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favour the exhibition of the Festival, and very warmly efpoufed the caufe of the Ma nagers against the plebeian part of the audi ence, whom they affected to to look down upon with contempt. The pit and galleries became more incenfed by this oppofition of the people of fathion, and entered into a ftrong alliance to ftand by each other, and to annoy the common enemy. Several Gentlemen of high rank being determined to conquer the obftinacy of the rioters, they jumped from the boxes into the pit with a view to feize the ringleaders of the fray. The Ladies at first were so far from being frightened at this refolution of the Gentlemen, that they pointed out the obnoxious perfons with great calmnefs. Swords were mutually drawn, and blood fhed. The females at last gave way to their natural timidity, they screamed out loudly, and a mighty uproar enfued. The conteft between the boxes and the other parts of the house was attended with real diftrefs to the Managers, for they knew not now which party they could oblige with fafety. One would not give way to the other, and they feemed to be pretty equally balanced: at Jaft, after much mutual abuse, loud altercation, and many violent blows and fcuffles, the combatants fell upon that which could make no refiftance, the materials before them. They demolished the scenes, tore up the benches, broke the luftres and girandoles, and did in a fhort time fo much mifchief to the infide of the theatre, that it fcarce could be repaired in feveral days. During the beat of this ruinous bufinefs, Mr. Garrick felt himself in a very odd fituation; he thought his life was in danger from the ungovernable rage of the people, who threatened to demolish his house. He who had been so long the idol of the public, was now openly abused and execrated. He found himself reduced to the neceffity of feeking protection from the foldiery. The mob indeed went fo far as to break his windows, and to commit other acts of violence.

Mifs Brent, a fcholar of Dr Arne, had been employed in an oratorio performed at Drury-lane in the spring of 1762: her voice had not then reached that full strength and melody, to which, by frequent practice, it afterwards attained. However, it was then clear, pleasing and harmonious, and gave a very fair promife of rifing to great perfection. Árne made a tender of her abilities to Mr. Garrick, at a very moderate income. A tafte for music, or even a tolerable ear for a fong, was not amongst Mr. Garrick's endowments.

Notwithstanding he was ftrongly preffed by feveral of his friends to employ Mifs Brent, he perfifted in refufing. It was one of his failings to reject frequently propo fitions from others, though apparently for his advantage. He would always feem at leaft to be the firft mover himself of every undertaking; as if he thought liftening to the advice of his friends implied a degra dation of his understanding.

The enfuing winter he had full leifure to repent his obitinacy; for Mr Beard made Mifs Brent his moft powerful engine to demolish the fuccefs and humble the pride of Drury-lane.

Mr. Garrick had long meditated a journey to the continent; and feveral difagree able occurrences, which attended the last year of his management, had contributed to quicken his refolution of leaving for a time his native country. His own, and Mrs. Garrick's health, were not fo firm as their friends and the public wished. The baths of Padua were celebrated for their healing. power in certain diforders, and pronounced efficacious in Mrs. Garrick's cafe. Exercife, aniufement, and change of air were what her hufband feemed principally to want. To a mind active and inquifitive, fuch as Mr. Garrick's, the knowledge of foreign customs would afford inftruction as well as entertainment. The theatres on the continent, with their multifarious exhibitions, might, in all probability, furnith him with proper materials to enrich his own dominions on his return home. His inclination to travel might gain additional ftrength from two other motives, very incidental to the human breaft; the defire of increafing his importance, by not being so often feen; and convincing the public, that the fuccefs and fplendor of the ftage depended folely on himself. He fet out for Dover, in his way to Calais, the 15th of September, 1763, accompanied by Mrs. Garrick, who, from the day of her marriage till the death of her husband, had never been separated from him for twenty-four hours.

