months are substituted for years-there is an important underplot—Lurcher passes himself on Sir John for a nobleman-his creditors are disguised as his servants-in the night they bind Sir John and his family-Sir John is told that his guest has been robbed of £400-he secretly makes up the loss-at the conclusion, Lurcher acknowledges the trick he had put on his uncle, and obtains his pardon-this is on the whole a good C.-particularly in the character of Freehold-the robbery is taken from A Mad World my Masters-(see the 5th vol. of Dodsley 1744)— it had been before made use of by Mrs. Behn; but it is clear that Charles Johnson borrowed from the original play, and not from Mrs. Behn, as there is no such character in the City Heiress as the running words footman-besides he sometimes copies the very from Middleton-see Lady of the Manor at C. G. Nov. 23 1778-and Farm House at D. L. May 2 1789.

Feb. 10. Humorous Lieutenant.

=

12. Henry 4th part 1st. Falstaff Evans: Hotspur Elrington: King Mills: Prince of Wales = Wilks: Carriers Johnson and Pinkethman: Kate Mrs. Santlow: Hostess - Mrs. Willis.

15. Amorous Widow. Barnaby Brittle Bowen : Philadelphia Miss Younger.

=

=

=

=

19. Distressed Mother. Orestes Elrington. 21. Caius Marius. Old Marius Mills: Young Marius Booth: Sylla Elrington: Granius-Ryan: Sulpitius Bickerstaffe : Ruffian and Apothecary= Pinkethman: Lavinia = Mrs. Porter: Nurse Mr. Norris.

H

22. Funeral. Lady Brumpton = Mrs. Mountfort:

Lady Harriet Mrs. Santlow: Kate Matchlock Mr. Miller.

=

=

23. Jane Shore with, never acted, What d'ye call it. Squire Thomas (Sir Roger's son) = Johnson : Jonas Dock = Pinkethman: Peter Nettle Norris: Sir Roger Miller: Steward Quin: Sir Humphry =Cross: Justice Statute Shepherd: Ghost of a child unborn Norris Jun.: Kitty (the Steward's daughter, alias Kitty Carrot)=Mrs. Bicknell: Dorcas (Peascod's sister) = Mrs. Willis Sen. Joyce (Peascod's daughter left upon the parish) = Miss Younger Aunt = Mrs. Baker:-Sir Roger enjoyns his Steward to make a play for him at Christmasthe Steward writes the play in such a manner that Squire Thomas, who is to act Thomas Filbert, should marry Kitty Carrot-he contrives to have them really married this is a happy thought as the Squire had debauched Kitty-the play is a good burlesque Tragedy-the parts of Timothy Peascod and the Sergeant are played by Jonas Dock and Peter Nettle--Peascod is to be shot for a deserter-he obtains a reprieve-Filbert is sent by the Justices for a soldier-Kitty in a fit of madness or despair

says

Bagpipes in butter, flocks in fleecy fountains, "Churns, sheep-hooks, seas of milk, and honey

"mountains."

These lines are in ridicule of Belvidera's

66

Murmuring streams, soft shades, and springing "flowers,

"Lutes, laurels, seas of milk, and ships of "amber."

Filbert is discharged-he and Kitty go off to be married—this Tragi-Comi-Pastoral Farce was written by Gay-a 3d edition of it was printed in 1716.

25. Chances. Don John Wilks: Antonio = Pinkethman: Duke Booth: 1st Constantia = Mrs. Porter: 2d Constantia = Mrs. Oldfield.

=

=

28. Tender Husband. Aunt Mrs. Saunders. March 8. Love for Love. Ben Bickerstaffe. 14. Mrs. Porter's bt. Orphan. Castalio Wilks: Chamont Mills: Polydore Booth: Chaplain = Cibber: Monimia Mrs. Porter: Serena Mrs. = Santlow.

