capital fum. He informed me, that Mr. Rich's executors had made him account for the falary, paid me three years before, during the fhutting of the house, upon account of the demife of one of the female branches of the Royal Family. My agreement was annual, and Mr. Rich had exprefsly ordered the treasurer not to make any deduction for that vacation. But as Mr. Ballard had not taken the order in writing, he was liable to pay it. As I had received the money, I could by no means confent that he should refund it. Common honefty, required, in my idea, that he fhould not be the fufferer. I therefore wrote to Alderman Cracroft, defiring he would fettle it, as well as he could, to the fatisfaction of the treasurer.

At this period my mother, together with all my paraphernalia, which was returned from Holland, fent down to me a young gentlewoman that, she imagined, would make some figure upon the stage. Her name was Wordley. She had an uncommon flow of fpirits, and had received a more liberal education than is ufually bestowed on English women in the middle line of life. Her father was fteward to the Earl of Powys, and he had fpared no pains to cultivate the mind of this daughter, who was his favourite, and whofe genius led her to receive his inftructions with pleafure. So accomplished a young woman was to be confidered

as a valuable acquifition, as well as doing honour to my mother's recommendation. I therefore requested her to take up her refidence at Bonnington.

G. A. B.

LETTER

LXXVII.

Auguft 22, 17

UPON looking forward to the number of in

cidents it will be needful yet to relate, to give you a perfect view of this checquered life of mine, and to let the world into the fources of those actions which in many instances have drawn upon me unmerited cenfure; I fee they will much exceed the bounds I imagined, when I firft fat down to record them.-Circumftance grows from circumftance and recollection receives additional vigour from the exercife of it-I therefore cannot help being apprehenfive, that, notwithstanding the affurances you have fo often given me to the contrary, the relation of them will prove tedious to you. This apprehenfion, however, will be a curb to me, and prevent me from inferting any incidents that are not immediately conducive to the purposes for which I entered upon it; namely, to fatisfy your curiofity, and to endeavour to remove

thofe

thofe prejudices the public have imbibed against me, from not knowing the whole of my flory. And I fhall of course make my digreffions as fhort and unfrequent as poffible.

Mr. Digges did every thing in his power to make me happy. He indulged me with every pleafure he could procure for me. But my temper was fo much foured by the continual demands for the debts he had contracted before my union with him, that I could not relish any enjoyment, or behave towards him with that complacency I could have wished.

About the middle of the feafon he informed me, that he had received a letter, acquainting him that his brother, Capt. Dudley Digges, was arrived in England, and that he wished much to fee him upon fome family concerns. He therefore determined to fet off to vifit his brother, and we were obliged to manage in the theatre as well as we could. But how to procure money for the expences of his journey was the question. This Mr. Still, my attorney, and indeed my fac-totum, upon my application to him, advanced.

When Mr. Digges arrived in London, my mother was foon reconciled to him, and he remained at her house during his ftay. Upon his return, he prefented me with a large filver repeater, to be placed at the head of my bed, as I had often wished

D 4

wifhed for a machine of that kind, to know the

hours when I was to take the medicines my different ftate of health rendered neceffary.

in

There was a young gentlewoman in the company, for whom I had a great attachment, the wife of Mr. Aickin, of Drury-lane theatre. But death foon robbed me of her. This event affected me much, and made my health, which, was but indifferent before, ftill more fo. It therefore became needful to find out fome performer, who could relieve me from the conftant fatigue I underwent. And I met with Mrs. Kennedy, with whom I had› formerly played during my first excurfion.to Dublin.

This lady, her husband, and their fon, were accordingly engaged at a falary, which Edinburgh would by no means afford. But what was to be done? My playing conftantly was impracticable; and no perfon could supply my place, unless they had acquired fome reputation. The proprietorsTM were therefore obliged to confent to the engagement, notwithstanding the expence was fo great. Mrs. Kennedy had merit in fome parts; and, as fhe had been in feveral travelling companies, fhe was ftudied in every character. Though the was far from handfome, fhe was a good figure.

Our views, however, in engaging her were fruftrated by indifpofition. She was taken ill

foon

foon after her arrival; and a dreadful eruption appearing in her face, she was able to perform but four times during the whole feafon. A ridiculous circumftance happened in confequence, which, if it ftrikes you as it did me and the whole audience at the time, will at least excite a fimile.

Mrs. Kennedy thinking, herself so well recovered as to be able to perform, fhe sent word that she was able to appear in Zara, in the "Mourn

66

ing Bride," which was to be acted for the benefit of fome particular perfon fhe wifhed to befriend. But about four o'clock on the day of performance, fhe was taken fo very ill, that her appearance was impracticable. The piece was to be played by particular defire, and there was no fubftitute to be got for fo capital a part, nor a poffibility of changing it. In this dilemma, Mrs. Farrel, Mrs. Kennedy's fifter, who was about twenty years older than that lady, and was a per-› fon who used to figure away in old nurfes, undertook to play the part.

The audience expreffed marks of difapprobation throughout the whole of her playing, but particularly fo when he died. Upon which the rofe from between the mutes, and advancing to-. wards the front of the ftage, fhe told the audience, that he was concerned fhe could not acquit herfelf fo as to give fatisfaction; but, as good-nature