After Mr Garrick had been abroad about a year and half; fatiated with the amusements and pleasures of the continent, he turned his thoughts towards his native country, and arrived in London about the latter end of April, 1765. The pleafure of the public for his return was univerfal, The King honoured his first appearance by commanding the play of Much Ado about Nothing. As foon as he was seen by the spectators, fuch loud and repeated applaufes were given him as perhaps no Y y z

actor

actor ever before was welcomed with. The joy of the audience was expreffed, not in the ufual methods of clapping of hands and clattering of sticks, but in loud fhouts and huzzas.

It was remarked by the most difcerning judges, that our Rofcius had, by visiting foreign theatres, greatly profited in his mode of reprefentation: they obferved, that his action though always fpirited and proper, was become fill more eafy and unreltrained; that his deportment was more graceful, and his manner more elegant that he did not now appear fo folicitous for applaufe, as to disturb his own feelings, and leffen the pleasure of the audience; that he had entirely dropt that anxious exertion at the close of a speech, both in look and behaviour, which is called by the comedians a clap-trap. That there was certainly an alteration as well as improvement in his style of acting, was noticed by the fpectators in general.

Remarkable events have been indebted for their origin to very unpromising inci

dents.

A wealthy Clergyman purchafed the house and gardens of Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon. A man of taste in fuch a fituation, and mafter of so enchanting a fpot, would have congratulated himfelf on his good fortune, and have deemed himself the happieft of mortals; but the Juckiefs and ignorant owner trod the ground which had been cultivated by the first genius of the world, without feeling those warm emotions which arife in the breaft of the generous enthusiast.

The mulberry-tree, planted by the Poet's own hand, became an object of diflike to this taftelefs owner of it, because it overshadowed his window, and rendered the house, as he thought, fubject to damps and moisture. In an evil hour the unhappy Priest ordered it to be cut down.

The people of Stratford, who had been taught to venerate every thing which reJated to the immortal Shakespeare, were feized with grief and aftonishment when they were informed of the facrilegious deed; and nothing lefs than the destruction of the offender, in the first tranfports of their rage, would fatisfy them. The miferable culprit was forced to fkulk up and down, to fave himself from the rage of the Stratfordians; he was obliged at laft to leave the town, amidst the curfes of the populace, who folemnly vowed never to fuffer one of the fame name to refide in Stratford.

'I he mulberry-tree, thus cut down, was

purchafed by a carpenter, who, knowing

the value which all the world profeffed for any thing which belonged to Shakespeare, very ingeniously cut it into various shapes, of fmail trunks, fnuff-boxes, tea-chefts, ftandishes, tobacco-ftoppers, &c. The corporation of Stratford bought feveral of this man's curious manufacture of the mulber ry-tree; and, influenced by good fenfe and fuperior tatte, they inclofed the freedom of Stratford in a box made of this facred wood, and fent it to Mr. Garrick; at the fame time they requested of him, in very polite terms, a buft, ftatue, or picture of his admired Shakespeare, which, they informed him, they intended to place in their townhall. In the fame letter, with equal politenefs, they affured him, that they should be no lefs pleafed if he would oblige them with his own picture, to be placed near to his favourite Author, in perpetual remembrance of both.

This judicious and well-timed compli ment gave rife to the Jubilee of Shakespeare. In September 1769, an amphitheatre was erected at Stratford, upon the plan of Ranelagh, decorated with various devices. Tianiparencies were invented for the townhoufe, through which the poet's most striking characters were feen. A fmall old houfe, where Shakespeare was born, was covered over with curious emblematic transparency; the fubject was the fun ttruggling through clouds, to enlighten the world; a figurative representation of the fate and fortunes of the much-beloved Bard.

The Jubilee lafted three days; during which time entertainments of oratorios, concerts, pageants, fire-works, &c. were prefented to a very brilliant and numerous company, affembled from all parts of the kingdom. Many perfons of the highest quality and rank, of both fexes, fome of the most celebrated beauties of the age, and men diftinguished for their genius and love of the elegant arts, thought them felves happy to fill the grand chorus of this high festival.

