London, without any striking occurrence. She soon re-established that intercourse with her sisters, which seems an irresistible instinct in her, and led to the happiest results for them: unconsciously she was then preparing in her mind a source of bounty, which never dried up, and upon which their age and infirmities could finally draw, when every other channel of supply had become either exhausted or diverted.

CHAPTER III.

With Mr. Inchbald revisits Standingfield — Voyage to LeithEngages with Digges-Glasgow rather discouraged - Matrimonial disputes-Acts Shore at Edinburgh-Catholic ChapelMr. Inchbald a painter-Mr. Sterling's attentions-Consults the Priest-Superior to a female friend, why?-Indiscreet in corresponding-Male party of pleasure; an accident-GreenockEdinburgh again; and again Mr. Sterling-Sail for Aberdeen; but obliged to land and journey in the Thespian fashion-Ague and fever-Moves with the Company-Present from the Manager-Performs Imogen - Loses her wedding-ring Studies French with a master-Mr. Inchbald disputes with the audience -A riot in consequence - They quit Edinburgh, and resolve upon a visit to France.

AFTER remaining a fortnight among her London friends, Mr. Inchbald and she went to Bury in the stage, and from Bury they took a chaise to visit her relations at Standingfield. The good old lady her mother and Deborah came back in the chaise with them to Bury: they saw their friends after the play, at the Ship, where they gave a supper at parting, and then returned to London, that they might go by sea to Scotland, where they were engaged to act with Digges. On the 10th of October they embarked, and her

admirer R. Wilson was in their company they had a very stormy passage; but on the 17th they landed at Leith, and, after refreshing themselves for a single day, on the 19th took a chaise for Glasgow, where the manager was then performing. On the 23rd Mr. Inchbald and his friend Wilson saw Digges, and settled that Mrs. Inchbald should act Cordelia on the Monday following, and appear again on Thursday. On Monday the 26th she performed Cordelia to her husband's Lear; but they did not call upon her again till the 6th of November, when she personated the gentle and lovely Anne Bullen. What her royal lover thought of her I know not, her husband acted Cranmer; for Digges, as he acted his favourite Wolsey, the sentence of the character might probably be the feeling of the manager—

"Anne Bullen! no: I'll no Anne Bullens for her;
There's more in't than fair visage."

She seems checked by the discouragement, and her expression is disparaging. She sometimes plays a "witch" in Macbeth'-among the beauties with brooms-and "walks," as she technically styles it, in a pantomime before a flat, while the trick is preparing behind it for harlequin. Wilson, it seems, boarded with them, and of consequence was very intimate. He was never very regular in his habits; and Mrs. Inchbald remarks that her husband and he were much out

together. They saw a great deal of company. Bob, called before Master Inchbald, lived in the same house with them, and acted the juvenile parts of the drama, such as the Fleance of Banquo. There seem at this time to have been too frequent disputes between her husband and herself. She had seen something of the world, but not advanced her fortune, or her happiness very considerably: her beauty had no doubt been felt and acknowledged; but it was appropriated, and would only adorn a very humble condition; for she could not aspire to lead the world in her profession: however, she resolved to try what application could do for her, and, after their arrival at Edinburgh, she really becomes importunate with her husband to hear her in her several parts. They walk on the hills and by the sea-side to spout aloud, (good Demosthenian practice!) and sometimes in their walks read what was not professional, if any thing well composed can be considered unprofessional in the studies of an actor. We remember Garrick recommended this discursive reading to Henderson, who had assumed it of his own accord; and so curious had he been, that Steevens was indebted to him for some very happy illustrations of Shakspeare, inserted in his editions of that poet.

Her first appearance on the Edinburgh boards in character (for she went on in the masquerade scene of Romeo and Juliet' to look at the northern

Athenians) was in Jane Shore, on the 29th of November; and in the course of December, she acted Anne Bullen, Cordelia, and even Calista in The Fair Penitent,' where, by the way, she is no penitent, but an audacious, ungenerous wanton, enlightened only as to her true interests when the lamp of life feebly glimmers to its close. But here at all events is passion, though it is not amiable; and she must have gained no slight control over her impediment, to declaim the language vehemently. She sometimes descended to the Calistas of lower life, and bestowed her fine figure and lovely features upon one of Macheath's ladies or braided her golden locks with "rosy twine" in one of the Bacchantes of Comus.'

This stage habit of collecting the beauty of a community for a mere mob is often vehemently condemned by the ladies of the theatre; but we believe the only ground of real displeasure is the being taken from their fire-sides for no other business than merely to be looked at; so they avenge themselves by the most captivating witchery of their countenances, and leave their rags to flutter for the character, if there should by chance be any thing appropriate even in them.

Mrs. Inchbald seems now in close correspondence with her brother Slender, whose bad habits she has hinted upon her coming to town, and she felt great uneasiness as to the consequences. The gentry of Scotland do not yet appear to have