Davy Garrick, though remarkable for not being attached to puerile diverfions, which he would always abandon to give ear to fome matter of entertainment and difcourfe, or to draw the attention of others by fome lively and wild fallies of his own, did not apply himself with any affiduity to his book. He had conceived a very early paffion for theatrical reprefentation, from which nothing could turn him afide. When he was little more than eleven years of age, he formed the project of getting a Play acted by young Gentlemen and Ladies. After he had made fome trial of his own and his companions abilities, and prevailed upon the parents to give their confent, he pitched upon the Recruiting Officer for the Play. He affembled his little company in a large room, the deftined place of reprefentation; there we may fuppofe our young Bays diftributed the feveral characters according to the merits of the performers. He prevailed on one of his fifters to play the part of the Chamber-maid; Serjeant Kite, a character of bufy intrigue and bold humour, he chofe for himself. The Play was acted in a manner fo far above the expectations of the audience, that it gave general fatisfaction, and was much applauded. The eafe, vivacity and humour of Kite, is ftill remembered with pleasure at Litchfield. This firft stage attempt of our English Rofcius was in 1727. Not long after, he was invited to Lisbon by an uncle, who was a confiderable winemerchant in that city; but his ftay there was very fhort, for he returned to Litchfield the year following. Mr. Samuel Johnfon, about the beginning of the year 1735, undertook the inftruction of fome young Gentlemen of Litchfield in the Belles Lettres ; and David Garrick, then turned of eighteen, became one of his scholars, or, to speak more properly, his friend and companion. But the Mafter, however rich in the ftores of Greece and Rome, was not better difpofed to teach the precepts of learning with that exactness which is neceffary to form the claffical scholar, than young Garrick was willing to learn them. Notwithfanding the brilliancy of his parts, the Claffic Authors had as yet no charms for Mr. Garrick; his thoughts were conftantly employed on the stage; for even at that time he was very bufy in compofing Plays. About the year 1737, Mr. Garrick's uncle left Portugal, with an intention to fettle in London, in which place he foon after fell fick, and died. Some time before his death, his nephew David infinuated to him, that he ought to make him fome compensation in his will for the difappointment which he had obliged him to incur by a fruitless voyage to Lisbon. The old Gentleman was convinced that the remonftrance was juft, and bequeathed to David a larger portion of his effects than to any of his brother's children; for to him he left one thousand pounds, and to the others five hundred pounds each. With the intereft of the one thousand pounds Mr. Garrick prudently embraced the means of acquiring ufeful knowledge, by the inftruction of Mr. Colfon, a celebrated mathematician at Rochester, to whom he had been recommended. His proficiency, however, in mathematics and philofophy, was not extenfive; his mind was theatrically led, and nothing could divert his thoughts from the ftudy of that to which his genius fo powerfully prompted him. However, in the company of fo rational a Philofopher as Mr. Colfon, he was imperceptibly and gradually improved in the talent of thinking and reafoning; and the example and precepts of fo wife a man were not vainly bestowed on a mind fo acute and rational as that of the young boarder. His father Capt. Garrick, had been many years upon half pay; but, with a view to the better fupport of his family, he had embraced an offer to receive the whole emoluments of his poft from a brother Officer, on condition that he should refide at Gibraltar in his ftead. Much about the time when his fon David lived with Mr. Colfon, the Captain returned to England from that fortrefs, where he had lived feveral years. He purpofed to fell his Commiffion, from an affectionate and tender motive to procure fome permanent fubfiftence for a wife and seven children; but his health was fo fhattered, and his conftitution fo entirely broken, that he was not permitted to accomplish his purpose; and he died very soon after. There was not much more than the intervention of a year between the death of Mr. Garrick's father and his mother. Mr. Garrick now found himself free from all restraint, and in a fituation to indulge himself in his darling paffion for acting, from which nothing but his tendernefs for fo dear a relation as a mother had hitherto reftrained him. However, during the fhort interval between his