PREFACE.

I AM of fo little importance, either to the great

or to the little world, that I must fubmiffively beg permiffion to inform thofe readers who honour me with a perufal, that the work now before them is a kind of fequel to my Memoirs published in 1791, and has been put into practice for thefe last two years, and carried on in the fame vague manner the former were.

During fixteen months out of the twenty-four, I have (from indifpenfible neceffity) been absent from York, on my various round of annual circuit, which of course occafioned a delay of the work, by the receiving the proof-fheets from the printers, and then remitting them back; feveral errors in the arrangement have likewise crept in, which would not otherwise have happened had I been on the spot: Even a regular man of letters. muft ha ve fuffered from fuch inconvenient diftances.

When at York, I had play-bills to affift my refearches in this important work, but they were too voluminous to take from home with me; therefore when not having those aids by me at Leeds, Hull, &c. and no regular notes, rules, or mode whatever to affift me, (when exploring my brain) I was under the neceffity of having recourse to memory; which will be easily perceived by my frequently bringing in an account of many tragic as well as comic transactions at the latter part of a theatrical campaign, which should have been placed at the first; nor needs there any ghost to point out thofe innumerable faults and errors.

I am apprehenfive that several of my first drawn perfonages, inferted in the Memoirs, may be fuperior as to developement of character, but obferve they were of a more dignified notice for an elderly critic than many here connected in the prefent undertaking; though in this last production, I think they are more various, and in my own incoherent and fantastical difpofition, hope they will appear not lefs volatile and whimfical. Yet I must admit, that my eagerness and knowledge, as to their theatrical fame, appeared to me, as of more confequence for the reading critics of forty years ago as a proof, I have never heard my traits of the great luminaries Garrick, Foote, and their opponents, Whitfield and Wesley, contradicted, but in general admitted; and I must re

mark, that thofe portraits are a fpecies and specimen of my former mimicry; for a writer of erudition may write an elegant description of mankind; but unlefs he poffeffes a trait of whim and humour, he never will create laughter ; and laughter is worth its price:-For, as Garrick pointedly

wrote

"I throw my gauntlet to the critic race:

(Throws down a glove. "Come forth, bold Grecians, meet me face to face! "Come forth, ye men of learning, at my call! "Learning a little feeling's worth it all!

"And you of taste and fashion I defy!

(Throws down another glove. "But hold-you hate the Greek as much as I.”

In favour of my prefent new exhibition I can only fay, that it is much better calculated for modern readers, either in Great Britain or Ireland, and more particularly fo for the Yorkshire theatrical amateurs, whether old or young, than my Memoirs were; and I think, taken for all in all, must here and there occafion a chuckle of entertainment, though peradventure not command approbation. I muft, however, in many places plead for forgiveness, where a punishment should perhaps, (or without any haps at all) with the ftricteft propriety, be inflicted. Before I con clude this harangue, I will by way of allufion, fubmiffively insert a few lines from Mr. Foote's

The precife Paragraph fays, "Laft week I went "to vifit a Peer, for I knows Peers, and Peers "knows me. Quoth his Lordfhip to me, Mr. "Paragraph, with respect to your Journal, I wish "that your paper was whiter, or your ink was "blacker: Quoth I to the Peer, by way of reply, "I hope you will own there is enough for the "money. His Lordship was pleaf-ed to laugh, it "was fuch a pretty repartee-He, he, he !"

What I mean to infinuate by the above quotation, is, to inform the English reader, that a large print of long-established fame, "The Dublin Journal," which afforded amazing profit to the proprietor, George Faulkener, from the emoluments arising from the numberless advertisements, yet to the purchafer the only expence was a rapa (in England termed a halfpenny). So I, like my friend Peter, am eager to gain favour by infinuating, that neither having chapters nor index, which my time and patience would not permit; I hope your honours will be pleased to allow, that (with all my ambiguity and aircaftle prolixity) there is ENOUGH for the money:

I must here permisively stop the reader to inform him, that I had paid a compliment, as a DEDICATION

without permiffion, to Mr. Wilson of York, as was, (and is) most justly due ;-for to that gentleman's many acts of friendship, I ftand more fuperiorly indebted, than to any other perfon; but Mr. Wilfon from motives of delicacy, begged to decline what I thought only the tribute of truth.Our mutual friend, Mr. Suttell of York, must not here be forgot, but requested to accept a few words to affure him, I am truly fenfible of the many favours he has conferred on my family.

And now with all my fins upon my head, and wishing for a continuance of good spirits (at least) to feed and clothe me. I am,

The public's,

Faithful obedient fervant,

TATE WILKINSON.

N. B. The author of the following Stage Hiftory, muft (as he did in his Memoirs) offer his due thanks to Mr. Swalwell, for his unremitting labour and attention in copying the manufcript for the prefs.