258 RECOLLECTIONS OF THE OLD ACTORS. 



of the talents displayed by him, to astonish all the country; and that his 

 success was equally great in this insignificant but difficult part, which 

 he sustained, very frequently, through his long life, may be proved 

 by this anecdote, which I have the means of knowing to be authentic. 



Peter Garrick, the elder brother, lived at Litchfield, at his ease, 

 upon the income he possessed. On the occasion of some townsman 

 coming to London, Peter Garrick addressed a letter to his brother 

 David, in Southampton-street, where he then lived, requesting him 

 to show the lions of London to their townsman, with whatever other 

 civilities he could confer. The man of Litchfield arrived in the great 

 city, proceeded to Southampton-street, and on knocking at the door 

 was told Mr. Garrick was not at home, being engaged to attend the 

 rehearsal at Drury-lane theatre that morning, as he must play Abel 

 Drugger in the " Alchemist " that evening, when he would be sure 

 to see him, if he did not find him before. 



John of Litchfield, acting agreeably to this information, went to 

 the theatre, but instead of returning to Southampton-street, went 

 back to Litchfield, where he attended his own business, and took no 

 notice of Peter Garrick. 



The latter gentleman, surprised at this neglect, was at some pains 

 to get sight of his townsman, and at last succeeded, by getting him 

 into his parlour, in obtaining the desired opportunity to question him 

 why he did not bring an answer to his letter. 



"Because your brother did not give any," was the conclusive 

 answer. 



" Indeed," said Peter, f ' that is very extraordinary, for David is 

 generally more correct in his correspondence. What did he say to 

 you?" The man was silent. Peter now saw there was something to 

 be explained in the business ; and insisting upon an answer, kept him 

 in the room till it was given. John of Litchfield took fire at this 

 coercion, exclaiming 



" Well, master Garrick, as you will have an answer, you shall have 

 it, take it as you please. I went to Southampton-street ; David was 

 not at home j they said I might go to him at the playhouse. Well, 

 they made me pay three shillings to go in, which I thought a strange 

 proceeding ; howsoever, that was nothing ; when he did show himself 

 he was the nastiest, dirtiest, shuffling little blackguard that I ever 

 put my eyes upon. I would not speak to him, nor see him, or own 

 him as a townsman, though he is your brother ; so I came away, 

 and left him to play his dirty tricks by himself." 



Garrick, besides making Shakspeare's finest characters his own, re- 

 vived Ben Jonson's " Alchemist," of which himself was the prin- 

 cipal support as long as he lived. Soon after his death it was neg- 

 lected, and has since been forgotten. He, likewise, brought into 

 permanent notice " Every Man in his Humour/' taking Kitely to 

 himself, giving Bobadil to Woodward, and Stephen to Shuter ; and 

 such was the strength of his company, that the representation of this 

 play in all its parts, though the characters are numerous, was more 

 perfect than that of any other even in those days of perfection ; but 

 death carried off several of the inferior, yet not unimportant charac- 

 ters, which could not be replaced by others of equal merit. When 



