110 
Garrick. to Litchfield on half-pay. At the age of ten, his son 
<=" David was sent to the grammar-school, under the tui- 
: .tion of Mr Hunter; but he does not seem to have dis- 
played any early disposition for study. He very soon, 
however, discovered: a turn for mimickry ; aud imbib- 
ed a relish for theatrical performances from the strol- 
ling’ players who occasionally visited Litchfield. Ha- 
ving engaged aset of his school-fellows to undertake 
their several parts ‘im a comedy, he exhibited the [e- 
eruiting Officer before a select audience, in the year 
4727. Garrick was then eleven years old; he perform- 
ed the character of Serjeant Kate, and is said to have 
aeguitted himself with great humour. 
In the year 1729 or 1730, Garrick was sent out to 
his uncle, a thriving wine+merchant at Lisbon ; but 
being found too volatile for a counting-house, he re~ 
turned home in the following year. He was once 
more placed under the care of Mr Hunter ; but his vi- 
vacity was still superior to serious application. In 
2735, the celebrated Samucl Johnson, anative of Litch- 
field, formed the design of opening an academy for 
classical education, in which he was encouraged by 
My Gilbert Walmsley, register of the ecclesiasti 
courty a’ gentleman of most respectable character and 
attainments, and a generous patron of genius. Garrick, 
at that time turned of eighteen, was, with several other 
young men, consigned to the care of Johnson, and be~ 
gan to apply, with some diligence, to the study of the 
‘classics. At the end of twelve months, however, the 
master grew tired of his undertaking, and’ resolved to 
abandon it altogether. Soon afterwards, Johnson and 
Garrick, having become weary of the contracted sphere 
of a country town, and desirous of trying their fortune 
in a more extensive field, determined on an expedition 
to the metropolis. : 
These two friends, who were destined to attain a 
high degree of celebrity iw their separate walks, ac- 
cordingly set out from Litchfield on the 2d of March - 
17387, provided with letters of recommendation from 
Mr Walmsley to Mr Colson, a celebrated mathemati- 
cian, at that time master of the school at Rochester. 
It was intended that Garrick should place himself uns 
der the tuition of Mr Colson; but he seems to have 
relinquished that intention upon his arrival in London, 
On the 9th of March 1737, he was entered a student of 
Lincoln's Inn ; but the state of his finances did not en- 
able him to pursue this profession. About the end of 
that year, his uncle arrived from Lisbon, with the in- 
tention of settling in London ; but his design was frus- 
trated by @ fit of illness, which in a short time put an 
end to his life. He left his nephew David £1000 ; 
and upon this.event, Garrick repaired to Rochester, 
and rem#ined several months under the tuition of Mr 
Colson. During his stay at Rochester, his father died 
of a lingering illness ; and his.mother did not survive 
her husband above a year. Garrick now took his leave 
of Mr Colson, and returned to the metropolis. His 
eldest brother, Peter, had commenced business as a 
wine-merthant, and in #738 David was induced to en- 
ter into partnership with him. This gave occasion to 
the pte, of the facetious Samuel Foote, “ that he re- 
membered Garrick living in Durham-yard, with three 
quarts of vinegar in the cellar, calling himself a wine- 
merchant.” It is certain, however, that his business 
was upora scale rather more extensive; and his situa» 
tion, in the neighbourhood of the two play-houses, 
gave him an opportunity of becoming acquainted with 
the actors of the time, and confirmed his previous ins 
clination for the theatrical profession. 
GARRICK. 
To that career Garrick now determined to devete 
himself; and the low state of the stage, at this period, 
seemed to present ample scope for exercise of his 
genius. Quin and Macklin were the ‘only male per- 
formers. of distinguished reputation, and even their ex-. 
cellence was confined within the limits of a few parti- 
cular characters. Mrs Pritchard, Mrs Woffington, andi 
Mrs Clive shone im comedy... But with these few ex.) 
ceptions, truth and nature seemed: to be banished from 
scenic representation. Comedy was reduced: to» mere! 
farce a y buffoonery ; while in tragedy, violent rant 
and whining declamation were deemed the only just. 
ved these defects in the style of theatrical exhibition ;? 
but he flattered himself that he should be able to ree 
vive a better taste, and to succeed by the trutl: of imi- 
tation. In the ci, ag of the year'1740, he dissolved 
partnership with his brother, and passed the remainder: 
of the year in preparation for his great design ;_study~ 
ing, with all his attention, the best characters of Shake», 
speare, and of our most esteemed comic writers. Ha» 
ving consulted. his friend Mr Giffard, who was mana» 
ger of the theatre in Goodman’s Fields, he determined, 
by his advice, to make an experiment of himself ata 
country theatre.. Accordingly, they both set out for © 
ich, where, in the summer of 1741, there wasa 
+ 
regular company of comedians. Garrick’s diffidence: 
was still so great, that he assumed the name of Lyddal; 
and to prevent every chance of discovery, he chose; 
for his first. appearance, the character.of Aboan’ in the 
tragedy of noko. His reception, however, ‘was 
such, that, in a few days, he ventured to throw off his 
black complexion, and. shew, himself. in the part of 
Chamont inthe Orphan. He afterwards displayed his 
wers in comedy, and. with the same success. Not 
only the inhabitants of the town, but the gentlemen 
all round the country, went in crowds to see the new 
performer ; and thus Ipswich had the honour of having 
first discovered and patronised the genius) of a young 
actor, who soon afterwards became the brilliant orna- 
RE eam, RAT eI Ea Fi” aR ty ian of 
the age in which he lived. .; Min bad 
. Garrick returned to town before the-end of the sum- 
mer, and resolved, in the course of the following winter; 
to present himself before a London audience, With this 
view he offered his services, first to Fleetwood, and af- 
terwards to Rich, the managers of Drury Lane and Cox 
vent Garden ; but was rejected by both. He then ap-~ 
Sentech, ee ppeapeah iol eesile Nose ai 
management, at a ve Ss a wee! 
pitt he shen for his first in the i 
was that of Richard III. wi he performed at Good« 
man’s Fields, on the 19th of October 1741, in a style 
so new, so natural, and so impressive, as secured for him 
a most abundant harvest of use. His fame quick~ 
ly spread over the metropolis; and the public rushed 
in crowds to see a young performer, who forth at 
once a complete master of his art. The most elegant 
company flocked to Goodman’s Fields ; the celebrated 
Mr Pope was drawn from his retreat at Twickenham ; 
and Lord Orrery is reported to have been so much 
struck with the , thathe said, « Iam afraid 
the young man will be spoiled, for he will have no 
competitor.” In the course of the season, Garrick ap-- 
peared in a variety of characters; in Lethario, Cha- i 
mont, Sharp ns his om farce of the Lying Valet, Lord 
Foppington, Captain Plume, and Bayes in the Rehears 
sal. Fe Opie nha, he deised shan i 
of making keen and powerful strictures on the prevail« 
