return to England, people were mad about seeing him; and Sir George Beaumont and several others used frequently to get admission into the pit, before the doors were opened to the public, by means of bribing the attendants, who bade them "be sure, as soon as the crowd rushed in, to pretend to be in a great heat, and to wipe their faces, as if they had just been struggling for entrance." Jack Bannister told me, that one night he was behind the scenes of the theatre when Garrick was playing Lear; and that the tones in which Garrick uttered the words, "O fool, I shall go mad!"* absolutely thrilled him. Garrick used to pay an annual visit to Lord Spencer at Althorp; where, after tea, he generally entertained the company by reading scenes from ShakeThomas Grenville,t who met him there, told me that Garrick would steal anxious glances at speare. "You think I'll weep; No, I'll not weep. I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Or ere I'll weep.-O fool, I shall go mad!” King Lear, act ii. sc. 4.-ED.. †The Right Honourable T. G.-ED. the faces of his audience, to perceive what effect his reading produced; that, one night, Garrick observed a lady listening to him very attentively, and yet never moving a muscle of her countenance; and that, speaking of her next day, he said, "She seems a very worthy person; but I hope that-that-that she won't be present at my reading to-night."-Another evening at Althorp, when Garrick was about to exhibit some particular stage-effect of which they had been talking, a young gentleman got up and placed the candles upon the floor, that the light might be thrown on his face as from the lamps in the theatre. Garrick, displeased at his officiousness, immediately sat down again. My friend Maltby* and I, when we were very young men, had a strong desire to see Dr. Johnson; and we determined to call upon him and introduce ourselves. We accordingly proceeded to his house in Bolt Court; and I had my hand on the knocker, when our courage failed us, and we retreated. Many years afterwards, I mentioned this circumstance to * See notice at the commencement of the Porsoniana in this vol.-ED. Boswell, who said, "What a pity that you did not go boldly in! he would have received you with all kindness." Dr. Johnson said to an acquaintance of mine, "My other works are wine and water; but my Rambler is pure wine." The world now thinks differently. Lady Spencer recollected Johnson well, as she used to see him often in her girlhood. Her mother, Lady Lucan, would say, "Nobody dines with us today; therefore, child, we'll go and get Dr. Johnson." So they would drive to Bolt Court, and bring the doctor home with them. At the sale of Dr. Johnson's books, I met General Oglethorpe, then very, very old, the flesh of his face looking like parchment. He amused us youngsters by talking of the alterations that had been made in London and of the great additions it had received within his recollection. He said that he had shot snipes in Conduit Street! By the by, General Fitzpatrick remembered the time when St. James's Street used to be crowded with the carriages of the ladies and gentlemen who Boswell, who said, "What a pity that you did not go boldly in! he would have receiv. 1 you with all kindness." other works are wine and water, but my Rambler is pure wine." The world this now Lady Spencer rooted crently. son well, as she used to see him of... in 1- hood. Her mother, Lady Lucen, would say, “A body dines with us to day; therefore, child, we'll go and get Dr. Jechnson." So they would drive to Bolt Court, and bring the doctor home with them. At the sale of Dr. Johnson's, 1 . I met Gene ral Oglethorpe, then very, very of, the flesh of his face looking like parchment. Hensed as yog sters by talking of the alter to rade in London and of th received within his had shot snipes in Content! bitions it had sail that he By the by, General Fitzpatrick remembered the time when St. James's Street used to be crowd with the canites of the ladies and genth me who |