Books: Letters of Horace Walpole, V4

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(449) John Pine the artist, who published "The Procession and
Ceremonies at the Installation of the Knights of the Bath, 17th
of June, 1725;" folio, 1730; and, in 1739, "The Tapestry Hangings
of the House of Lords," etc. sat for the Fat Friar in Hogarth's
Gates of Calais, and received from that circumstance the name of
"Friar Pine," which he retained till his death. E.

Letter 228 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(450)
Berkeley Square, Nov. 7. 1781. (page 290)

Yesterday, Sir, I received the favour of your letter with the
inclosed prologue,(451) and am extremely pleased with it; not
only as it omits mention of me, for which I give you my warmest
thanks, but as a composition. The thoughts are just and happily
expressed; and the conclusion is so lively and well conceived,
that Mr. Harris, to whom I carried it this morning, thinks it
will have great effect. We are very sorry you have not sent us
an epilogue too; but, before I touch on that, I will be more
regular in my details. Miss Younge has accepted the part very
gracefully; and by a letter I have received from her, in answer
to mine, will, I flatter myself, take care to do justice to it.
Nay, she is so zealous, that Mr. Harris tells me she has taken
great pains with the young person who is to play the daughter,
but whose name I cannot at this moment recollect.(452)

I must now confess that I have been again alarmed. I had a
message from Mr. Harris on Saturday last to tell me that the
performers had been so alert, and were so ready with their parts,
and the many disappointments that had happened this season had
been so prejudicial to him, that it would be easy and necessary
to bring out your play next Saturday the 10th, and desired to
have the prologue and epilogue. This precipitation made me
apprehend that justice would not be done to your tragedy. Still
I did not dare to remonstrate; nor would venture to damp an
ardour which I could not expect to excite again. Instead of
objecting to his haste, I only said I had not received your
prologue and epilogue, but had written for them and expected them
every Minute, though, as it depended on winds, one could never be
sure. I trusted to accidents for delay; at least I thought I
could contrive some, without seeming to combat what he thought
for his interest.

I have not been mistaken. On receiving your prologue yesterday,
I came to town to-day and carried it to him, to show him I lost
no time. He told me Mr. Henderson was not enough recovered, but
he hoped would be well enough to bring out the play on Saturday
se'nnight. That he had had a rough rehearsal yesterday morning,
with which he had been charmed; and was persuaded, and that the
performers think so too. that your play will have great effect.
All this made me very easy. There is to be a regular rehearsal
on Saturday, for which I shall stay in town on purpose; and, if I
find the performers perfect, I think there will be no objection
to its appearance on Saturday se'nnight. I shall rather prefer
that day to a later; as, the Parliament not being met, it will
have a week's run before politics interfere.

Now, Sir, for the epilogue. I have taken the liberty of desiring
Mr. Harris to have one prepared, in case yours should not arrive
in time. It is a compliment to him, (I do not mean that he will
write it himself,) will interest him still more in the cause;
and, though he may not procure a very good one, a manager may
know better than we do what will suit the taste of the times.
The success of a play being previous, cannot be hurt by an
epilogue, though some plays have been saved; and if it be not a
good one, it will not affect you. If you send us a good one,
though too late, it may be printed with the play.

I must act about the impression just the reverse of what I did
about the performance, and must beg you would commission some
friend to transact that affair; for I know nothing of the terms,
and should probably disserve you if I undertook the treaty with
the booksellers, nor should I have time to supervise the
correction of the press. In truth, it is so disagreeable a
business, that I doubt I have given proofs at my own press of
being too negligent; and as I am actually at present reprinting
my Anecdotes of Painting, I have but too much business of that
sort on my hands. You will forgive my saying this, especially
when you consider that my hands are very lame, ind that this
morning in Mr. Harris's room, the right one shook so, that I was
forced to desire him to write a memorandum for me.

I think I have omitted nothing material. Mr. Wroughton is to
play the Count. I do not know who will speak the prologue;
probably not Mr. Henderson, as he has been so very ill: nor
should I be very earnest for it; for the Friar's is so central
and so laborious a part, that I should not wish to abate his
powers by any previous exertion. Perhaps I refine too much, but
I own I think the non-appearance of a principal actor till his
part opens is an advantage.