Mr. Foote indulged in the fallies of that wit which feemed to please all by sparing none. Mr. Coleman, by a chearful vivacity and ready urbanity, engaged the attention of all about him. The Hiftorian of Corfica, and the friend of Dr. Johnfon, Mr. Bofwell, a man as much celebrated for his humanity, as known for his romantic turn of mind, diftinguished himfelf by the name of Corfica Bofwell, which words were infcribed on the outside of his hat in large letters.

No company, fo various in character, temper

On the death of Mr. Lacy, joint patentee of Drury-lane with Mr. Garrick, in 1773, the whole management of the theatre devolved on the furviving fharer in the patent. He was now advanced to within a few years of threefcore; he had been much afflicted with chronical diforders, fometimes with the gout, which was rather an occafional vifitor than a conftant companion; but more often with the ftone and gravel, which never left him without an unkind token of a fpeedy return. To relieve himself from the excruciating pains of this dreadful diforder, he was perfuaded to ufe lixivium, and other foap medicines, which, in the end, proved very prejudicial to his health. Notwithstanding the frequent relapfes into this diftemper were alarming, his friends thought that a retirement from the ftage while he preferved a moderate fhare of ftrength and Ipirits, would be more unfriendly to him than the profecution of a bufinefs which he could make a matter of amufement, rather than a toilfome impofition.

When it was once known that Mr. Garrick was in earneft to part with his moiety of the patent, feveral bidders of fered themselves immediately. Not to dwell long on a tranfaction fo publicly known, in the beginning of January, 1776, he entered into articles with Richard Brindley Sheridan, Thomas Linley, and Richard Ford, Efqrs. for the fale of his moiety, on paying the fum of thirty-five thousand pounds,

He finished his dramatic race with one of his favourite parts, with Felix in the Wonder, A Woman Keeps a Secrét.

In Christmas 1778, Mr. and Mrs. Garrick were invited to the country feat of Earl Spencer, where they had frequently been welcome guelts. In the midft of that focial happiness and rational pleasure which every

body enjoys with that noble family, Mr.
Garrick was feized with a terrible fit of his
old diforder. His having the herpes, or
what is commonly called the thingles, at
the fame time, which perfectly covered his
loins, alarmed Mrs. Garrick greatly, the
the Phyficians faid it was a matter of no
importance. He was fo well recovered of
his diforder, the gravel and ftone, that he
determined to fet out for London. He ar-
rived at his houfe in the Adelphi on Friday
the fifteenth of January, 1779. The next
day he fent for his Apothecary, Mr. Law-
rence, who found him dreffing himself,
and feemingly in good health, but fome-
what alarmed that he had not, for many
hours, difcharged any urine, when his con-
ftant practice had been, for fome years, to
make water every four hours. Mr. Law-
rence obferved to him, that this was no
fufficient caufe to make him uneafy; but
when, on the next day, he found the fame
fymptom continue, he judged it proper to
acquaint Dr. Cadogan with it. The Doc-
tor conceived it to be of fo ferious a nature,
that he told Mr. Garrick, his diforder was
fo uncertain in its progrefs, that it was
neceffary to inform him, if he had any
worldly affairs to fettle, it would be pru-
dent to dispatch them as foon as poffible.
Mr. Garrick affured him, that nothing of
that fort lay on his mind; and that he
was not afraid to die.

The distemper was inceffantly gaining ground; the fluids not paffing in their natural courfe brought on a kind of ftupor, which increafed gradually to the time of his death.

He died on Wednesday morning, January the 20th, 1779, at eight o'clock, without a groan. Mr. Garrick's difeafe was pronounced by Mr. Potts to be a palfy in the kidnies.

On Monday, February 1, the body of Mr. Garrick was conveyed from his own houfe in the Adelphi, and molt magnificently interred in Weftminftr-abbey, under the monument of his beloved Shakefpeare. He was attended to the grave by perfons of the firft rank; by men illuftrious for genius, and famous for fcience; by thofe who loved him living, and lamented his death.

