me it would not do, and that the town would smoke me, and yet you see here so good a judge as Dr. Monsey could not find out the difference."-" The difference!" said Monsey, in surprise; "why, what the deuce does all this mean?"" Why, to tell you the truth, my dear friend (but you must promise me to keep it a profound secret), as I begin to feel myself not so alert as formerly in the young sprightly parts of comedy, I have instructed Dagger Marr* to be my representative in the ladder-scene, and others where there is little or no speaking, which saves me a great deal of trouble; and it is amazing how, by the advantages of dress, imitation, &c., the fellow has caught my manner, so that I can scarcely perceive the difference myself."-" You astonish me," said the Doctor, catching the bait; "why, I could not see a shade of difference. But it can't be; you're humming me, David.”—“ No indeed," replied Mrs. An inferior player of Drury-lane; who received this appellation from his boasting that he could play the dagger scene in Macbeth better than Garrick, if he would only lend him his eyes. at last, raising his voice, exclaimed aloud, "You little confounded toad, will you, or will you not, send me a wing, leg, bit of the breast, rump, or merry-thought, of one of those chickens ?" The company, knowing the Doctor's peculiarity of humour, laughed at this; but Garrick's pride was hurt to the quick, in feeling himself so cavalierly treated before so many noble personages. CCVII. The same. The above story getting wind, and the laugh continuing against Garrick, he determined to have his revenge, which he contrived in the following manner :-Getting Monsey to spend a day with him at Hampton-court, when there were none present but Mrs. Garrick and another in the secret, he carelessly asked him in the course of conversation, how he liked his last performance of Ranger?—“ Oh! admirably well," was the answer: 66 you never played it with more health and spirits."-" Well, see there now, Mrs. Garrick! You would persuade me it would not do, and that the town would smoke me, and yet you see here so good a judge as Dr. Monsey could not find out the difference."-" The difference!" said Monsey, in surprise; "why, what the deuce does all this mean?"" Why, to tell you the truth, my dear friend (but you must promise me to keep it a profound secret), as I begin to feel myself not so alert as formerly in the young sprightly parts of comedy, I have instructed Dagger Marr* to be my representative in the ladder-scene, and others where there is little or no speaking, which saves me a great deal of trouble; and it is amazing how, by the advantages of dress, imitation, &c., the fellow has caught my manner, so that I can scarcely perceive the difference myself.”—“ You astonish me," said the Doctor, catching the bait; "why, I could not see a shade of difference. But it can't be; you're humming me, David."—" No indeed," replied Mrs. An inferior player of Drury-lane; who received this appellation from his boasting that he could play the dagger scene in Macbeth better than Garrick, if he would only lend him his eyes. Garrick," it is too true: but my dear Doctor, be secret; for if the public should once know it, I am afraid they will revenge it not only on poor Mr. Garrick, but upon the house, wardrobe, scenery, &c." This was enough for Monsey. Next morning he ran about all Chelsea, telling the news; and the day after, in every corner about London where he could thrust himself, with all the circumstances of Garrick's meanness, indolence, contempt of the public, &c. But the story was too gross to gain a single believer besides himself. Every body laughed at him, and said it was a palpable imposition. Irritated at this, he flew to Garrick for a justification; but Garrick was now prepared to laugh at him in common with the rest, by telling him that "he was very sorry to see his understanding so far upon the decline, as to be duped in so obvious a manner." Well," said Monsey, somewhat abashed at finding himself thus outwitted, "I don't think, David, you alone could deceive me; but the seeming flat simplicity of that little witch of a ། |