shall not go regularly back, but at once skip to that period when, in consequence of a difference of opinion with Mr. Harris, about the mode of altering Amphytrion-which, being done his way, was, as I predicted, performed without success-that gentleman and I separated. At that time I applied to a friend of mine to enter into some scheme with me, who prevailed on several other gentlemen to join him in building the Circus. The history of that place the infamy of its present occupier--the blindness of the Surry magistrates-the ill treatment of the proprietors--and my incorrigible weakness and folly in tamely suffering so many impositions, would make up matter for a much larger work than this I am writing-but, as I will not pay your patience so ill a compliment as to require that you should rake in a jakes, and as also I mean, in my publick decease, to die in peace with all men, I shall only say that, having laboured four times more during three years than any other man ever did, I found I had nothing 'for it but to regain the theatres. This was certainly a forlorn hope, and I struggled with it as long as I could. In particular, I had the pleasure of kicking down about 2907. by building a castle in the air near Pancras, by virtue of an agreement with the famous-I had almost added another syllable-Jacob Leroux, Esq. architect, brick-maker, and trading-justice in the district of Clerkenwell. This gentleman, with a dastardly speciousness for which a HyeX...VOL. 4.

na might envy him, promised me a license in the name of several magistrates who opposed the motion, and knowing, I suppose, the actual value of the protestations he had made, erected the skeleton of a building, which was blown down by the first high wind after the license was refused.

Foiled thus in every attempt at independen cy, I did my utmost to get reconnected with the theatres, but to no purpose. One manœuvre, which I practised to accomplish this, deserves notice. I got a friend to present a comedy to Drury-lane, without naming the author, who had so much interest, that Mr. Sheridan himself-read about half a dozen pages, and praised them. The rest of the piece was read by Mrs. Sheridan, who liked it very much. It was then referred to Mr. Tickel, who referred it to Mrs. Tickel, who read and approved it. After this, Mr. Tickel pronounced that, with a few alter ations, it would do; and something was in agitation, though never completed, concerning an accommodation for 100%. till the piece should make its appearance. My friend is since gone abroad-and seeing I had nothing else for it, I wrote to Mr. Tickel, setting him right concern ing the author of the comedy, and desiring to have it returned. Though I took a great deal of pains to get an answer to the letter, I have never yet received one, and the piece of course remains in their hands. As I shall certainly, throughout the whole of this work, be very

tenacious of advancing what I do not positively, and from my own conviction, know to be fact, I shall remark upon the above-that, as I had no communication whatever with Mr. Tickel concerning this same comedy, I could come at what I have related through my friend's account only. I have a pretty strong presumptive proof, however, that it is literally true; for, during the transaction, to clench the business, which the readers see it did with a vengeance, a near relation of Mr. Tickel had a cuFacy given him of two livings, not an hundred miles from Bedford, by the very gentleman who presented the comedy. Another friend, in the same manner, sent an afterpiece to Mr. Harris, who returned it, saying, though it had great theatrical merit, it would not do on the stage."

Hear this, ye would-be-witlings, and rejoice! theatrical merit is no longer a dramatick requi site! This piece is now in the hands of Mr. Colman, who, by agreement, was to have performed it during his late season-but, whether he did not wish to risk the principal character with any body but Mr. Palmer, which is the reason he assigned to me, adding, that the piece was so well written it deserved good actors, for that it was in the style of the Guardians, but more delicate-or, whether he was shocked at the cruel and inhuman murder of Harvest Home -or, in short, whatever may be his reasons, it still lies in his hands. I even, to leave nothing untried, made an agreement with Mr. Daly, the

Irish manager, which, after being broken, on his side, three times, yielded me, in three years, about 120%-whereas, had it been properly kept, I must have received six times that sum.

Finding myself therefore in the state of Adam, with all the world before me, where to choose for I have pretty well proved that the theatrical paradise was shut against me-it struck me that the warm and fostering climate of Asia might reyive a drooping plant that had been neglected in its native soil; but then, as Mr. Bays says, came in the Quomodo-how to procure the ways and means. I had never travelled much in England, and I thought it would be no bad thing to pay my personal respects to my old patrons, to thank them for their liberality, and at the same time present them with such an entertainment as should not only insure me their good wishes and interest them for my prosperity, but supply me with the means to accomplish my design.

Determined however to make sure of every thing in my power, I wrote to Mr. Harris, tel ling him my intention, and offering to sale such materials as I conceived might be useful to him. I received a letter encouraging me to furnish him with pieces of any description; and I have actually from that time to this, at my leisure, been hard at work for him.

But I know not how it is-my mind misgives me on this subject. I have since seen Mr. Har-* is at Bristol, and heard from him at York.

However, I shall anticipate nothing--al matters shall come in their proper order-and, if you have the patience I wish you-for patience you must have if you jog on with me through my Tour-indeed, if I were to follow the examples of some musical travellers, I should exercise no other virtue in you-you will permit me to place the banquet I have invited you to, in what manner I please. Interest forbid, having such work for my own imagination, I should not leave the reader as much room as possible for the workings of his. It has been affirmed that the pleasures we fancy, are completer than those we enjoy; and, if this position be well founded, who knows but, by constantly keeping curiosity on tiptoe, I shall receive credit for having furnished a good feast, even though half the merit lay in exciting the appetite. There is more art, say the painters, in concealing than showing. Would any one read an epigram if the last line were taken away? Not to gratify, would be to make a Tantalus of the reader; but still let us remember that possession, easily attained, is but another word for satiety.

Thus, having, by a regular gradation, with a few shirts and books in a trunk, a well digested plan in my head, and a letter from Dr. Arnold to Dr. Hayes, in my pocket, seated myself inthe Oxford stage-coach, my next letter will, of Course, contain what happened to me at that confusion of tongues. In the prosecution of which, as well as of all the rest of my adventures,