Twenty-four of the principal actors of both theatres, who compofed the two Committees of the play-houfe funds, were alfo attendants at the funeral; and, with unfeigned forrow, regretted the lofs of fo great an ornament to their profeffion, and fo munificent a benefactor to their charitable inftitution.

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The HISTORY of ENGLAND continued from Page 303 of our laft.

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The King, ftrengthened by his late treaty with Spain, and by that which he was now certain of concluding with the Duke of Orleans, and fecure of having fo faith ful a Parliament for five years more, thought he thould run no risk in vifiting his German dominions this fummer, where affairs of fecrecy and importance required his prefence. But it being provided, by the act for the further limitation of the Crown, &c. that no perfon, who should thereafter come to the poffeffion of the Crown, fhould go out of the dominions of England, Scotland, or Ireland, without confent of Parliament: the Court was, fome time in fufpence, which way to get over that reftriction. The afking the Parliament's confent by a meffage, or otherwife, being thought too derogatory to the royal prerogative, and fome leading Members of the House of Commons being made fenfible of it, Sir John Cope moved for repealing this reftriction; which being agreed to, a bill paffed both Houses for that purpose.

When the King came to the House of Peers to pafs this, and many other bills, and to put an end to the feffion, the following fpeech was by his order delivered to both Houses by the Lord-chancellor :

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I cannot put an end to this feffon,. without expreffing to you my fatisfaction in the proceedings of this Parliament. The wholefome and neceffary laws, which have been paffed with so much steadiness, refolution, and unanimity, will, I truft in God, anfwer thofe good ends, which, it is evident, you have had in view, by defeating the defigns, and reducing the spirit of our enemies, by encouraging our friends, and railing the credit and reputation of the nation abroad to fuch a degree, as that I may reafonably expect the fruits of a fettled government; especially being fupport ed by a Parliament, zealous for the profperity of their country, and the Proteftant intereft of Europe.

I am confident, my conduct hitherto in fuppreffing the rebellion, and punishing thofe concerned in it, has been fuch, as demonftrates, that I defire rather to leffen their numbers by reclaiming thein, than by making examples; but I am forry to find, that the numerous inftances of mercy,

which I have shewn, have had no other effect, than to encourage the faction of the Pretender to renew their infults upon my authority, and the laws of the kingdom, and even to affect, with the greatelt infolence, to diftinguish themselves from my good and faithful fubjects, acting with fuch folly and madnefs, as if they intended to convince the world, that they are not to be reduced to quiet and fubmiffion to my Government, by fuch gentle methods, as are most agreeable to my own inclina, tions.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I return you in particular my thanks for the fupplies you have given; which, although they fall short of the fums you found neceffary, and have voted for the fervice of the whole year; yet, by the encouragement you have given to make them effectual, may, I hope, be to managed, as to carry on the current service till ano ther feffion of Parliament.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I am very fenûble, there are matters of great confequence ftill depending be fore you; but, as they have hitherto been poftponed out of abfolute neceffity, by intervening affairs of a more preffing nature, and of the most immediate concern to the peace and fafety of the nation, I thought the feafon of the year required I should defer your further proceedings till the next feffion, rather than you should be detained out of your refpective counties longer than could be confiftent with your private con cerns.

I cannot doubt but that, during this recefs, you will ufe all your best endea. vours to preferve the peace of the kingdom, and to discourage and fupprefs all manner of diforders, fince, as the first scene of the late rebellion was opened and ushered in by tumults and riots, fo you may be affured, upon what pretence foever they are raised, they can have no other tendency but to fupport a fpirit of faction, restless and unwearied in their endeavours to renew the rebellion, and to fubvert the religion, laws, and liberties of their country.

I defign to make ufe of the approaching recess, to vifit my dominions in Germany, and to provide for the peace and fecurity of the kingdom during my absence,

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By conftituting my beloved for, the Prince of Wales, Guardian of the realm, and my Lieutenant within the fame." After this fpeech the Parliament was prorogued to the 7th of Auguft.

