I have said enough, and perhaps too much, on the subject of this unhappy man; and therefore shall not tire the reader's patience with a long history of his intemperance, indiscretion and profligacy. I believe that from this time, I mean from the intended publication of his libel to his death, he did not give any further provocation to Mr. Garrick, who, with great humanity, considered him as an object of his charity, not of his resentment. About the time when Mr. Garrick returned from the continent, he presented him with a Latin poem in his praise, which, I am told, did not want merit, and this panegyrick did not go unrewarded.

About the year 1766, he translated from the French a Philosophical Essay on Laughter, which he dedicated to Mr. Foote, a proper patron for such a subject; and this, I believe, procured him a good table to dine at, and a small gratuity in money. His temper, which was soured by misfortunes, and rendered more offensive by continual irregularity, could not be reconciled even to his benefactors, who continued their favours to him in spite of his petulant behaviour. He died about three years since of the jaundice, or rather a complication of disorders, and in very great want; none of his acquaintance knew where he lodged till after his death.

CHAPTER XXII.

Account of Woodward's desertion....He is invited by Barry to become a partner in his Irish expedition.... His proposal to Garrick rejected ....Reasons for refusing it....He sets out for Ireland....Unsuccessful there....Ruturns to England....His character.

In the beginning of 1759, Mr. Barry, either displeased with his situation at Covent-garden, or tempted by ambition to enlarge his fortune, and to become a master instead of a servant, listened to some proposals which were made to him from certain gentlemen of Dublin, who invited him to settle in that metropolis, and build a new theatre there, in a place called Crow-street. Barry, sensible of the great hazard he must run by opposing a man so well established, and greatly esteemed, as Mr. Sheridan, was resolved, if possible, to gain such partner in the undertaking as would give some stability, as well as splendour, to it. Woodward was certainly the most eligible man he could fix upon: he knew that he would fill a large and desirable, as well as difficult, list of parts in comedy; and his skill and performance in pantomimes would render double service to the scheme,

Woodward was not displeased at the proposal; it presented many charms of profit, at the same time that it gratified his ambition. Yet the matter had its difficulties; and as he loved to get money without running any hazard, they appeared to him, on serious examination, in a formidable light. Mr.

Garrick and he had lived upon the most friendly and familiar terms; his income was much larger than that of any actor in his walk; and though the manager was always decisive in his determinations respecting the choice of plays, the merit of actors, &c., yet he often paid Woodward the compliment to ask his advice upon any stage emergency, and seemed to have great deference for his judgment.

Between the desire of gaining more money, with the title and power of manager, and the fear of losing what his merit and assiduity had enabled him to hoard, Woodward was long and anxiously suspended; at last he was determined to make such a proposal to Mr. Garrick, which, on consideration of his great merit and long services, he imagined would not be refused.

He offered to continue with his old masters, on condition they would enter into an engagement, in writing, to pay him as large an income as they then gave, or should hereafter give, to any actor or actress. This he thought a very reasonable demand; and he appealed to them if his services did not merit such a particular consideration, from a conviction that he laboured incessantly, and was very often called upon to exercise his talents in plays, farces, and pantomimes.

Mr. Garrick acknowledged his merit; but observed to him, that he was well rewarded for it: he bid him recollect, that no comick actor ever had enjoyed so large a salary as himself; that if he was subject to unusual labour, in the contriving and preparing a new pantomime, he was not sparingly paid for it by

the profits of an extra benefit, as harlequin, independent of another for his acting; that the tying the managers down to such an extraordinary article, was shutting the door upon great and unexpected merit; for it was possible an actor might arise, and gain so highly the favour of the publick by his uncommon talents, that the managers might think themselves obliged to recompense his merit by a larger stipend than any player had hitherto enjoyed. He advised him to be content with his present happy situation, and not to be led by vain ambitious views to forsake his old and best friends, and to hazard that property which had cost him so much art and industry to acquire.

These remonstrances had for a time some weight with Woodward; he was loth to give up a certain income for the delusive charms of a flattering contingency. Mrs. Woodward too was much averse to the Dublin scheme, and wished to stay in a place where they enjoyed so competent a portion of wealth and estimation. But Barry, who, with no extent of knowledge, and a moderate share of understanding, had the most engaging, and almost enchanting manner of persuasion, so worked upon his two darling passions, the love of money and the lust of power, that Woodward at last was prevailed upon to sign articles of joint partnership with him.

I believe Mr. Garrick would, at another time, have listened to any reasonable request of Woodward, for the farther increase of his income; but the seizing this opportunity of raising his terms, in a time of distress, he thought not only unjust, but mean

and ungrateful. I believe too, that Mr. Garrick had such a reliance upon Woodward's attachment to him, that he did not seek to continue his connexion with him by any written articles, but depended solely on a verbal agreement from year to year. However, he was determined not to buy any man's services by a bribe; a conduct which might induce his actors to leave him when governed by caprice of interest. This manager, in his greatest difficulties, was never without resources. An accomplished young gentleman, whose family connexions have long since, to the great regret of the publick, occasioned his total separation from the stage, for some few years acted a variety of characters in genteel life, with great and merited applause, some of which had in them a mixture of gayety and levity, and a peculiar and pleasing vivacity. In elegance of deportment, and variety of graceful action, he excelled all the players of his time.

Soon after, Mr. King was brought from Dublin, to supply many of Mr. Woodward's parts. He not only answered the publick expectation in that respect, but, by playing some new characters, such as Prattle in The Deuce is in Him, Lord Ogilby in the Clandestine Marriage, and others, he added much to his former reputation. Woodward's Irish scheme was attended with many vexations, and very considerable losses.

Dublin will not in haste be able to support two playhouses. The opposition between Crow-street and Smock-alley was carried on with great industry, and much vehemence, to the mutual loss and dis