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were constant attendants at the theatre, and

the public went in crowds whenever he

per

formed. The weather happened to be so intensely hot, that an epidemic disorder reigned in every quarter of the town. This was called the Garrick fever. Towards the beginning of August he returned to England, full of sentiments of gratitude for the reception he had met with. The name of Roscius was given to him in Dublin, in a Copy of Verses, which began

ROSCIUS, PARIS of the Stage,

Born to please a learned age!

THE fame, which resounded through all England, and had followed him to Ireland, was echoed back from the Liffy to the banks

of the Thames.

D 4

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

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GARRICK engages with FLEETWOOD for the following Season Wat Drury Lane Meets with universal Applause in LEÁR, RICHARD, and a Variety of Characters-He appears for the First Time in HAMLET-Some Account of that Play-GARRICK's great Success in the Part-Plays in FIELDING'S Comedy of the WEDDING DAYActs BAYES in the REHEARSAL-Account of that Play-GARRICK greatly admired in that Character-He mimicks some of the principal Actors of that Day-The Passages selected by GARRICK for that Purpose.

GARRICK arrived in London crowned with laurels. Fleetwood, the manager of DruryLane, was now convinced, that he was not a mere upstart in his profession, but a most extraordinary genius."

Another campaign at

Good

Goodman's Fields filled him with apprehensions. He therefore resolved to add an acces

sion of strength to his own theatre, and accordingly opened a negociation with Garrick, The treaty was soon concluded, on a salary of 500l. which was more than ever had been given before. Giffard and his wife were engaged by Fleetwood, at Garrick's desire, as also Mr. Havard, and the best performers who had studied under Roscius at Goodman's Fields. Garrick was no longer, according to "Quin's decree, the Whitfield of the stage, but acknowledged to be the orthodox teacher of true and just imitation, The new arrangement was soon known, and all degrees and ranks throughout the city of Westminster heard with pleasure that a long journey to their favourite amusement would be no longer necessary.

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appeared on the boards of a theatre, of which, even then, he flattered himself that he should in time be the manager and proprietor. He was prepared in a variety of characters, and the public were entertained, in regular suc cession, with Chamont, Lothario, Pierre, in Venice Preserved, Hastings, in Jane Shore, and many others. Richard and King Lear were his great parts without a competitor; for Quin, though he did not immediately re sign those characters, was not able to contend for victory. Garrick was eager to bring forward Shakespeare's first-rate characters, and, accordingly, Hamlet was added to his list. That tragedy is written in Shakespeare's wild est manner, but, at the same time, with all the

fire and energy of a superior genius. The scenes are changed with a wonderful variety of serious, comic, and pathetic incidents, so artfully conducted, that they follow one another in a regular series, with due subordination, and the most perfect connection. Lord Shaftsbury's account of this play deserves to be inserted in this place. The Noble author says, Our old dramatic poet may witness for “our good ear and manly relish. Not

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withstanding his natural rudeness, his unpolished stile, his antiquated phrase "and wit, his want of method and coherence, and his deficiency in almost all the graces and ornaments of this kind of writing; yet, by the justness of his moral, "the aptness of many of his descriptions, "and the plain and natural turn of several of his characters, he pleases his audience,

" and

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