Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

'thing but our merit could extort: instead of thanking them, I internally applauded myself. We were desired to give our piece a second time; we obeyed; ‹ and I was applauded even more than before.

'At last we left the town, in order to be at a horserace at some distance from thence. I shall never think of Tenterden without tears of gratitude and ' respect. The ladies and gentlemen there, take my ⚫ word for it, are very good judges of plays and actors. 'Come, let us drink their healths, if you please, sir. "We quitted the town, I say; and there was a wide "difference between my coming in and going out; "I entered the town a candle-snuffer, and I quitted it an hero! Such is the world; little to-day, and great 'to-morrow. I could say a great deal more upon that 'subject, something truly sublime, upon the ups and downs of fortune; but it would give us both the ' spleen, and so I shall pass it over.

The races were ended before we arrived at the • next town, which was no small disappointment to our company; however we were resolved to take all we 6 could get. I played capital characters there too, and 'came off with my usual brilliancy. I sincerely believe I should have been the first actor of Europe, had my growing merit been properly cultivated; "but there came an unkindly frost which nipped me in the bud, and levelled me once more down to the 'common standard of humanity. I played Sir Harry • Wildair; all the country ladies were charmed; if I 'but drew out my snuff-box the whole house was in a 'roar of rapture; when I exercised my cudgel, I "thought they would have fallen into convulsions.

'There was here a lady who had received an educa'tion of nine months in London; and this gave her 'pretensions to taste, which rendered her the indis'putable mistress of the ceremonies, wherever she

Game. She was informed of my merits; every body praised me; yet she refused at first going to see me 'perform; she could not conceive, she said, any thing • but stuff from a stroller; talked something in praise of Garrick, and amazed the ladies with her skill in 'enunciations, tones, and cadences; she was at last however prevailed upon to go; and it was privately intimated to me what a judge was to be present at " my next exhibition: however, no way intimidated, I came on in Sir Harry, one hand stuck in my breeches, and the other in my bosom, as is usual at Drury-Lane; but instead of looking at me, I per'ceived the whole audience had their eyes turned € upon the lady who had been nine months in London; 'from her they expected the decision which was to 'secure the general's truncheon in my hand, or sink 'me down into a theatrical letter-carrier. I opened " my snuff-box, took snuff; the lady was solemn, and 'so were the rest; I broke my cudgel on alderman • Smuggler's back; still gloomy, melancholy all, the

lady groaned and shrugged her shoulders; I at'tempted by laughing myself, to excite at least a • smile, but the devil a cheek could I perceive wrinkled * into sympathy: I found it would not do; all my good'humor now became forced; my laughter was con'verted into hysteric grinning; and while I pretended spirits, my eye showed the agony of my heart: in short the lady came with an intention to be displeased, and displeased she was; my fame expired; I am here, and (the tankard is no more)!'

ESSAY VII.

WHEN Catharina Alexowna was made empress

of Russia, the women were in an actual state of bondage, but she undertook to introduce mixed assemblies, as in other parts of Europe: she altered the women's dress, by substituting the fashions of England; instead of furs, she brought in the use of taffeta and damask; and cornets and commodes instead of caps of sable. The women now found themselves no longer shut up in separate apartments, but saw company, visited each other, and were present at every entertainment.

But as the laws to this effect were directed to a savage people, it is amusing enough, the manner in which the ordinances ran. Assemblies were quite unknown among them; the czarina was satisfied with introducing them, for she found it impossible to render them polite. An ordinance was therefore published according to their notions of breeding, which, as it is a curiosity, and has never before been printed that we know of, we shall give our readers.

"T. The person at whose house the assembly is to be 'kept, shall signify the same by hanging out a bill, or 'by giving some other public notice, by way of adver'tisement, to persons of both sexes.

II. The assembly shall not be open sooner than four or five o'clock in the afternoon, nor continue longer than ten at night.

III. The master of the house shall not be obliged 'to meet his guests, or conduct them out or keep 'them company; but though he is exempt from all

[ocr errors]

this, he is to find them chairs, candles, liquors, and all other necessaries that company may ask for; he is likewise to provide them with cards, dice, and every necessary for gaming.

IV. There shall be no fixed hour for coming or going away; it is enough for a person to appear in the assembly.

V. Every one shall be free to sit, walk, or game as he pleases; nor shall any one go about to hinder him, or take exceptions at what he does, upon pain of emptying the great eagle (a pint bowl full of brandy): it shall likewise be sufficient, at entering or retiring, to salute the company.

6 VI. Persons of distinction, noblemen, superior - officers, merchants and tradesmen of note, headworkmen, especially carpenters, and persons em'ployed in chancery, are to have liberty to enter the assemblies; as likewise their wives and children.

VII. A particular place shall be assigned the footmen, except those of the house, that there may be ' room enough in the apartments designed for the assembly.

VIII. No ladies are to get drunk upon any pre⚫tence whatsoever; nor shall gentlemen be drunk be'fore nine.

IX. Ladies who play at forfeitures, questions and commands, &c. shall not be riotous; no gentleman 'shall attempt to force a kiss, and no person shall offer to strike a women in the assembly, under pain of 'future exclusion.'

Such are the statutes upon this occasion, which in their very appearance carry an air of ridicule and satire. But politeness must enter every country by degrees; and these rules resemble the breeding of a clown, aukward but sincere.

[blocks in formation]

ESSAY VIII.

Supposed to be written by the Ordinary of Newgate.

MAN is a most frail being, incapable of directing his steps, unacquainted with what is to happen in this life; and perhaps no man is a more manifest instance of the truth of this maxim, than Mr. The. Cibber, just now gone out of the world. Such a variety of turns of fortune, yet such a persevering uniformity of conduct, appears in all that happened in his short span, that the whole may be looked upon as one regular confusion every action of his life was matter of wonder and surprise, and his death was an astonishment.

This gentleman was born of creditable parents, who gave him a very good education, and a great deal of good learning, so that he could read and write before he was sixteen. However he early discovered an inclination to follow lewd courses; he refused to take the advice of his parents, and pursued the bent of his inclination; he played at cards on Sundays, called himself a gentleman; fell out with his mother and laundress; and even in these early days his father was frequently heard to observe, that young The.— would be hanged.

As he advanced in years he grew more fond of pleasure, would eat an ortolan for dinner, though he begged the guinea that bought it; and was once known to give three pounds for a plate of green pease, which he had collected over-night as charity for a friend in distress: he ran into debt with every body that would trust him, and none could build a sconce better than he so that at last his creditors swore with one accord that The.would be hanged.

« AnteriorContinuar »