mother's death and his commencing mencing Comedian, he engaged for fome time in the wine trade, and was in part nerfhip with his brother, Mr. Peter Garrick; they hired vaults in Durham Yard for the purpose of carrying on the bufinefs. The union between the brothers was of no long date; Peter was calm, fedate, and methodical, David was gay, volatile, impetuous, and, perhaps, not fo confined to regularity as his partner could have wifhed. To prevent the continuance of fruitless and daily altercation, by the interpofition of friends, the partnership was dissolved amicably. And now Mr. Garrick prepared himself in earnest for that employment which he fo ardently loved, and in which Nature defigned he fhould fo eminently excel. He was frequently in the company of the most eminent Actors; he got himself introduced to the Managers of the theatres, and tried his talent in the recitation of fome particular and favourite portions of Plays. Now and then he indulged himself in the practice of mimickry, a talent which, however inferior, is never willingly refigned by him who excels in it. Sometimes he wrote criticisms upon the action and elocution of the Players, and published them in the prints. Thefe fudden effufions of his mind generally comprehended judicious obfervations and threwd remarks, unmixed with that grofs illiberality which often difgraces the inftructions of modern flage Critics. Mr. Garrick's diffidence with-held him from trying his ftrength at first upon a London theatre. He thought the hazard was too great, and embraced the advantage of commencing noviciate in acting with a company of Players then ready to fet out for Ipfwich, under the direction of Mr. William Giffard and Mr. Dunftall, in the fummer of 1741. The firft effort of his theatrical talents was exerted in Aboan, in the Play of Oroonoko, a part in which his features could not easily be difcerned; under the difguife of a black countenance, he hoped to efcape being known, fhould it be his misfortune not to please. Though Aboan is not a firitrate character, yet the fcenes of pathetic perfuafion and affecting diftrefs, in which that character is involved, will always command the attention of the audience when reprefented by a judicious Actor. Our young Player's applaufe was equal to his most fanguine defires. Under the affumed name of Lyddal, he not only acted a variety of characters in Plays, but like wife attempted the active feats of the Harequin. In every ellay he gave fuch de light to the audience, that they gratified him with conftant and loud proofs of their approbation. The town of Ipswich will long boat of having first seen and encouraged fo great a genius as Mr. Garrick. He had performed a noviciate at Ipfwich; and, even before his going to that place, had ftudied, with great affiduity, a variety of parts in the different walks of acting. After long reflection and much ferious weighing of confequences, he fixed upon Richard the Third for his first part in London. He had often declared he would never chufe a character which was not fuitable to his perfon; for, faid he, if I fhould come forth in a Hero, or any part which is generally acted by a tall fellow, I fhall not be offered a larger falary than forty fhillings per week. In this he glanced at the folly of thofe Managers who used to meafure an Actor's merit by his fize. He could not poffibly give a stronger proof of found judgment, than in fixing his choice on Richard. The Play has always been popular, on account of its comprehending fuch variety of hiftorical and domeftic facts, with fuch affecting scenes of royal mifery and diftrefs. Richard was well adapted to his figure; the fituations in which he is placed are diverfified by a fucceffion of paffion, and dignified by variety and fplendor of action. A fkilful actor cannot with for a fairer field on which to display his abilities. On the 19th of October, 1741, David Garrick acted Richard the Third, for the first time, at the Playhouse in Goodman'sFields. So many idle perfons, under the title of Gentlemen acting for their diverfion, had expofed their incapacity at that theatre, and had so often difappointed the audiences, that no very large company was brought together to fee the new performer. However, feveral of his own ac quaintance, many of them perfons of good judgment, were affembled there at the ufual hour. An Actor, who, in the first display of his talents, undertakes a principal character, has generally, amongst other difficulties, the prejudices of the audience to ftruggle with, in favour of an established performer. Here, indeed, they were not infurmountable. Cibber, who had been much admired in Richard, had left the ftage. Quin was