which I had flattered my hopes that my youth might one day have recommended me to. What was most promising in me then, was the aptness of my ear; for I was soon allowed to speak justly, though what was grave and serious did not equally become me. The first part therefore in which I appeared with any glimpse of success, was the chaplain in the " Orphan" of Otway. There is in this character (of one scene only) a decent pleasantry, and sense enough to show an audience whether the actor has any himself. Here was the first applause I ever received, which you may be sure made my heart leap with a higher joy than may be necessary to describe; and yet my transport was not then half so high as at what Goodman (who had now left the stage) said of me the next day in my hearing. Goodman often came to a rehearsal for amusement; and having sat out the "Orphan" the day before, in a conversation with some of the principal actors, inquired what new young fellow that was whom he had seen in the chaplain? Upon which Mountfort replied, that is he behind you. Goodman then, turning about, looked earnestly at me, and after some pause, clapping me on the shoulder, rejoined-If he does not make a good actor I will be d-ed! The surprise of being commended by one who had been himself so eminent on the stage, and in so positive a manner, was more than I could support; in a word, it almost took away my breath, and (laugh, if you please) fairly drew tears from my eyes! And though it may be as ridiculous as incredible, to tell you what a full vanity and content at that time possessed me, I will still make it a question, whether Alexander himself, or Charles XII of Sweden, when at the head of their first victorious armies, could feel a greater transport in their bosoms than I did then in mine, when but in the rear of this troop of comedians. You see to what low particulars I am forced to descend, to give you a true resemblance of the early and lively follies of my mind. Let me give you another instance of my discretion, more desperate than that of preferring the stage to any other views of life. One might think that the madness of breaking from the advice and care of parents, to turn player, could not easily be exceeded: but what think you, sir, of-matrimony? which, before I was two-and-twenty, I actually committed, when I had but twenty pounds a year, which my father had assured to me, and twenty shillings a week from my theatrical labours, to maintain as I then thought the happiest young couple that ever took a leap in the dark! If after this, to complete my fortune, I turned poet too, this last folly indeed had something a better excuse, necessity. Had it never been my lot to have come on the stage, it is probable I might never have been inclined or reduced to have wrote for it: but having once exposed my person there, I thought it could be no additional dishonour to let my parts, whatever they were, take their fortune along with it. But to return to the progress I made as an actor. Queen Mary having commanded the "Double Dealer" to be acted, Kynaston happened to be so ill that he could not hope to be able next day to perform his part of the lord Touchwood. In this exigence the author, Mr Congreve, advised that it might be given to me, if at so short a warning I would undertake it. The flattery of being thus distinguished by so celebrated an author, and the honour to act before a queen, you may be sure made me blind to whatever difficulties might attend it. I accepted the part, and was ready in it before I slept. Next day the queen was present at the play, and was received with a new prologue from the author, spoken by Mrs Barry, humbly acknowledging the great honour done to the stage, and to his play in particular: two lines of it, which though I have not since read, I still remember. But never were in Rome nor Athens seen After the play, Mr Congreve made me the compliment of saying, that I had not only answered but had exceeded his expectations, and that he would show me he was sincere by his saying more of me to the masters. He was as good as his word; and the next pay day 1 found my salary of fifteen was then advanced to twenty shillings a week. But, alas! this favourable opinion of Mr Congreve made no farther impression upon the judgment of my good masters; it only served to heighten my own vanity; but could not recommend me to any new trials of my capacity; not a step farther could I get until the company was again divided; when the desertion of the best actors left a clear stage for younger champions to mount, and show their best pretensions to favour. But it is now time to enter upon those facts that immediately preceded this remarkable revolution of the theatre. You have seen how complete a set of actors were under the government of the united patents in 1690; if their gains were not extraordinary, what shall we impute it to but some extraordinary ill management? I was then too young to be in their secrets, and therefore can only observe upon what I saw, and have since thought visibly wrong. Though the success of the "Prophetess" and "King Arthur" (two dramatic operas, in which the patentees had embarked all their