I will only add that I must beg you will not talk of obligations
to me. You have at least overpaid me d'avance by the honour you
have done me in adopting the Castle of Otranto.

(450) Now first printed.

(451) To the tragedy of the Count of Narbonne. See ant`e, p.
238, letter 184.-E.

(452) Miss Satchell.

Letter 229 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(453)
Strawberry Hill, Nov. 10, 1781. (page 292)

As I have been at the rehearsal of your tragedy to-day, Sir, I
must give you a short a(-count of it; though I am little able to
write, having a good deal of gout in my right hand, which would
have kept me away from any thing else, and made me hurry back
hither the moment it was over, lest I should be confined to town.
Mr. Malone, perhaps, who was at the playhouse too, may have
anticipated me; for I could not save the post to-night, nor will
this go till to-morrow.

Mr. Henderson is still too ill to attend, but hopes to be abroad
by Tuesday: Mr. Hull read his part very well. Miss Younge is
perfectly mistress of her part, is pleased with it, and I think
will do it justice. I never saw her play so ably. Miss
Satchell, who is to play Adelaide, is exactly what she should be:
very young, pretty enough, natural and simple. She has already
acted Juliet with success. Her voice not only pleasing, but very
audible; and, which is much more rare, very articulate: she does
not gabble, as most young women do, even off the stage. Mr.
Wroughton much exceeded my expectation. He enters warmly into his
part, and with thorough zeal. Mr. Lewis was so very imperfect in
his part, that I cannot judge quite what he will do, for he could
not repeat two lines by heart; but he looked haughtily, and as he
pleased me in Percy, which is the same kind of character, I
promise myself he will succeed in this.

Very, very few lines will be omitted; and there will be one or
two verbal alterations to accommodate the disposition, but which
will not appear in the printed copies, of which Mr. Malone says
he will take the management. As Mr. Harris and the players all
seemed zealous and in good humour, I will not contest some
trifles; and, indeed, they were not at all unreasonable. I an)
to see the scenes on Friday, if I am able: and if Mr. Henderson
is well enough, the play will be performed on the 17th or
immediately after. Some slight delays, which one cannot foresee,
may always happen. In truth-, I little expected so much
readiness and compliance both in manager and actors; nor, from
all I have heard of the stage, could conceive such facilities.
>From the moment Mr. Harris consented to perform your play, there
has not been one instance of obstinacy or wrongheadedness
anywhere. If the audience is as reasonable and just, you may,
Sir, promise yourself complete success.

(453) Now first printed.

Letter 230 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(454)
Strawberry Hill, Nov. 13, 1781. )page 293)

I have, this minute, Sir, received the corrected copy of your
tragedy, which is almost all I am able to say, for I have so much
gout in this hand, and it shakes so much, that I am scarce able
to manage my pen. I will go to town if I can, and consult Mr.
Henderson on the alterations; though I confess I think it
dangerous to propose them so late before representation, which
the papers say again is to be on Saturday if Mr. Henderson is
well enough. Mr. Malone shall have the corrected copy for
impression.

I own I cannot suspect that Mr. Sheridan will employ any
ungenerous arts against your play. I have never heard any thing
to give me suspicions of his behaving unhandsomely; and as you
indulge my zeal and age a liberty of speaking like a friend, I
would beg you to suppress your sense of the too great
prerogatives of theatric monarchs. I hope you will again and
again have occasion to court the power of their crowns; and,
therefore if not for your own, for the sake of the public, do not
declare war with them. It has not been my practice to preach
slavery; but, while one deals with and depends on mimic
sovereigns, I would act policy, especially when by temporary
passive obedience one can really lay a lasting obligation on
one's country, which your plays really are.

I am glad you approve what I had previously undertaken, Mr.
Harris's procuring an epilogue; he told me on Saturday that he
should have one. You are very happy in friends, Sir; which is
another proof of your merit. Mr. Malone is not less zealous than
Mr. Tighe, to whom I beg my compliments.

(454) Now first printed.