the popular Player; but his manner of heaving up bis words, and his laboured action, prevented his being a favourite Richard. Mr. Garrick's eafy and familiar, yet forcible Forcible ftyle in fpeaking and acting, at firit threw the Critics into fome helitation concerning the novelty as well as propriety of his manner. They had been long accustomed to an elevation of the voice, with a fudden mechanical depreffion of its tones, calculated to excite admiration, and to intrap applaufe. To the just modulation of the words, and concurring expreffion of the features from the genuine workings of Nature, they had been ftrangers, at least for fome time. But after he had gone through a variety of scenes in which he gave evident proofs of confummate art, and perfect knowledge of character, their doubts were turned into furprize and aftonishment; from which they relieved themselves by loud and reiterated applaufe. They were more efpecially charmed when the actor, after having thrown afide the bypocrite and politician, affumed the warrior and the Hero. When news was brought to Richard, that the Duke of Buckingham was taken, Garrick's look and action, when he pronounced the words, Off with his head ! So much for Buckingham! were fo fignificant and important, from his vifible enjoyment of the incident, that feveral loud thouts of approbation proclaimed the triumph of the actor and satisfaction of the audience. The death of Richard was accompanied with the loudest gratulations of applause. The fame Play was acted fix or seven times fucceffively. The receipts of the Treasury, which I have before me, amounted, in feven nights, to no more than 2161. 7s. 6d. and this conveys a certain evidence, of what ufe the kindnefe, as well as judgment of the Manager, is to the growing fame of an actor. Giffard to a good understanding joined a fenfe of honour, with great humanity. He faw Garrick's merit, and did all in his power to fupport it. Several other parts, among which were Aboan in Oroonoko, Chamont in the Orphan, Clodio in the Fop's Fortune, Bays in the Rehearsal, fucceeded Richard; which favourite character was repeatedly called for, and acted, to crouded audiences. Such was the univerfal approbation which followed our young actor, that the more effablished theatres of Drury-lane and Covent-garden were deferted Mr. Garrick drew after him the inhabitants of the most polite parts of the town. Goodman's-fields was full of the fplendor of St. James's and Grosvenor-square. The coaches of the Nobility filled up the space froin Temple-bar to White-chapel. He had fo perfectly convinced the public of his fuperior accomplishments in acting, that not to admire him would not only have argued an abfence of tafte, but the groffelt ftupidity; thofe who had seen and been delighted with the most admired of the old actors, confeffed that he had excelled the ableft of them in the variety of his exhibitions, and equalled them all in their most applauded characters. Mr. Pope was perfuaded by Lord Or. rery to fee him in the fift dawn of his fame: that great man who had often seen and admired Betterton, whose picture he had painted, and which is now in the poffeffion of Lord Mansfield, was struck with the propriety and beauty of Mr. Garrick's action; and, as a convincing proof that he had a good opinion of his merit, he told Lord Örrery, that he was afraid the young man would be spoiled, for he would have no competitor. Mr. Garrick fhone forth like a theatrical Newton; he threw new light on elocution and action; he banished ranting, bombaft and grimace, and restored Nature, eafe, fimplicity, and genuine humour. Quin, who had hitherto been esteemed the first actor in tragedy, could not conceal his unealiness and disgust from the great fuccefs of Mr. Garrick. After he had been a fpectator of his manner in fome important character, which, I believe, was Richard the Third, he declared reremptorily, That, if the young fellow was right, he, and the reft of the Players, had been all wrong.' Colley Cibber, from whom more candour might have been expected, after he had feen Garrick's Bays, which the pub lic efteemed a Mafter-piece of comic humour; faid, 'Garrick was well enough, but not fuperior to his fon Theophilus, who had little more to recommend him in the part than pertness and vivacity. Mrs. Bracegirdle, a celebrated actress, who had left the ftage for more than thirty years before Garrick's first appearance, and was vifited by many perfons of condition and tafte, thought very differently of this rifing genius. In a converfation which he had with Colley Cibber, who spoke of him with an affected derogation, the reproved his malignity, and generously faid, Come, come, Cibber, tell