As I may not have occafion to mention Mr. Rich any more, I will here entertain you with a theatrical anecdote relative to a pupil of his, which exhibits a fcene fo truly laughable and ridiculous, that I am fure it will not prove dif pleafing to you.

During the initiation of Mifs R. White, Mr. O'Brien, of Drury-lane Theatre, gave her fome instructions how to perform with propriety the character of Sylvia, in the Recruiting Officer. One day, as he was thus employed, obferving that the young lady mifconceived his directions, and repeated a paffage very improperly, he told her The ought to confider that the part fhe was speaking was a parenthefts, and required a different tone of voice, and a greater degree of volubility, than the rest of the fentence:

"A parenthefis!" faid Mifs White, "what's "that?" Mrs. White, who happened to be prefent, hearing this queftion of her daughter's, and blushing that she should thus betray her ignorance, inftantly broke out into the following polite and fenfible exclamation? "O! what an infernal

limb of an actress will you meke! What, not "know the meaning of prentice? Why, prentice, "Ma'am, is the plural number of prentices. O,, 66 you'll make the devil of an actress !"

my furniture, As I fully in

In the month of February, the creditor, who would not fign my letter of licence, called upon me, and requested that I would give her a bond and judgment for the money I owed her. She alledged, in fupport of her request, that it was à large fum, and in cafe of my death, plate, &c. would fecure it to her. tended to discharge it as foon as poffible, I confented to her requeft, upon condition that the Tecurity might be given for no horter a term than a year. I accordingly called, foon after, at the perfon's house, and having read the bond, which was ftipulated for the time mentioned, I figned it; but, being in hafte, I very imprudently omitted feeing whether the judgment was of the fame date.

In a fhort time after, I received a letter from the woman, informing me, that the muft have immediate payment of the whole money, or else The would put the judgment in force againft me. Alarmed at fuch a dreadful threat, I knew not what courfe to take. Mr. Digges, being much embarraffed in his affairs, had accepted of an invitation to return to Edinburgh, where he was a great favourite; and there he intended to continue, till I could get my affairs fettled, which his prefence greatly impeded, as those perfons, who were willing to affift me, did not care to do it while he was with me.

As

As I had not entertained any apprehenfions from this creditor, I had paid many others, whom Mr. Cracroft had pointed out as being in indifferent circumftances. But this woman being opulent, and always profeffing the greatest friendfhip and regard for me, I did not suppose she would proceed to violent measures. I however now discovered, that I had put myself in the power of one of the worst of women: a woman, who thought nothing wrong that would produce money. I had heard, indeed, that her character was doubtful; but, as she had never given me the leaft hint which could authorize fufpicion, I imagined the report fprang from ill-nature. I had, notwithstanding, reafon to alter my opinion. As fhe was not only a lace-woman, but dealt in every article neceffary for a lady's toilet, it was not doing her any injuftice to fuppofe ladies of eafy virtue frequented her houfe; but, upon an explanation of her fentiments, I saw I had every thing to dread. It is not improper here to remark, as it was the means of my gaining a fuit, which the afterwards inftituted againft me for the recovery of the money, that, in a letter fhe fent me, she informed me that the bond was for a year, but the judgment for a month. And her brother, to make the letter more forcible, fwore by his Maker, that they had bit me. Through this ex

preffion, and the palpable deception which had been made use of upon the occafion, I was enabled to triumph over fuch a dangerous opponent. G. A. B

LETTER. LXXVI.

Aug. 14, 17

MR. Calcraft being one evening at the reprefentation of "Zara," the uncommon applaufe I met with revived his paffion, and induced him. to make use of every method he could devife to bring about a reconciliation. Having watched me one Sunday, he came up to me in Derbycourt, and earnestly entreated that I would favour him with half an hour's converfation. Upon my refufal, he begged that, if I would not be reconciled to him, I would attend to a proposal he had to make me, which would accommodate the difagreeable affair relative to the diamonds. This alfo I refused to do, affuring him, at the fame time, that I would not hold any correspondence with him whatever.

Upon this he went to a tavern, the corner of York-ftreet, and I really believe I received twenty letters from him in a fhort time. Finding me ftill inflexible, he fent Nurse Carter to me; the

perfon

perfon I have mentioned before, who lived with me many years, and brought up all my children. This good woman, he knew, had great influence over me, and therefore he was in hopes fhe would: remove my prepoffeffions. But they were too deeply rooted; particularly as he had offered me at fresh infult, by getting a friend to deliver me a meffage, of an extraordinary nature, juft after my return from Ireland. This aggravation of his injuries will be fully explained in the letter als ready hinted at, which I fhall give you, by way Appendix to my "Apology," as I was then obliged to suppress the publication of it, for reas fons affigned in their proper place.

of

Nurse Carter executed her commiffion with great fidelity to her employer. And at last, wearied out with her importunities, I told her, that, if Mr. Calcraft would write me his proposals of accommodation, or fend his attorney to me, I would! hear what they were, and confult Mr. Cracroft upon the propriety of accepting them. He accordingly fent them by one of his clerks. They contained the following articles: That he would give me money to pay off Mr. Sparks's bond for four hundred pounds.: That he would compro mife all my debts with my creditors, if I would confent: to go abroad till it was done, as none of them would accept of less than the whole of their

I

demand