Letter 231 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(455)
Berkeley Square, Nov. 18, 1781. (page 293)

As Mr. Malone undertook to give you an account, Sir, by last
night's post, of the great success of the tragedy, I did not
hasten home to write; but stayed at the theatre, to talk to Mr.
Harris and the actors, and learn what was said, besides the
general applause. Indeed I never saw a more unprejudiced
audience, nor more attention. There was not the slightest
symptom of disapprobation to any part, and the plaudit was loud
and long when given out again for Monday. I mention these
circumstances in justification of Mr. Sheridan, to whom I never
spoke in MY life, but who certainly had not sent a single person
to hurt you. The prologue was exceedingly liked; and, for
effect, no play ever produced more fears. In the green-room I
found that Hortensia's sudden death was the only incident
disapproved; as we heard by intelligence from the pit; and it is
to be deliberated tomorrow whether it may not be preferable to
carry her off as in a swoon. When there is Only SO slight an
objection, you cannot doubt of your full success. It is
impossible to say how much justice Miss Younge did to your
writing. She has shown herself' a great mistress of her
profession, mistress of dignity, passion, and of all the
sentiments you have put into her hands. The applause given to
her description of Raymond's death lasted some minutes, and
recommenced; and her scene in the fourth act, after the Count's
ill-usage, was played in the highest perfection. Mr. Henderson
was far better than I expected from his weakness, and from his
rehearsal yesterday, with which he was much discontented himself.
Mr. Wroughton was very animated, and played the part of the Count
much better than any man now on the stage would have done. I
wish I could say Mr. Lewis satisfied me; and that poor child Miss
Satchell was very inferior to what she appeared at the
rehearsals, where the total silence and our nearness deceived us.
Her voice has no strength, nor is she yet at all mistress of the
stage. I have begged Miss Younge to try what she can do with her
by Monday. However, there is no danger to your play: it is fully
established. I confess I am not only pleased on your account,
Sir, but on Mr. Harris's, as he has been very obliging to me. I
am not likely to have any more intercourse with the stage; but I
shall be happy if I leave my interlude there by settling an amity
between you and Mr. Harris, whence I hope he will draw profit and
you more renown.

(455) Now first printed.

Letter 232 To The Hon. H. S. Conway.
Berkeley Square, Sunday morning, Nov. 18, 1781. (page 294)

I have been here again for three days, tending and nursing and
waiting on Mr. Jephson's play. I have brought it into the world,
was well delivered of it, it can stand on its own legs--and I am
going back to My Own quiet hill, never likely to have any thing
more to do with theatres. Indeed it has seemed strange to me,
who for these three or four years have not been so many times in
a playhouse, nr knew six of the actors by sight, to be at two
rehearsals, behind the scenes, in the green-room, and acquainted
with half the company. The Count of Narbonne was played last
night with great applause, and without a single murmur of
disapprobation. Miss Younge has charmed me.(456) She played
with intelligence that was quite surprising. The applause to one
of her speeches lasted a minute, and recommenced twice before the
play could go on. I am sure you will be pleased with the conduct
and the easy beautiful language of the play, and struck with her
acting.

(456) In 1786, this celebrated actress was married to Mr. Pope,
the comedian. She died in 1797, and was buried in Westminster
Abbey.-E.

Letter 233 To Robert Jephson, Esq.(457)
Strawberry Hill, Nov. 21, 1781. (page 295)

I have just received your two letters, Sir, and the epilogue,
which I am sorry came so late, as there are very pretty things in
it: but I believe it would be very improper to produce it now, as
the two others have been spoken.

