parable; Williamson looked like a gentleman. The ladies were all clever women, and did the author justice. Mrs. Inchbald had her third, sixth, and ninth nights, in the good old style, at this little theatre, and on the 24th of September Mr. Colman gave her a draft for £300 as their proceeds. But he declined to purchase her copyright. Kemble was now come over from Dublin, and we may imagine the triumph with which the Muse and the supporters to her arms, Twiss and Kemble, walked into the city on the 5th of October to purchase stock with the bulk of her treasure. She bought £400 in the 3 per cents, as low then as 60, for which she paid £242. 10s.

On the two last nights of representation this season at the Haymarket, she adopted Twiss's hint, and in the Mogul Tale' showed herself in Selima, as the lovely and ingenious woman whose brain had supplied the whole evening's amusement. We had not at this day adopted the French absurdity of calling either for the name or person of an author who succeeds; but the moment she made her appearance she was welcomed with shouts of applause that lasted some minutes:

"Some thunder' Bravo,' and some gaze and bless her!
Young maidens wave their kerchiefs, and old women
Silently weep for joy."

She was actress enough to perform the authoress properly on this occasion, and enjoy the sensation she had excited with seeming humility, but proud delight. She had sent a second farce to Mr. Col

man, called Appearance is against them;' this, however, he had declined, and she transferred it to Mr. Harris, who was of so opposite an opinion, that he called himself, the very day after he got it, to say how charmed he was with it. On the 4th of October it was rehearsed, and played on the 22nd. The King commanded it; the Prince of Wales went to see it. Dive called to buy her benefit night with the usual £100; and she sold her copy-right for £30 more. She was hard at

work on another comedy, well remembering the adage

"We must take the current when it serves,

Or lose our ventures."

We have already said that Mr. Colman would not buy the copy-right of 'I'll Tell You What ; and having thus a right to publish it, she knew that a play when printed could be acted any where; she accordingly thought this might be done for her benefit with her farce at CoventGarden theatre, and that without any favour in the business. She wrote to Jewell, Colman's treasurer, on the subject, who, poor fellow, knew no more of such secrets than the manager pleased; and her letter drew from Mr. Colman the following in reply:

"MADAM,

"Soho Square, Nov. 29th, 1785.

"I am very sorry that you took the trouble to write a long letter to Mr. Jewell on a

subject that had been so fully discussed at our last meeting. Your right to your own property I never disputed; but knew that, were your play even in print, neither of the theatres could in honour represent it, without my concurrence, during the present season. I was quite sure they would not attempt it: but, your right out of the question, I have no objection to its being done one night for your benefit, though I think it ought to be notified that it is to be on that occasion only, and that with my consent and approbation. "I am, as I ever have been, Madam, your real well-wisher, and most humble servant,

"G. COLMAN."

It will be obvious that he thought his fair friend somewhat keen after emolument, and not sufficiently mindful of his fostering care of her offspring. Her mind had been strongly excited this whole year; the pains in her head were excessive, and she was subject to faintings, as likely to proceed from exhaustion as worry. With all her thirst for money, she practised the greatest liberality. She seems to have sent her MS. herself for the use of the Bath manager. The Bonnors were Palmer's assistants, both in his theatre and the post-office, which owes to him the admirable mail-coach plan. The Bonnors were very excellent people, and extremely amiable in their

manners.

VOL. I.

P

CHAPTER X.

The Morells kept a Faro-table in Hart Street-She dines with Mr. Twiss every Sunday-In the evening Kemble and he give readings-The residences of performers in past times-Peter Pindar wooes the Muse An honorable lover, Mr. Glover, offers marriage, a carriage, and a settlement of £500 a year-She vainly preferred Sir Charles Bunbury-Mr. Twiss marries Miss Kemble-Relieves her brother George Simpson-Dramatic concerns Haymarket season-Hayley's Plays in rhyme-Author's esteem for Hayley-'The Widow's Vow'-Its success-Robinson buys her 'I'll Tell You What'-City again-Buys £200 5 per Cent. Stock-Begins to grow upon the Manager-Asked to write a pantomime-'Such Things Are'-Buys during the run of it £18 per annum Long Annuities, for which she pays £4101. 2s. -Howard now in this country-Odd coincidence with Haswell in the play-Does the Midnight Hour'-Buys £200 3 per Cents, and £200 5 per Cents Stock-A hurried Comedy fails-Visits her friends in Suffolk-Mrs. 'Wells-Topham, Este, 'The World' newspaper-Her lovers or friends seldom apart.

In the preceding chapter, we did not interrupt her proceedings as a writer for the stage by any references to her private life. She continued to lodge with the Morells in Hart Street, who, she found, kept a Faro table. They, however, treated her with very friendly politeness, and she frequently dined with them. Her Sundays, when

he was in town, she passed uniformly with Mr. Twiss, and the readings as uniformly took place. Nor were these frequently ill appropriated to the day. Kemble once read to them a sermon by Dr. Parr. Mrs. Inchbald, without reference to the particular church of which she was a member, read the Bible steadily throughout; so that she may be said to have lived in a state very far from indifference to her highest duties. Practically to be of no public communion, is dangerous, as we are told by Johnson,--and, as showing no example, is pernicious; but she was in her closet, at least cultivating her mind, and no doubt often resolving to be quite right.

She had her sister Dolly to reside with her during the Haymarket season. We suppose in this recess of the patent theatres, the greater part of her visitors migrated into the country. Mrs. and Miss Farren seem to call frequently upon her, and in the summer Mrs. Wells often dined with her; Topham himself occasionally. We do not find any objection to this lady raised by Twiss, who appears to look carefully into Mrs. Inchbald's society. Thus for instance, finding Sir Charles Bunbury very troublesome, he told her she must forbid him her house' she replied that she would see him once more and dismiss him: but he besieged her door, and forced himself up stairs, in spite of the servants. At last she would only receive her