:

=

19. Johnson's bt. Volpone and What d'ye call it. 21. Elrington's bt. Mithridates. Mithridates= Elrington Ziphares Wilks : Pharnaces Booth: Aquilius Evans: Semandra Mrs. Oldfield: Monima Mrs. Santlow:-Booth by Powell's death succeeded to the character of Pharnaces-so late as Dec. 13 1711 he acted Aquilius a part of 27 linesTheophilus Cibber in his life of Booth says" that "Wilks, Cibber and Booth when Managers often "acted inferiour parts, thereby setting a good example "to the other performers-such was the policy of "those times-these great men had judgment enough "to know that a good actor could show himself a "master of his profession in many a character that "has since been despised by some who are far be"neath them in merit and indeed so conscious of "their weakness (notwithstanding all their parade) "that they never venture to appear but in the most shining characters, the beauties of which support "the actor, and place him in the most advantageous light, while they prudently decline any other, where

:

"it is necessary for the actor to help to support the "part-Mr. Cibber, though justly esteemed the first "Comedian of his time, and superiour to all we have "since beheld, has played several parts (to keep up "the spirit of some Comedies) which you will now scarcely find one player in twenty, who will not re"ject, as beneath his Mock-Excellence."

March 28. Evans' bt. Virtue Betrayed. Henry 8th Evans: Piercy = Wilks Wolsey = Cibber: Rochford Mills: Anna Bullen Mrs. Oldfield: Lady Eliz. Blunt Mrs. Porter: Princess Elizabeth by the little child.

=

April 2. Pinkethman's bt. Epsom Wells. Woodly Wilks: Bevil Mills: Fribble Pinkethman : Bisket Norris: Justice Clodpole Johnson: Mrs. Woodly Mrs. Bignall: Carolina = Mrs. Oldfield : Lucia Mrs. Porter: Mrs. Bisket - Mrs. Saunders: -rest omitted.

=

=

4. Mrs. Saunders' bt. Man of the Mode. Sir Fopling = Cibber: Dorimant = Wilks: Medley = Mills Old Bellair Pinkethman: Young Bellair = Booth: Shoemaker Bowen: Mrs. Loveit Mrs. Oldfield: Belinda Mrs. Porter: Pert

=

19. Bickerstaffe's bt. Strategem. Evans: Sullen Bickerstaffe: Dorinda

=

fort-rest as usual.

Mrs. Bignall,

Boniface = Mrs. Mount

20. Never acted, Lady Jane Gray. Lord Guilford Dudley = Booth: Pembroke = Elrington: Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Cibber: Northumberland Mills: Suffolk Boman: Sussex = Ryan: Lieutenant of the Tower Quin: Sir John Gates= Shepherd: Lady JaneGray Mrs. Oldfield: Dutchess

=

of Suffolk Rowe great credit-he represents Lady Jane as not married till after the death of Edward the 6th-this deviation from the real fact may perhaps be excused, but no excuse can be admitted for his making of Pembroke in love with Lady Jane-Pembroke's son was married or contracted to Lady Jane's sister.

Mrs. Porter :-this T. on the whole does

Rowe died in 1718-he wrote 7 Tragedies and one Comedy-his Fair Penitent and Jane Shore are superiour to any Tragedy that has been written since that time. April 30.

=

Bowen's bt. Constant Couple. Sir Harry Wildair = Wilks: Standard Mills: Smuggler -Johnson: Clincher Senior Bowen: Clincher Junior = Miller: Dicky Norris: Lady Lurewell = Mrs. Oldfield: Angelica Mrs. Santlow: Parly= Mrs. Saunders.

=

May 3. For the bt. of Ryan and Miss Younger. Cato.

5. For bt. of Mrs. Centlivre. Busy Body with a Farce in one act, called the Custom of the Country —no characters-the Editor of the B. D. says this Farce was Bickerstaff's Burying with a new titlewhich is highly probable-but the rest of the account in the B. D. is very incorrect.

7. For bt. of Miller and Mrs. Cox. Double Gallant. Old Wilfull Miller.

10. Quin's bt. Wit without Money and School boy-no characters-Wilkinson says Quin acted the small part of the Lieutenant of the Tower (in Lady Jane Gray, or Richard the 3d) with so much priety, that it first recommended him to public notice

pro