We got up the "Castle Spectre" and some other pieces, in a style to please the public, and had a very successful season. I journied over to two or three towns, Bideford, &c. merely to put matters in train for another year; and before I quitted Barnstaple, 1 purchased the Theatre. About the twentieth of November I hired a vessel, at Brixham, and took the whole of my Company to Guernsey. We had a very rough passage: it being supposed that we should not be many hours going over, the necessary articles were scantily provided. Whereas we were two whole days and two nights. Some of the Company were very much frightened,— very sick, and greatly distressed, the weather being very boisterous and foul. The second night we had only one small piece of candle left; the Captain was obliged to strike a light pretty often to look at the compass, and that done, put the candle out in order to preserve it till the voyage was ended. We were certainly in great danger: there is a very perilous rock, called "The Russell." At high water this rock is, at times, covered by the tide, and mariners much fear it. A winter scarcely passes without vessels being injured by this rock. We had the good luck, however, to escape it but paragraphs got into some of the newspapers that we were all lost. We arrived safely at last into Guernsey Pier: some of my ladies very much frightened, but all alive and well. We opened the following week, and stopped there the whole winter: 1 had the best season that had ever been known there at that time; but I lost a Hundred Pounds of the profits by a confounded Bank stopping payment. These Gentlemen

Bankers called themselves Messrs. Merrick & Hoskins. What is worse, I lost another Hundred Pounds some time afterwards in trying to recover money thus lost. This was my first attempt at law, and it has made me so very cautious as to dread law ever since.

Before my Company left Guernsey, I made two short voyages: one (about seven leagues) to Jersey; the other (somewhat less) to Alderney: the latter is in my opinion a most unpleasant place to reside at, especially during winter. When you arrive there it is some trouble before you get on shore, and still more troublesome to get again on board, when you leave the place.

On quitting these Islands I sailed for Lyme; made a short season at Bridport, and afterwards at Lyme until September, when I went for the second time to Barnstaple from thence I removed to Poole, and performed occasionally at Wimborne. During these periods, I made another voyage (myself) to Guernsey and frequent journies to Taunton, where I was building a new Theatre. Until this Theatre was finished, I travelled a great number of miles in order to give the necessary directions to the workmen, and I opened in Taunton at the Spring Assizes: after that I went again for a short time to Bridport, and then to Bridgwater. I have purposely hurried over all these removals to account for my time. During my season at Bridgwater, in the middle of August (as soon as the assizes were over) I made a journey on horse-back through Stowey, down into Devonshire, as close as I could possibly travel by the side of the Bristol Channel: when I got

to Ilfracombe I went direct to Barnstaple, and returned by another road over a part of the Forest of Exmoor! Both rides westward and back again, constituted one of the most pleasing journies of the kind, that I ever undertook. For variety of prospect, romantic hills, and pleasant valleys, nothing can excel the charms it presents to an admirer of nature, or an intelligent inquiring traveller. Nothing, even in Switzerland or Italy, can be more captivating than the wild, bold, noble, extensive and truly interesting scenes, views and objects, which are perpetually arising in rapid succession to the gratification of all men of true taste.

On returning to Bridgwater, I was informed that a great many parties of first-rate fashionable people, were assembled at Tenby in Wales, and that the town had become quite popular as a Watering Place. As a Merchant Vessel was just about sailing, I resolved on going there to give it a trial for a few weeks, previous to my usual visit to the North of Devon. No time was lost in getting my Company on board the said vessel, and we sailed directly for Wales.

On arriving at Tenby, I found the town, as described, full of company and I got a Theatre neatly prepared with all possible expedition. The Performances were well received, and the concern met with all the encouragement that could possibly be expected. I must not omit the mention of a circumstance which greatly contributed to the success we met with my friend Shatford, already spoken of, had some few years before experienced the honor of being known to the Marquis of Lansdowne, who happened to be then at Tenby: I

took a letter with me from Mr. Shatford, addressed to the noble Marquis. I mention this circumstance because it is truly honorable to the memory of that enlightened nobleman, as well as complimentary to Mr. Shatford and myself. I caused the said letter to be delivered to his Lordship as soon as I got to Tenby: the Marquis was from home, and there I thought the matter would drop judge how agreeably surprised I was, when, on the third day, I received an invitation from the Marquis to breakfast with him the following morning: I of course accepted the invitation, and did myself the honor of attending. Had I been a nobleman, introduced by a Prince, I could not have been more obligingly received, nor more graciously, nay, confidentially, discoursed with. All the friends of the Marquis, and those who had the pleasure of best knowing him, were at all times ready to attest that he was one of the best bred men in England. Even his enemies, (his political ones; he could not possibly have any other) all were convinced that his talents and general information excelled those of most of his contemporaries, at the time he was in office, and held so conspicuous a situation in the administration of the affairs of the Country, at the close of the American war. The present Marquis (then Lord Henry Petty) was just returned from Ireland: I was with his father when he arrived in Tenby-it was my second or third interview: there were generally two or three ladies present-one I understood to be the Honorable Miss Vernon, and the other the sister of that Right Honorable, and truly excellent patriot, Charles James Fox!-I hope it is pardonable

if I confess myself not a little proud of being in such illustrious company.

No person ever lived perhaps who had a greater or better correspondence than the noble Marquis here spoken of: he had frequent letters from all parts of the globe; and by way of giving me early information of public matters he would frequently tell me of battles, &c. before announced in the public newspapers. He sometimes showed or read to me detached passages from foreign letters, from Holland, Germany, and Switzerland, where parts of the French army then were: and many interesting accounts noticed in letters from such persons as Doctor Priestly and other learned men ;—as well as from great political characters-the American President, &c. &c.

I very soon discovered the Marquis did every thing in his power to promote my interests, by speaking of me in the most handsome manner in all the circles he visited, which were, of course, of the first rank and consequence. He very politely told me, that he was obliged to make it a rule of going home early at night, on account of his age and infirmities, therefore he could not attend any public places so often as he could wish; but if his name and patronage would be instrumental to my success, I might make whatever use. I pleased of them, at any time, and as frequently as I thought proper and, he obligingly added, "on such occasions, when you announce my name, I will certainly attend, and bring those ladies with me: but should I leave before the end of the entertainments, you will, I hope, apologize for me, to your performers, who are, as I'm