I am sorry you are discontent with there being no standing figure
of Alphonso, and that I acquiesced in its being cumbent. I did
certainly yield, and I think my reasons will justify me. In the
first place, you seemed to have made a distinction between the
statue and the tomb; and, had both been represented, they would
have made a confusion. But a more urgent reason for my
compliance was the shortness of the time, which did not allow the
preparation of an entire new scene, as I proposed last year and
this, nay, and mentioned it to Mr. Harris. When I came to the
house to see the scene prepared, it was utterly impossible to
adjust an erect figure to it; nor, indeed, do I conceive, were
the scene disposed as you recommend, how Adelaide could be
stabbed behind the scenes. As I never disguise the truth, I must
own,.-for I did think myself so much obliged to Mr. Harris,--that
I was unwilling to heap difficulties on him, when I did not think
they would hurt your piece. I fortunately was not mistaken: the
entrance of Adelaide wounded had the utmost effect, and I believe
much greater than would have resulted from her being stabbed on
the stage. In short, the success has been so complete, and both
your poetry and the conduct of the tragedy are so much and so
justly admired, that I flatter myself you will not blame me for
what has not produced the smallest inconvenience. Both the
manager and the actors were tractable, I believe, beyond example;
and it is my nature to bear some contradiction, when it will
carry material points. The very morning, the only morning, I had
to settle the disposition, I had another difficulty to
reconcile,-the competition of the two epilogues, which I was so
lucky as to compromise too. I will say nothing of my being three
hours each time, on two several days, in a cold theatre with the
gout on me; and perhaps it was too natural to give up a few
points in order to get home, for which I ask your pardon. Yet
the event shows that I have not injured you and if I was in one
instance impatient, I flatter myself that my solicitations to Mr.
Harris and Miss Younge, and the zeal I have shown to serve you,
will atone for my having in one moment thought of myself, and
then only when the reasons that weighed with me were so
plausible, that without a totally new scene, which the time would
not allow, I do not see how they could have been obviated. Your
tragedy, Sir, has taken such a rank upon the stage, that one may
reasonably hope it will hereafter be represented with all the
decorations to your mind; and I admire it so truly, that I shall
be glad to have it conducted by an abler mechanist than your
obedient humble servant.

(457) Now first collected.

Letter 234 To The Earl Of Strafford.
Berkeley Square, Nov. 27, 1781. (page 296)

Each fresh mark of your lordship's kindness and friendship, calls
on me for thanks and an answer: every other reason would enjoin
me silence. I not only grow so old, but the symptoms of age
increase so fast, that, as they advise me to keep out of the
world, that retirement makes me less fit to be informing or
entertaining. Those philosophers who have sported on the verge
of the tomb, or they who have affected to sport in the same
situation, both tacitly implied that it was not out of their
thoughts; and however dear what we are going to leave may be, all
that is not particularly dear must cease to interest us much. If
those reflections blend themselves with our gayest thoughts, must
not their hue grow more dusky when public misfortunes and
disgraces cast a general shade?(458) The age, it is true, soon
emerges out of every gloom, and wantons as before. But does not
that levity imprint a still deeper melancholy on those who do
think? Have any of our calamities corrected us? Are we not
revelling on the brink of the precipice? Does administration grow
more sage, or desire that we should grow more sober? Are these
themes for letters, my dear lord! Can one repeat common news with
indifference, while our shame is writing for future history by
the pens of all our numerous enemies? When did England see two
whole armies lay down their arms and surrender themselves
prisoners? Can venal addresses efface such stigmas, that will be
recorded in every country in Europe? Or will such disgraces have
no consequences? Is not America lost to us? Shall we offer up
more human victims to the demon of obstinacy; and shall we tax
ourselves deeper to furnish out the sacrifice? These are
thoughts I cannot stifle at the moment that enforces them; and
though I do not doubt but the same spirit of dissipation that has
swallowed up all our principles will reign again in three days
with its wonted sovereignty, I had rather be silent than vent my
indignation. Yet I cannot talk, for I cannot think, on any other
subject. It was not six days ago, that in the midst of four
raging wars I saw in the papers an account of the Opera and of
the dresses of the company; and thence the town, and thence of
course the whole nation were informed that Mr. Fitzpatrick had
very little powder in his hair.(459) Would not one think that
our newspapers were penned by boys just come from school for the
information of their sisters and cousins? Had we had Gazettes
and Morning Posts in those days, would they have been filled with
such tittle-tattle after the battle of Agincourt, or in the more
resembling weeks after the battle of Naseby? Did the French
trifle equally even during the ridiculous war of the Fronde? If
they were as impertinent then, at least they had wit in their
levity. We are monkeys in conduct, and as clumsy as bears when
we try to gambol. Oh! my lord! I have no patience with my
country! and shall leave it without regret!--Can we be proud
when all Europe scorns us? It was wont to envy us, sometimes to
hate us, but never despised us before. James the First was
contemptible, but he did not lose an America! His eldest
grandson sold us, his younger lost us--but we kept ourselves.
Now we have run to meet the ruin--and it is coming!

