suggested by The Winter's Tale'-Striking passages in the novel -The character of Dorriforth-Her premonition to the second part -Rousseau's Emile'—Establishes herself as one of the greatest Publishes her novel-A second edition required-Fortune indeed smiles- All her Lottery-tickets Prizes - Increases her weekly income-Dr. Warren and his windows-The late Judge Hardinge -Mrs. Dobson-Sir Charles Bunbury admires her work-Next- door Neighbours' at Colman's-Thought of in her second novel— George Robinson buys her play- Mrs. Wells's irregularities- Pleasant excursions-" Dieu et les Dames "-Goes to reside with a Mr. Shakespear-Fellow-lodger, General Martin-Kitty Fisher -'The Wedding Day'-'Young Men and Old Women'-'The Massacre,' a prose tragedy; some account of it-Declines an Splendid success of Every One has his Fault'—Buys Five per cent. stock-Politically attacked by the True Briton'- Her defence in a letter to Woodfall-Impostors at her door-Holcroft's passion for her-Her regulations for Brandenburg House-At- tempts to extort money from her-Describes her feelings as to Dr. Warren-Taylor, the oculist, removes something from her eye- Horror at the regicides of France-Finishes 'Nature and Art,' and copies it for the press-Mr. Hardinge's letters; those from his farewell and return of love-The mighty Magician of Udolpho-In 1795 Mrs. Inchbald dislocates her shoulder, yet begins to write upon the Virtues, and her own Life; identical subjects - Her brother Simpson falls in a duel Mrs. Whitfield's death, and Mrs. Dobson's-Kemble-The Abercorns at Stanmore-Carlton CORRIGENDUM. The first sheet had unluckily gone to press before the author decided to expel the first personal pronoun from his Narrative. If I should by chance occur after the first chapter, We shall be happy to see ourselves in his place, by the help of the reader's pen. MEMOIR OF MRS. INCHBAL D. CHAPTER I. Importance of Biography fairly given-Memoirs written by Mrs. Inchbald, and destroyed; by whose advice-Her birth-Letter from the Duchess of Norfolk-The family of Simpson-Their connexions-Instruction domestic-Early desire to see the world -Impediment in her speech-Thinks of the Stage as a profession -Applies to Richard Griffith, manager of the Norwich theatreHis answer-Her girlish fondness-His harmonious name-Her brother, George Simpson, becomes an actor-Bury Fair-In 1771 pays a visit to her sister in London-Mr. Inchbald an early admirer-Reply to proposals from him-Standingfield-Griffith -Steals his picture-Quits home in April, 1772, leaving behind a letter to her mother-The letter itself. IT has been frequently and truly said, that the humblest life contains in it matter of instruction, if the record were simply and fairly given. But the hopes of such narratives are commonly disappointed; because the autobiographer is too vain VOL. I. A or too timid to write the truth; and the admirer or friend who may undertake the task, leaves his subject both magnified and obscured by the mist of panegyric. If the case should occur that a person constantly wrote down the impressions of the day, and preserved with such diary the communications of friends by letter, the materials so presented, if fairly used, seem to supply the great desideratum in biography, a life recorded without vanity, and free from the ostentation of literary powers. The late Mrs. Inchbald was a character of the express nature and habits above assumed. She was indefatigable in the registry of events; she preserved a great mass of her correspondence; nor has she disdained to record the arts of frugality, and the sacrifices of comfort to principle, by which not only independence was achieved, but along with it the power to administer, even largely, to the necessities of others. Her papers have been put into my hands; and after having diligently perused them, I determined to use my best efforts to exhibit her as she really was, in all the variety of a singular but interesting life, at once domestic, theatrical, and literary. Before I enter upon this narrative, it will be proper to explain to the reader what I have discovered as to the "Memoirs written by herself," and which produced a well-remembered competition between the publishers of her day, among whom Mr. Robinson and Mr. Phillips are mentioned by |