all alive, alive O! But for me perfonally to recite these peculiarities, would give a much better idea, than even the ablest pen can poffibly describe.

After this night all oppofition or affront was dropped, and the enraged performers were advised to let me die a natural death, as the most prudent method; for, by oppofité means, they rendered Wilkinson popular, and by not taking umbrage. he would fink into infignificance. The farce was continued and gained additional force; and Mr. Foote, as he reaped the profit, was highly enraptured, and said, Wilkinson was very clever. He was the general, receiving high and honorary rewards, whilft, in fact, I was merely held in rank but as a poor fubaltern at low pay, for ftanding to be shot at. In that farce Mr. Packer acted Carmine, and from that year 1758, has remained in a refpectable light to the prefent date.

Certainly the space filled up while Garrick was in want of materials, both as to performers and plays, by this farce, was a fevere infliction on me ;. as the only advantage I derived from it, was making myself in fome degree popular, and univerfally known to be the fon of the late Rev. Dr. Wilkinfon, who was obliged to feek refuge and relief from the public by going on the ftage: But I really was in fimilitude no better than a stone eater, or like Powell the fire-cater; for, I was com

pelled and obliged to submit for receiving thirty fhillings per week, playhouse-pay, to step each evening, comparatively speaking, over red hot irons; but furely it was my purity that guided my frequent walks with such safety. All the time not one guinea as a prefent, or as a bribe, from either Mr. Garrick or Mr. Foote; nay, from that whimsical night Mr. Garrick was fo hurt and offended with my representation of his likeness, that almoft during the remainder of the season, he never deigned to let his eye grace me with its obfervance, and of course not a single word to comfort me from his royal lips; all conveyed whenever I met him aufterity, anger, and diflike. Indeed, he felt himself inwardly hurt with the liberty I had taken; yet, surely, he had drawn himself into the predicament, by what was very extraordinary to fay and alledge of him as fact,

HIS OWN BAD ACTING.

For he certainly was beyond compare, the most univerfal great actor the world ever produced on a ftage, or probably ever will. I, like a fool as I was, because I looked upon Mr. Garrick as a great performer, put confidence in what he faid, and thought it was gospel; but it needs no wonderful fenfe, and but very little experience, to teach how wrong, laughable, and abfurd, it is to believe

1

all that great men will fay: Not but there are pho nomena of nobleness and goodness who are contradictions to fuch an affertion, as I can testify, have experienced, and may again; I truft I fhall know bleffings and benevolence from the great and benevolent. The world in general, like a wild garden, may be over-run with weeds, brambles, and briars, nevertheless here and there a fine nectarine or peach may be plucked; or like a lottery abounding with blanks, yet astonishing luck may furprise the unfortunate with a prize.

After having been at that time near twelve months in regular practice on the stage, it does not at this period read to my advantage, to have proved myself fuch an egregious dupe; and to have been fo mere a novice to arts of greatnefs, and the obfervance of the wide difference between what is pronounced by the lips and. thought by the mind.

Foote, by the practice of seeing me take him off every night, as I kept within the bounds of. decorum, let it not a whit disturb his repofe; for, as he obtained the golden fleece-why, let the world laugh and be. And fo far it became his fole business and intereft, while that farcelafted; but as to his good friendship for me tho' very pleasant at the time, it only extended toNo longer pipe-no longer dance..

J

Mr. Garrick, who felt aggrieved from what he had himself defired me to do, and what I had acted by his request and permiffion, blamed me (as is natural in most cases) rather than himself, and not being my friend, it served to increase his fpleen and dislike. Another reason made him exprefs his tenderness of difpofition and foft fenfations of his heart, by way of condemning my performance; and by that open difavowal waved all blame or severity from being levelled at him: as on that occafion, he not only publicly disapproved, but declared his innocence as to any knowledge of what I had done. For, fo far from his fufpecting or being aware of it, I had furprised him by a stolen march, fo his hands were clear; and as to Mr. Foote, if any dirt was thrown at him, he could wash it off with his Tea, and clean himself. But above all he feared, if he feemingly approved and all was quiet and I found myself of confequence, by evidently drawing money to his royal exchequer, I might not without reason, touch him on his tenderest point, the very master ftring that made most harmony or difcord in him-that was money-his money! his money! his money!

If I from fuch a poor pittance proved myself a pecuniary object to Mr. Garrick, had he fanctioned and applauded what he had thus difap

proved, and had I petitioned and offered to remonftrate for an addition to my salary, or solicited for a handfome prefent for fecret fervices, he could not with any degree of propriety have refused; therefore he wifely and politically guarded against such an attack, and thereby effectually prevented an impertinent request at that time fron me, or any friend I might depute to hint or prefent a memorial with ftated reafons for my advancement in his army; as I had under General Bayes's command, in three or four fucceffive engagements, diftinguished myself in the field of battle, where I had fought with great bravery when ferving in his regiment of light horfe, and was twice or thrice difcovered amongst the flain. This or any fuch manifefto would have proved fruitless and abortive; for befides taking away his life, his foul, his dear old gold, as he had yielded or (in well acted appearance) seemed to have yielded to the ftings of his tender confcience, by which it was conceived, and even actually believed, in oppofition and againft their fenfes, that his goodness was fuperior to his felf-intereft; this afforded him two fecret pleasures-raising his humanity at my expence, and after all contriving to have it called for and continued as if against his inclination. This was a mafter piece of a head finely interwoven with wheels within wheels, and