I beg your lordship's pardon, if I have said too much--but I do
not believe I have. You have never sold yourself, and therefore
have not been accessary to our destruction. You must be happy
now not to have a son, who would live to grovel in the dregs of
England. Your lordship has long been so wise as to secede from
the follies of your countrymen. May you and Lady Strafford long
enjoy the tranquillity that has been your option even in better
days!--and may you amuse yourself without giving loose to such
reflections as have overflowed in this letter from your devoted
humble servant!

(458) The fatal intelligence of the surrender of the British
forces at Yorktown, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, to the
combined armies of America and France, under General Washington,
had reached England on the 25th.-E.

(459) The following picture of fashionable life at the time of
Walpole's lament, is by Mr. Wilberforce:--"When I
left the University, so little did I know of general society,
that I came up to London stored with arguments to
prove the authenticity Of Rowley's poems; and now
I was at once immersed in politics and fashion. The very first
time I went to Boodle's, I won twenty.five guineas
of the Duke of Norfolk. I belonged at this time to five clubs-
-Miles and Evans's, Brookes's, Boodle's, White's, Goostree's.
The first time I was at Brookes's, scarcely
knowing any one, I joined, from niere shyness, in play at the
faro-table, where George Selwyn kept bank. A friend,
who knew my inexperience, and regarded me as a victim decked out
for sacrifice, called to me, 'What, Wilberforce! is
that you?' Selwyn quite resented the interference; and, turning
to him, said, in his most expressive tone, 'O,
Sir, don't interrupt Mr. Wilberforce; he could not be better
employed!' Nothing could be more luxurious than the style of
these clubs, Fox, Sheridan, Fitzpatrick, and all
your leading men, frequented them, and associated upon the
easiest terms; you chatted, played at cards, or gambled, as you
pleased. I was one of those who met to spend an
evening in memory of Shakspeare, at the Boar's Head, Eastcheap.
Many professed wits were present, but Pitt was the most amusing
of the party. He played a good deal at
Goostree's; and I well remember the intense earnestness which he
displayed when joining in those games of chance. he perceived
their increasing fascination, and soon after suddenly abandoned
them for ever." Life, vol, i. p, 16.-E.

Letter 235To The Earl Of Buchan.(460)
Berkeley Square, Dec. 1, 1781. (page 297)

I am truly sensible of, and grateful for, your lordship's
benevolent remembrance of me, and shall receive with great
respect and pleasure the collection your lordship has been
pleased to order to be sent to me. I must admire, too, my lord,
the generous assistance that you have lent to your adopted
children; but more forcibly than all I feel your pathetic
expressions on the distress of the public, which is visible even
in this extravagant and thoughtless city. The number of houses to
be let in every street, whoever runs may read.

At the time of your writing your letter, your lordship did not
know the accumulation of misfortune and disgrace that has fallen
on us;(461) nor should I wish to be the trumpeter of my country's
calamities. Yet as they must float on the surface of the mind,
and blend their hue -with all its emanations, they suggest this
reflection, that there can be no time so proper for the
institution of inquiries into past story as the moment of the
fall of an empire,--a nation becomes a theme for antiquaries,
when it ceases to be one for an historian!--and while its ruins
are fresh and in legible preservation.

I congratulate your lordship on the discovery of the Scottish
monarch's portrait in Suabia, and am sorry you did not happen to
specify of which; but I cannot think of troubling your lordship
to write again on purpose; I may probably find it mentioned in
some of the papers I shall receive.

There is one passage in your lordship's letter in which I cannot
presume to think myself included; and yet if I could suppose I
was, it would look like most impertinent neglect and unworthiness
of the honour that your lordship and the society have done me, if
I did not at least offer. very humbly to obey it. You are pleased
to say, my lord, that the members, when authors, have agreed to
give copies of such of their works as any way relate to the
objects of the institution. Amongst my very trifling
publications, I think there are none that can pretend even
remotely to that distinction, but the Catalogue of Royal and
Noble Authors, and the Anecdotes of Painting, in each of which
are Scottish authors or artists. If these should be thought
worthy of a corner on any shelf of the society's library, I
should be proud sending, at your lordship's command, the original
edition of the first. Of the latter I have not a single set left
but my own. But I am printing a new edition in octavo, with many
additions and corrections, though without cuts, as the former
edition was too dear for many artists to purchase. The new I will
send when finished, if I could hope it would be acceptable, and
your lordship would please to tell me by what channel.