hopes) was in appearance very great, yet their whole receipts did not so far balance their expense as to keep them out of a large debt, which it was publicly known was about this time contracted, and which found work for the court of Chancery for about twenty years following, till one side of the cause grew weary. But this was not all that was wrong; every branch of the theatrical trade had been sacrificed to the necessary fitting out those tall ships of burden, that were to bring home the Indies. Plays of course were neglected, actors held cheap and slightly dressed, while singers and dancers were better paid and embroidered. These measures of course created murmurings on one side, and ill-humour and contempt on the other. When it became necessary therefore to lessen the charge, a resolution was taken to begin with the salaries of the actors; and what seemed to make this resolution more necessary at this time, was the loss of Nokes, Mountfort, and Leigh, who all died about the same year: no wonder then, if when these great pillars were at once removed the building grew weaker, and the audiences very much abated. Now in this distress, what more natural remedy could be found, than to incite and encourage (though with some hazard) the industry of the surviving actors; but the patentees, it seems, thought the surer way was to bring down their pay in proportion to the fall of their audiences. To make this project more feasible, they proposed to begin at the head of them, rightly judging that if the principals acquiesced, their inferiors would murmur in vain. To bring this about with a better grace, they, under pretence of bringing younger actors forward, ordered several of Betterton's and Mrs Barry's chief parts to be given to young Powel and Mrs Bracegirdle. In this they committed two palpable errors; for while the best actors are in health and still on the stage, the public is always apt to be out of humour when those of a lower class pretend to stand in their places; or admitting at this time they might have been accepted, this project might very probably have lessened, but could not possibly mend, an audience; and was a sure loss of that time in studying, which might have been better employed in giving the auditor variety, the only temptation to a palled appetite; and variety is only to be given by industry: but industry will always be lame, when the actor has reason to be discontented. This the patentees did not consider, or pretended not to value, while they thought their power secure and uncontrollable: but farther, their first project did not succeed; for though the giddy head of Powel accepted the parts of Betterton, Mrs Bracegirdle had a different way of thinking, and desired to be excused from those of Mrs Barry; her good sense was not to be misled by the insidious favour of the patentees; she knew the stage was wide enough for her success, without entering into any such rash and invidious competition with Mrs Barry, and therefore wholly refused acting any part that properly belonged to her. But this proceeding however was warning erough to make Bet terton be upon his guard, and to alarm others with apprehensions of their own safety from the design that was laid against him. Betterton upon this drew into his party most of the valuable actors, who, to secure their unity, entered with him into a sort of association to stand or fall together. All this the patentees for some time slighted, but when matters drew towards a crisis they found it advisable to take the same measures, and accordingly opened an association on their part, both which were severally signed as the interest or inclination of either side led them. my During these contentions, which the impolitic patentees had raised against themselves, (not only by this I have mentioned, but by many other grievances which memory retains not,) the actors offered a treaty of peace; but their masters, imagining no consequence could shake the right of thei. thority, refused all terms of accommodation. In the mean time this dissension was so prejudicial to their daily affairs, that I remember it was allowed by both parties, that before Christmas the patent had lost the getting of at least a thousand pounds by it. I My having been a witness of this unnecessary rupture was of great use to me, when many years after I came to be a manager myself. I laid it down as a settled maxim, that no company could flourish while the chief actors and the undertakers were at variance. therefore made it a point, while it was possible upon tolerable terms, to keep the valuable actors in humour with their station; and though I was as jealous of their encroachments as any of my copartners could be, I always guarded against the least warmth in my expostulations with them; not but at the same time they might see I was perhaps more determined in the question than those that gave a loose to their resentment, and when they were cool were as apt to recede. I do not remember that ever I made a promise to any that I did not keep, and therefore was cautious how I made them. This coldness, though it might not please, at least left them nothing to reproach me with; and if tem |