me, if there is not fomething like envy in your character of this young Gen Gentleman. The actor who pleafes every body must be a man of merit. The old man felt the force of this fenfible rebuke; he took a pinch of fnuff, and frankly replied: Why faith, Bracey, I believe you are right-The young fellow is clever.' Mr. Garrick's weekly income was, at first, very moderate, not exceeding fix or feven pounds. But when it was evident, that the great emoluments from the playhoufe treasury were chiefly, if not entirely, owing to his labours, and that the benches of the playhouse were almost always empty when his name was not feen in the play bills, Mr. Giffard very heartily concurred with Mr. Garrick, and his friends, to allow him a full moiety of the profits; and, in this, the Manager found his advantage, for the actor was conftantly employed in confequence of his being perpetually admired. To a very long and fatiguing character in the play he would frequently add another in a farce. 1742, Mr. Garrick made an agreement with Mr. Fleetwood to share the profits arifing from his acting Richard the Third, Bays, and King Lear. The fame of our English Rofcius was now so extended, that a deputation was fent from Ireland to invite him to act in Dublin during the months of June, July, and Auguft, upon very profitable conditions; there he embraced, and crossed the seas to the metropolis of Ireland, in June 1742, accompanied by Mrs. Woffington. His fuccefs at Dublin exceeded all imagination, though much was expected from him; he was careffed by all ranks of people, as a prodigy of theatrical accomplishment. During the hottest days in the year, the playhoufe was crowded with perfons of fashion and rank, who were never tired with feeing and applauding the various effays of his skill. Satisfied with the emoluments arifing from the fummer campaign, and delighted with the generous encouragement, and During the time of his acting in Good- kind countenance, which the Nobility and man's-fields, Mr. Garrick brought on the Gentry of Ireland had given him, and of flage two dramatic pieces; the Lying Valet, which he always fpoke in the strongest a Farce, and a dramatic fatire, called terms of acknowledgement and gratitude, Lethe, which are still acted with applaufe. Mr. Garrick, fet out for London, to reThe laft was written before he commenced new his labours, and to fubmit to the actor. judgment of the most critical as well as Before the end of the winter feafon of moit candid audience in Europe. Defcription of the City of MADRID: from Swinburne's Travels through Spain. T HERE is not I believe in Europe a capital that has to little to fhew as Madrid, having never been the See of a Bithop, it has of courte no Cathedral, nor indeed any Church, that diftinguithes itfelf much from the common herd of parishes and Convents. Allowing fome few exceptions, I think I may safely pronounce the outward architecture of them all to be barbarous, and their manner of ornamenting the infide as bad as that of the worit ages; most of them were erected or retouched during the term of years that elapfed between the middle of the feventeenth century and the year 1759, a period in the hiftory of Spain, when all arts and and fciences were fallen to the lowest ebb of depravement; the effect of the degeneracy of manners, the want of public fpirit, and the diforder and weakness of a decaying Monarchy. Thefe vices in the political fyftem under the three lait Princes of the Auftrian line could not be rumovød immediately on the acceflion of another family; the wars, that fhook the very foundations of their Throne for the first ten years of this century, kept all polite arts groveling in the duft; and when they ventured to raise their heads again, and court the favour of the Sovereign, there feems to have been a total want of able Profeffors to fecond their efforts, and affift them in returning to the paths of good fenfe and true tafte. No mad architect ever dreamed of a diftortion of members fo capricious, of a twift of pillars, cornices, or pediments, fo wild and fantastic, but what a real fample of it may be produced in fome or other of the Churches of Madrid. They are all fmall, and poor in marbles as well as pictures. Their altars are piles of wooden ornaments heaped up to the cieling, and fuck full of wax lights, which more than once have fet fire to the The Convents which may be faid to poffefs a good collection of pictures, are thofe of Saint Pafqual and of the bare-footed Carmelite Nuns. whole Church. The for former has a fine Titian, a capital Guerchino, and many other pieces by esteemed Italian mafters. In the facrifty of the latter, is a numerous collection