Thus ended this long feffion of the first British Parliament called by King George. This Parliament, by the excellency and feafonableness of the laws, made by them, recovered their country, in a great meafure, out of its confufions, and provided for its future peace and happiness, under the prefent establishment. Their unanimous and regular proceedings; the abfoJute neceffity of fome acts which were paffed, and their disinclination to extend them any longer than that neceffity required; their manifeft averfion. to enter upon fchemes, which the enemies of the nation had infinuated to have been their defign; together with that temper fo fuitable to the dignity of fuch an Affembly, at a juncture, when it might have been expected, that very unusual heats would have arifen in an House of Commons so zealous for their King and country; were fufficient to quiet thofe groundlefs jealoufies and fufpicions, which had been induftrioufly propagated by the ill-wishers to our conftitu

tion.

The King had but too juft cause to complain of the fresh infults of the difaffected, notwithstanding the many inftances of his clemency. For on the 29th of May (King Charles's reftoration) the Jacobite and Tory factions had diftinguith ed themselves by wearing oaken boughs, and on the 10th of June, the Pretender's birth-day, by wearing white rofes. But the fpirit of difaffection fhewed itself nowhere more openly than at Oxford. On the 28th of May, the King's birth-day, all the windows that were illuminated there, were broken to pieces, as were all the windows that were not illuminated the next day, being the anniversary of the Reftoration. To prevent the ill effects of this difaffection, foldiers were quartered there, who, as they were chearfully and peaceably celebrating the Prince of Wales's birth day, were infulted by both the scholars and townfmen Stones were thrown into the windows of the Star-Inn, where the Of ficers and fome loyal Gentlemen were met, who were attacked by the difaffected party when they came out to drink the King's and the royal family's health at the bonfire. Provoked by thefe affronts, the foldiers broke the windows of the difaffected,

and committed fome other diforders. When the Vice-chancellor and the Mayor fent up their depofitions to Court, they took no notice of the infults the Officers and foldiers had met with, but only of what the foldiers had done by way of reprisals. As this affair came before the Parliament, it will be mentioned more largely here after.

On the 13th of June, General Maccart ney, who had returned to England some time before, took his trial for the pretended murder of the Duke of Hamilton. Colonel Hamilton, who, in the Queen's time, had given fuch a pofitive evidence, that he faw General Maccartney give the Duke his mortal wound, now deviated from it, and only averred, that he faw his fword over the Duke's shoulder. The falfhood of which appeared by the evidence of the two Park-keepers, who flood firm to their former depofitions, That they had taken the fwords from General Maccartney and Colonel Hamilton, when they went to the relief of the Duke and Lord Mohun.' And one of them deposed, that he had been offered two handfuls of gold, and a place of 100l. a-year, by the Lord Bolingbroke, if he would fwear, that Mr. Maccartney killed the Duke. The Jury acquitted Mr. Maccartney of the murder, and he was discharged of the mandaughter by the formality of a cold iron immediate ly made ufe of to prevent appeal. He was foon after restored to his rank in the army, and had the Earl of Orrery's regiment given him.

The King, before his departure, appointed the Prince of Wales Guardian of the realm, and his Lieutenant during his absence. The titles of Duke of York and Albany, and Earl of Ulfter, were given to Prince Erneft, Bishop of Ofna. burg, the King's brother, who with Prince Frederick was alfo made Knight of the Garter. The Duke of Devonshire was made Prefident of the Council and his place of Lord-steward of the Houshold was given to the Duke of Kent. The Earl of Portland was made Marquis of Titchfield, and Duke of Portland. Thefe promotions were attended with unexpected difgraces. The Duke of Argyle, and his brother the Earl of Ilay, were removed from all their employments. They had both diftinguifhed themfelves by their zeal and fervices for the Government; and the King had in fome measure put his Crown into their hands, by placing them at the head of his armies in Scotland. They

had

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