Come hither, boy! Which is the best actor, this gentleman, or I?"" O Lord, your honour, to be sure."-" Which is the handsomest ?"-" O, you sir, you."—"Which is the tallest ?"-" I think your honour rather has it."-I was half a head higher, observes Smith. ADDRESS, Written by Dr. Johnson, and spoken by Garrick, at the opening of Drury Lane Theatre, in 1747. WHEN Learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foes First rear'd the stage, immortal Shakspeare rose. Then Jonson came, instructed from the school, peals of various kinds on the subject; but received only a solitary five guineas from an honest poet of the name of Woolcot, in Dorsetshire; and Charles Mathews having, two or three years afterwards, proposed a subscription for a national monument to Shakspeare, with the King and a dozen of the Nobility as its Patrons, after expending fifty pounds in advertising, received only a single guinea! Such is the value of professions, where they are to be supported in pounds sterling. GARRICK AND SMITH. IT is said that Garrick loved flattery, (says the late Mr. Smith in a letter to a friend in 1798.) I am sure he had sufficient reason to loath it. Walking with him behind the scenes, one morning, a person in a low situation in the Theatre, came up and complimented him on his performance the preceding night, with much adulation ;—he was not pleased, and turned from the man, saying," you do it too clumsily, but the cursed trick pervades them all. Now you shall see," continued he, pointing to a boy of about thirteen years of age, who waited on the prompter, "that this little bastard will do the same. Come hither, boy! Which is the best actor, this gentleman, or I?"" O Lord, your honour, to be sure.”—“ Which is the handsomest ?”—“ 0, you sir, you."-" Which is the tallest?". ." I think your honour rather has it."-I was half a head higher, observes Smith. ADDRESS, Written by Dr. Johnson, and spoken by Garrick, at the opening of Drury Lane Theatre, in 1747. WHEN Learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foes First rear'd the stage, immortal Shakspeare rose. Then Jonson came, instructed from the school, By regular approach, assail'd the heart; For those, who durst not censure, scarce could praise. A mortal born, he met the gen'ral doom, The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame, Nor wish'd for Jonson's art, or Shakspeare's flame. Themselves they studied: as they felt, they writ ; Vice always found a sympathetic friend; strong, Their slaves were willing, and their reign was long: Till Shame regain'd the post that Sense betray'd, And Virtue call'd Oblivion to her aid. Then, crush'd by rules, and weaken'd as refin'd, For years the pow'r of Tragedy declin'd; |