of paintings by various hands, many of which are of fuperior merit. The tombs of Ferdinand the Sixth and of his Queen Barbara, in the Church of the Vifitation, are almost the only fepulchral monuments of any confequence. The firft King that made any long ahode in Madrid, was Henry the Fourth. Before his reign, this was but an infignificant place, with a fmall caftle for the convenience of the Princes that came to hunt the bear in the environs, which were then as woody as they now are naked. Its fituation on a hill overlooking many leagues of country opens on every fide to a whole fome circulation of air, and abundance of good water, induced the Emperor Charles the Fifth to build an ample Palace here, which he intended to make his chief refidence, as he thought the climate beft adapted to his constitution. The old Palace was burnt down to the ground in 1734, and Philip Juvara commiffioned by Philip the Fifth to give a plan for rebuilding it in the moft fplendid manner. The model he made is still exifting, but was rejected on account of the immen fity of the fize, and the greatnefs of the expence, as well as of the want of fufficient room to place it, the King being determined, on account of the air, to have it rebuilt on the exact spot where the old one ftood. Juvare dying before he could prepare a fecond defign, his difciple Sachetti produced that which has been carried into execution; both his and his mafter's plans have the defect of being clumfy and confufed in the windows, pilafters, and ornaments; where they have aimed at fimplicity they have funk their architecture under a load of stone, and where they have ftudied to be rich and light, they have generally given into the capricious rather than the beautiful. It is all of white ftone. Each of the fronts being four hundred and feventy feet in length, by an hundred high, this pile towers over all the country, where nothing intercepts the view for many miles. The entrances and ground floor appear more like thofe of fome mighty fortrets, than of the peaceable habitation of a powerful Monarch, an hundred leagues removed from his frontiers. The range of large glazed arches round the inner court reLembles the infide of a manufactory: this is the more unpardonable, as they had at no great distance, in the Alcazar of Toledo, as elegant a colonnade as the niceft critic could defire. The ftair-cafe was meant to be double, but it was afterwards judged more convenient to fhut up one flight, as the remaining half anfwered every purpofe. At the foot of the stairs I fhall leave all my fpleen, and prepare myfelf with unfeigned fatisfaction to defcribe to you the beauty and grandeur of the upper apartments. I know no Palace in Europe fitted up with fo much royal magnificence. The cielings are Chef-d'œuvres of Mengs, Corrado, and Tiepolo. The richest marbles are employed with great tatte in formning the cornices and focles of the rooms, and the frames of the doors and windows. What enhances the value of thefe marbles is the circumftance of their being all produced in the quarries of Spain, from whence it is the opinion of a learned Writer, that ancient Rome was fupplied with many of the precious materials that enriched her porticoes and Temples. The great Audience chamber is one of the richest I know. The cieling, painted by Tiepolo, reprefents the triumph of Spain; round the cornice the artift has placed allegorical figures of its different provinces, diftinguifhed by their productions, and attended by feveral of their inhabitants in the provincial habit; these form a most uncommon picture and a curious fet of Coitumi. The walls are incruftated with beautiful marble, and all round hung with large plates of lookingglafs in rich frames. The manufactory of glass is at Saint Ildefonso, where they, caft them of a very great fize; but I am told they are apt to turn out much rougher and more full of flaws than thofe made in France. A collection of pictures, by the greateft masters of the art, adorns the walls of the inner apartments; but even this vaft fabric does not afford room for all the riches his Catholic Majefty poffeffes in this branch. In the magazines and ftore-rooms lie unforted a number of pictures, fufficient to furnish fuch another fuite of apartments. The Palace of the Buenretiro is now ftript of all its belt pictures and furniture. The buildings are poor, and unworthy of a Sovereign, fo that few parts of it could have been preferved in any judicious plan. The only remarkable things about it are the theatre, where Farinelli fang before a Court, which he may be faid to have governed as Prime Minifter; a bronze itatue of Charles the Fifth ; and an equestrian K k one |