffary to avow and declare my abhorrence of what you have done, and at the fame time to disclaim my confent or knowledge of it :—I do not allow myself such unbecoming liberties, nor will I permit them from another where I am manager; and if you dare repeat fuch a mode of conduct after my commands, I will fine you the penalty of your article"-which was three hundred pounds. Here I felt myself in a fine predicament; here was a fudden fall to all my greatness, and a haste to my fetting.The actors and actreffes, one and all, applauded the goodness of Mr. Garrick's heart, and fneered at the lowered pride of an upftart mimic and his imitations. I ftood like Cardinal Wolfey in the third act of Henry VIII. when looked on contemptibly by the Lords Surry, Norfolk, Suffolk, &c.

So farewell my little good Lord Cardinal!

And had Garrick gone and pronounced—“ And now to dinner with what appetite ye may,"it would have heightened the resemblance, if I

† A common expreffion of Mr. Garrick's,—in half jest, half earnest.

may be allowed to compare fmall things with great.I was exceedingly embarraffed and mortified, when up came to me Dame Clive, who faid aloud," Fie, young man! fie!" and declared it was impudent and shocking for a young fellow to gain applause at the expence of the players, whose reputation with the public rested in their good opinion, and the performers ought to appear quiet, peaceable, and well behaved, and not act in fuch an hoftile manner as I had done with those gentlemen who endeavour to get a livelihood."Now," added fhe, "I can and do myself take off but then it is only the Mingottii †, and a set of Italian fqualling devils who come over to England to get our bread from us; and I fay curfe them all for a parcel of Italian bitches ;"-and fo Madam Clive made her exit, and with the approbation of all the ftage lords and ladies in waiting, whilft I flood like a puppy dog in a dancing-fchool-when Mr. Moffop, the turkey-cock of the stage, with flow and haughty steps, all erect, his gills all fwelling, eyes disdainful, and hand upon his fword, breathing, as if his respiration was honour, and, like the turkey, almost bursting with pride, began with much hauteur-" Mr. Wilkinson! phew! (as breathing grand) Sir,-Mr. Wil-kin-fon, Sir, I fay-phew!-how dare you, Sir, make free in a public theatre, or even in a private party,

Mingotti was the Mara of that year.