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the press. It is a long declamation, in a stile of bitter invective, without any thing like proof, or conclusive argument. The public clearly saw that Macklin's ingratitude to Fleetwood was the sole cause of his exclusion from the theatre; and they further saw a man of a most inflexible temper, rejecting the fair and liberal terms offered to him, and, to gratify his own inordinate passions, struggling to draw Garrick with him to Ireland, though it was evident that such a measure would be the ruin of the actors who remained unemployed. The controversy ended here, and Macklin was left to enjoy the triumph of having the last word*. The public were glad to see a conclusion of the contest, and to have their favourite actor restored to the unmolested exercise of his talents.

*For the papers published by both parties, see the Appendix, No. IV.

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CHAP. VII.

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GARRICK in the Character of MACBETH-Sir WILLIAM DAVENANT'S Alteration of that Play had kept Possession of the Stage It was now revived as written by SHAKESPEAREParties formed against GARRICK before he acted the Part, but all in vain-GARRICK's Performance triumphed over all Malignity Observations on the Play-Account of GARRICK'S Manner of Acting the Part, and Mrs. PRITCHARD in LADY MACBETH.

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IN the month of January following, Garrick resolved to adorn his brow with another laurel from the immortal Shakespeare. Macbeth was the object of his ambition. The character he knew was entirely different from all he had ever acted, but the various situations, the rapid succession of events, the scenes of terror,

and

and the sudden transition of conflicting passions, form altogether such a wonderful contrast, that Garrick saw it would call forth all his powers. Paragraphs in the newspapers notice of his intention to revive Macbeth

gave
as originally written by Shakespeare.

The

players had been long in possession of Sir William Davenant's alteration, and content with that, they enquired no further. Even Quin, who had gained reputation by his performance of the character, cried out, with an air of sur prize, "What does he mean? don't I play Macbeth as written by Shakespeare?"

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So

little was the attention of the actors to ancient literature. A paper war was immediately be gun by the small wits. Garrick was easily alarmed. To blunt the edge of ill-timed and previous criticism, he published an anonymous pamphlet, written in a stile of irony against himself,

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himself, and prefixed as a motto, “Macbeth "has murdered Garrick." This attack was followed by a number of scribblers, who had not patience to wait for the day of trial. Garrick's sensations were quick and irritable, but his resolution was firm and unaltered, as if he said with Benedick, "Shall quips, and sen"tences, and paper-bullets of the brain awe "a man from the career of his humour ??? At length he took the field, confiding in his own powers, and bidding defiance to the malice of his enemies.

THE tragedy of Macbeth has been generally deemed an extravagant composition, but it may be pronounced one of the best of Shakespeare's works. The rules of the drama, if we except those of time and place, are sufficiently observed. The action is carried on in such a connect

ed

ed train of events, that it appears to be one and entire, that is to say, the guilt of Macbeth, and the consequences ending in his final destruction. Through the whole piece, the incidents grow out of one another, and proceed in a regular series, seeming to retard, but at the same time hurrying forward, to the catastrophe. Macbeth's character is well drawn

by his wife, who says,

7

Thy nature

Is too full o' th' milk of human kindness.

Thou would'st be great,

Ar't not without ambition, but without

The illness should attend it. What thou would'st highly,
That would'st thou holily. Would'st not play false,
And yet would'st wrongly win.

Such is the man. To act on a mind like his Lady Macbeth employs her wicked arts, and the machinery of the witches is introduced.

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