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OF

HIS OWN LIFE,

BY

TATE WILKINSON,

PATENTEE OF THE THEATRES-ROYAL, YORK AND HULL.

IN THREE VOLUMES,

-IF I HAD HELD MY PEN BUT HALF AS WELL AS

1 HAVE HELD MY

BOTTLEWHAT A CHARMING

HAND I SHOULD HAVE WROTE BY THIS TIME!

VO L. II.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED FOR P. BYRNE, P. WOGAN, J. PARKER,

J. MOORE, A. GRUEBER, W. JONES, J. RICE,
R. WHITE, AND G. DRAPER.

M,DCC,XCI.

MEMOIRS

OF

TATE WILKINSON.

ON Monday, July 23, I acted Hamlet, Mr. Moody the Grave-digger; dancing by Mrs. Blake, (better known by the name of Mifs Polly Durham). The farce was the Chaplet.As I was paying attention, in the fifth act, to Mr. Moody's Grave-digger, Mr. Kennedy (the manager) plucked me by the fleeve, and faid, "Mind what you do, for Mr. Garrick is in the pit!"-It rather alarmed me; but having time before my entrance to reconnoitre, and not finding any likeness I looked upon it as a joke; and not hearing from any perfon that he had been feen, and fo well known, I went out to fupper and ftaid late :-But the next morning, July 24, I was waked by a meffenger from the Fountain Tavern, with Mr. Garrick's invitation to breakfaft: I was of course astonished at fuch an unVOL. II. expected

B

expected vifitant at Portsmouth, and wondered ftill more at the occafion, which in my hurried thoughts I could not devife. I instantly returned an answer that I would with pleasure wait on him; haftily equipped myfelf, and entered the room that great perfonage then graced, made my bow, and received a very hearty and friendly meeting. Here was a change!The following thought occurred to me.

O world! thy flipp' y turhs, O world!
Friends now fast fworn,

Whofe double bofoms feem to wear one heart,
Whofe hours, whofe bed, whofe meal and exercife,
Are ftill together; who twine, (as 'twere) in love
Unfeparable, fhall within this hour,

On a diffention of a duit, break out
To bitteret enmity. So feileft foes,

Whole paffions and whofe plots have broke their fleep,
To take the one the other, by fome chance,

Some trick not worth an egg, fhall grow dear friends,
And inte join their infues.

On this wonderful greeting we were the most cordial, good, eafy acquaintance that can be imagined: We chatted agreeally, for he feemed as pleated as I really was at this aftonishing alte

ration.

After breakfast we walked on the ramparts, and then went to the dock-yards; he was in fuch good fpirits that he ordered a bottle of heck to be made into a cool tankard, with balin, &c. It was at noon in the height of fummer, and the heat was his excufe for fo extraordinary a draught to him before dinner.

My reader may be certain that whenever Mr. Garrick choic to throw off acting and dignity,

and

and was not furrounded by business to perplex him, he had it in his power to render himself a most pleasing, improving, and delightful com panion.

Mr. Garrick's walking arm in arm with me, was an honour I dreamed not of. He congratulated me on being so great a favourite ; and what, he faid, was of much more fervice, the being fo well acquainted with the leading people at that place, of which, by inquiry, he foon heard all particulars; told me, he was on a vifit at Dr. Garney's, a gentleman of eminence who lived at Wickham, about eight miles from Portsmouth, to the left of Portfdown, once a phyfician, but had given over pra&tifing-his fortune being fully equal to eafe and affluence. Mr. Garrick told me this viût had been for years promised, but not paid till now; faid, that Dr. Garney was an old and intimate friend, and he should be there feven or eight days: Mrs. Garrick was there, and had fent him as a meffenger, with Dr. Garney's compliments and her commands to infit that I would fix my own day, and give them the pleasure of my company, which vifit they would all return: So, Tate, fays my kind Mr. Garrick, mind you are well provided, for we fhall make it early in next week. This obliging invitation I gladly complied with, dreffed in my best, and even of that he took notice, and faid all was well except my buckles, which being, (in the prefent fashion) large, and low on the inftep, he obferved were like a failor's. I did not want for lace to make me a gentleman-not abfurd then-but fuch a figure now would be laughed at as it paffed along. B 2

Mr

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