417 
just come from the first play I saw since you left the muti- 
lated stage. And had not the capital actor in the great farce 
of state been there, and commanded, with the journey to 
London, the King and the Miller, instead of being enter- 
tained with Cibber and Dodsley’s dramma, I had conversed 
at home with the living dead, rather than have murdered time 
with the dead living. How completely has Miss Nossiter 
and you robbed me of the chief, yea, of all the entertainment, 
this great town could afford me, the Theatre and my friends? 
All is dead without you. G. is not always.able with offered 
orders to fill his house. And R. can not get groundlings for 
love or money to occupy his cold, empty benches. It is un- 
fortunate for the town, that he is old and lacks choler; or 
poor Harlequin had, before now, hanged himself or broke his 
neck. Well, what a misfortune it has in all senses proved, 
that I was forced to travel! Whilst I lay confined to my 
narrow hative place, I thought a Doctor of Dublin an Hippo- 
erates, a Fellow of T.C. D. something more than man; G. 
Faulkner, another Elziver; Stannard and Singleton honest 
men; Sheridan a Roscius; Bellamy no w. ; and your 
humble servant, then C.L. of O.Q. apothecary, a much 
greater man, than I now think C. L. of R. and L. M. D.— 
Now, how are the mighty fallen! All fallen so low in my 
esteem, that I think few or none of them worth the insignifi- 
mine insignificant self. See, I prate, as 
cant notice of: 
when I ingrossed you by your hospitable fireside! Let me 
say something serious. The remnant of your family is well. 
So are all your friends, who for themselves mourn your loss, 
whilst the exult at your prospects, and see a falling house 
here unmoved. Atkinson and his worthy wife are well. Br. 
a villain! He will not quit the business. Adair, wrote 
letters for you to my house; he has forgot the letter, and I 
could not explane it to him. Convent Garden is on the brink 
of Damnation; psha! it was always so; I mean the theatre : 
Nothing less than G. ii, or G. iii, to be, no less actors, in all 
2Q2 
