whofe natural abilities (as I before mentioned) fhould most undoubtedly have gained a fame equal to many who have been graced and honoured with tombs and monuments to their memories. Mr. Kniveton only continued the York and Newcastle fummer feason, and then returned to his numerous and respectable friends at Manchefter. After Whiteley's defeat by Mr. Mattocks's Royal Patentee regiment, he was engaged by the intereft of Mr. Younger at CoventGarden Theatre, and thence, by mutual agreement, was enrolled in some share of the property of the Liverpool New Theatre. He married a daughter of the late Mrs. Ward, fifter to Mr. Ward, hufband to the reputable Mrs. Ward, now of Drury-Lane Theatre. She was a lady of established merit, and well known in the theatrical world; was a very handfome woman, and a good actrefs. Mr. Ward is well known as an actor of merit at all the principal theatres, and is now joint manager with Mr. Banks (who married the widow Kniveton) of the lucrative and refpectable Theatre at Manchester, which flourishes with almost incredible fuccefs for near eight months in the year, dependent on itself alone, without a circuit.Now, however, Chester helps out Manchester fome few weeks. Honeft Kniveton, a foe to none, a friend to all, died in the prime of life, after excruciating agonies, of a fwelled knee, at Liverpool, in the early part of the Patent Theatre. In Paffion Week, in 1769, Oratorios were undertaken at the York Theatre, and were particularly well attended: Good profits gave proof, and Mr. Baker, and three adventurers with him, shared to much advantage: Mr. Norris, and Mr. and Mrs. Pinto (Mifs Brent) were engaged. The Padlock was produced that year with uncommon effect; as indeed it was every where. I was efteemed a very good Mungo. The first night of opening, under the patronage of his Majefty, was on Saturday, April 8, 1769, for the benefit of Mrs. Baker, with the New Tragedy of the Fatal Discovery, and the Padlock, with the following occafional PROLOGUE, Spoken by Mr. WILKINSON, on opening the York Theatre, under the fanction of his Majefty's Patent. Too long the Thespian Muse, an alien deem'd, But fill the Mufe was lawless and disguis'd, "Shall pour their magic in fair Virtue's cause; "Nor fhall the grateful Muse forget what's due "To King, to Laws, to Country, and—to You. "Henceforth each circling year, on this glad day, "Cytherean groves shall swell the festive lay, "And every flow'r and sweet Parnaffus yields, "The Mufe fhall plant in Ebor's fmiling fields, "Garlands of which, compos'd from Tafte's rich bed, "She'll weave in wreaths to grace each patron's head." Long have I wish'd for, what with joy I fee, 'The Muse once more restor'd to liberty: My little All I ventur'd in her cause, And the reward I wish is—your applause; On your known candour cheerfully depend, And hope a fanction from each generous friend. At Newcastle, in the fummer 1769, I engaged Mrs. IBBOT from Norwich, to fupply the lofs of Mrs. Baker. She poffeffed great merit, good voice, education, and understanding-not equal in expreffion to Mrs. Baker; her manner far from accomplished: however, if fize was neceffary, though Mrs. Baker was not a skeleton, yet Ibbot made more than treble amends as to the quantity. She acted Queen Elizabeth, take it altogether, better than any person I have seen (Mrs. Pope excepted). Mrs. Ibbot played various parts with infinite ability, and would have been more successful on the Dublin and London stages, had her features been alluring. It is certain that the fafcination of beauty, aided by the little god Cupid, has often thrown great merit to lie in obfcurity, and exalted others far beyond their real right of arrogant pretenfions, by blinding their beholders with the dazzle of charms, and obtaining what fuperior talents fhould only have had granted. There are few inftances where the beauty joined to the good fenfe and behaviour of a Miss Farren are to be. met with; or where the graceful and commanding expreffion of a Siddons, is united to a train of good qualities. Mrs. Ibbot brought to Newcastle that year a Mifs WILLOUGHBY, a young lady of family, an elegant figure, with a fweet toned voice. She appeared at that place in Amelia in the English Merchant, and there and at York in feveral leading characters, and feemed to advance rapidly with the public; but her study and practice were too much for her youth, (for I believe the had not attained her nineteenth year when she left me:) She fell into a deep and rapid decline, which neither art, care, nor advice could possibly prevent. In Mifs Willoughby the stage loft an ornament of great promife, for fhe was a credit to the theatre in every part of her conduct. The youths of fashion beheld her with refpect and admiration, and the matrons with tokens of benignity and tenderness. She had a fifter who tried the stage, but without the leaft pretenfions in any one point, being destitute of every requifite: Yet to fee how our stage opinions may be warped and go decidedly wrong, Mrs. Ibbot who was her patronefs, pronounced she would make a better actress than her fifter Mifs Willoughby juft mentioned; but a worse could not be, nor has the turned out a credit to her fister's memory or her friend's recommendation ; quite the contrary in every point-but flesh is frail, the best sometimes forget: Yet I muft hint of this unfortunate frail one, that no pains had been fpared in bringing her up rigidly in the paths of virtue; and it is |