I faw my friend's comedy very often while in town, and was much entertained with the performance and the piece: Mr. Harris had given a copy to Dublin, Bath, and Norwich, by which means I was not out of a chance for getting one, as indeed Dublin booksellers print the pieces very foon after they are acted. I foon after returned to York, got a very good copy, and by feeing it fo often, was enabled to fettle the bufinefs, drefs the play properly, and retain the strokes in general of all the characters. I intended it for my benefit at York in Eafter-week.

In the interim, Mr. Barrett, manager of the Norwich theatre, fent a copy to Mrs. BELFIll, who was then engaged to me at York; fhe infifted on having it for her benefit;-I perfifted, not only to the right of having it as manager, but being for my night I fhould be very attentive to its production, and not be niggardly as to any requifite expence to fatisfy my pride, the gratification of my audience, and the merit of the fair author, for whom I in truth held then and hold now a more than common esteem and friendship. However, Mrs. Belfill's wrangling and mine grew daily to a greater height, that in order to terminate it, I desired my dearly beloved Inchbald to decree the prize in favour of me, hinting to her the greater advantages her play would receive by my getting it up for the public, than a performer;

but there I was mistaken, for the poet felt every maternal fondness for the child of her brain; and rafhly thinking I had made fome jumble of my own from what I had feen, and knowing Mrs. Belfill's to be genuine from Norwich, fhe in her rage denounced vengeance heartily, and faid that she would advertise my production as a flimfy difgraceful imposture*: But she was mistaken-for mine was the true Simon Pure; and as I did not relax in attention to her comedy, it was produced with great fuccefs. The which good fortune, added to her blefling of forgivennefs, amply repaid all my past sufferings, as our late friendly intercourse and chit chat was again restored; though for four years, to ufe Mr. Woodfall's words, I looked on the matter between us

as not MAKE-UPABLE.

On getting up that play an unlucky altercation took place between me and Mr. Knight, who was to leave me, with Mifs Farren, (now Mrs. Knight) for the Bath theatre, and whofe lofs as a performer was then confiderable to me. His name for Twineall I had put the third in the bills; Mr. Knight would not play the part unless that ceremony was altered. I appealed to his now manager, that was then to be, Mr. Keafberry at Bath; that worthy friend obliged me, by return of poft, with one of the Bath play-bills, which to

*See vol. II. page 60.

my great fatisfaction proved to be exactly printed with the fame routine of characters as the York bill: However it was all to no purpose, for Mr. Betterton had to perform the part. Mr. Knight's friends who were numerous, endeavoured to make a disturbance, but on a little reflection they judged, very properly, that the new Comedy of Mrs. Inchbald's was more worthy of attending to, then the ridiculous dispute of the actor and the manager; and all was quiet, and the play defervedly much applauded.

Notwithstanding the fracas, Mr. Knight and I parted on very good terms, and have remained fo to this very hour. I wish all riots were got so eafily over, and that peace and content was a more general lot; but behind the curtain these little bruleries we players are fubject to, it seems an indispensable article in our trade, and gives a zeft for repartee full equal to a curtain lecture. So, my dear Mrs. Inchbald, permit me to say, God blefs you, and may all your affairs profper, and your days of beauty be as lafting, as your principles and understanding are good.

I must not neglect obferving, that twice that season of Mrs. Inchbald's excellent comedy, I was highly entertained and furprised at the great entertainment the farce of "Patrick in Pruffia" afforded the audience and myself, and was ftruck with additional reflection, when I recollected how

very illiberally I was treated at York for infulting the audience with fo bad a piece, as it was phrased; yet that farce ftill keeps its ground, and, as a proof, has been, and is often, acted in London. But I have not yet done with the circumftance, as will in time and place be explained.

That faid year at York, 1787, I was much ho→ noured, and often fince that time, by favours conferred by Sir William and Lady Milner, who were that year the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayorefs of York. Their generofity I have often experienced, and hope a fhort expreffion of gratitude will not be judged impertinent to them, or farcaftically called fulfome by the reader: I could without flattery expatiate much on their kindness, but will content myself with saying a very little, and thinking a great deal.

The latter end of the York season 1787 I took a trip to Old Norwich city, which I longed much to vifit, as I had not been there from the time I have given an account of my treating them with Tea in 1765, (as mentioned in my Memoirs) which was well remembered; and the lifping babies of 1765 could relate all the particulars in 1787 most perfectly, as they had been well informed by their daddies and mammies, how ill Wilkinson had treated them when they went to his benefit, expecting cups, faucers, and tea-. but it was all a hum..

Mr. Barrett was at that time manager of the Norwich Theatre. I acted, Saturday, April 14th, Zanga; Ironfides and Cadwallader on the 16th; Old Norval and Major Sturgeon on the 18th; Don Manuel and Cadwallader a fecond time, on the 19th, and finished with Shylock and all Mr. Foote's characters in "The Minor," on Saturday, April 21.

After being favoured with a very genteel audience in that city, and honoured with repeated plaudits on my farewel, with a full pardon for not quenching their thirsts with Tea in 1765, the curtain dropped with mutual pleasure and content. It was a bad week for an excursion to Norwich, as it was the time prior to the benefit nights; the Monday following, April 23, being the night appointed for Mr. Barrett.

I wandered from Norwich to Lynn, and was to play a week there, for a clear benefit. The company there was under the direction of a Mr. Scraggs.

During the latter part of my time at Norwich, and all the week at Lynn, I was much afflicted with a strained foot; the pain was excruciating; and to hobble over the Market-place at Lynn, to the Theatre, was an encounter of great difficulty. I was very lame on the stage, but the boards being smooth, and getting warm with action, I got through tolerably well, till much