out at different windows, asking what was the matter? Zounds! (said I) we shall be summoned to the townhall to-morrow, for breaking the peace and disturbing the whole town. "Town (said Charles,---why if the mayor and all the aldermen, and the town-clerk too, would not jump from their beds, and come here without either wigs or night-caps---if they would not run half wild and half naked to witness this, they would not be deserving of such a poet as their townsman Gay, nor such a singer as Charles Incledon. On saying this, he rose from his seat, popped his head into a small window that was left open-he sung about half-a-dozen notes and exclaimed "Good night my friend---immortal Gay! good night, friend Jackey!" But hold---the Printer tells me that my second volume is getting nearly as long as the first, and that if I mean to be consistent, I ought to prepare for my latter end, in order that I may make my exit with a good grace. I have had this in view some time, and on looking back it will be seen that I have been preparing accordingly. Pondering over the very long catalogue of my offences, I am led to believe, that one of my most flagrant sins has been that of Punning. And as confession has always been considered one of the surest ways of obtaining pardon, I make this public avowal, to show the sincerity of my repentance. Doctor Johnson, gave many meanings, as I have already shown; and others (especially Mr. Colman) taught the knack of punning! I now speak seriously (though on the subject of making puns). I was at the Brighton Theatre in the year 1789: Mr. Colman's Now as many performers have sported this string of puns in Theatres all round the United Kingdom, I could not conscientiously remain silent, while Mr. Colman was liable to be blamed for offences by me committed. Another thing I must notice. I have occasionally joked about the learned Professions: none bear jokes so well as lawyers! Doctors, pretty well, and some clergymen, when in a good humour, will bear a little tickling! Shakspeare has made Queen Mab do this-- "And some times comes she with a tythe Pigs' tail Tickling the Parson as he lies asleep, "And then dreams he of a good fat Benefice! As to the Law,---I more than twenty years ago made a little free with lawyers, and have often heard of my verses being spoken on public occasions, and have ་ seen them in public prints; so, being now in a confessional humour, I take upon myself all the blame of having written the following verses, as well as having since published them in a poem called "Echoism." "All the good things our ancestors once saw "Hence Cloisters are exchanged for Courts and Halls! Tythe Pig! a trifle: Law,---insidious, sly,-- "By flaw, or error, claims both Pig and Sty! "A Farmer's Goose !---long since the Vicar's due! "Law siezes Goose and Farm, and Farmer too!" These reflections originally struck me while at Tavistock. Our Theatre there, was a large old building formerly belonging to the Abbey; so that we sometimes saw Father Paul, Friar Lawrence, and Cardinal Wolsey, within their own holy boundaries, and quite in character, while I might be thought an absolute diRECTOR, or a second VICAR of BRAY: and as stated in a former chapter, this happened at the time Mr. Cooke was engaged at Plymouth and at Dock, (now called Devonport). At the period here spoken of, I remember seeing Miss Foote at her father's house; she was a very pleasing, and uncommonly interesting little girl, and gave symptoms of being what she now is, a charming woman and a most excellent actress. 4613 But hold-time advances---my fate approaches---I find I must commit a kind of sentimental suicide, and put an end to my Life,-I mean-my Memoirs! to depart in good humour, I will call on Sterne's Yorick to assist me ! In the same way as Sterne called on Hamlet! By the bye---I never heard of any of Shakspeare's numerous critics and commentators having yet ascertained whether there ever was, at the Court of Denmark, such a person as Yorick, the King's Jester? or whether he was only the creature of Shakspeare's fancy? Let this matter be as it may, I hope my readers will now, with the spirit and good humour of Sterne---say to themselves— "Alas! Poor Lee! May his playful puns be pardoned; "His eccentric excesses be excused; "And may his greatest errors "Be either speedily forgot, "Or most readily and generously forgiven." FINIS. PRINTED BY W BRAGG, CHEAPSIDE, TAUNTON. |