I 
8G(j JOHN JAMES HEIDEGGAR. 
objects better than I do, he would frequently say to the father of the 
gentleman who published this anecdote, Be so kind as to give away 
liiis money for me ” This well-known liberality, perhaps, contributed 
much to -his carrying on that diversion with so little opposition as he 
met with. 
That he was a good judge of music, appears from his opera ; but 
this is all that is known of his mental abilities, unless it mav be 
added, in honour of his memory, that he walked from Chairing-cross 
to Temple-bar, and back again, and when he came home, wrote down 
every sign on each side of the Strand. 
As to his person, though he was tall and well made, it was not 
very pleasing, from an unusual hardness of features. But he was the 
first to joke upon his ow n ugliness ; and he once laid a wager with 
the earl of Chesterfield, that within a certain given time his lordship 
would not be able to produce so hideous a face in all London. 
After a strict search, a woman w-as found whose features were at 
first sight thought stronger than Heideggar’s, but upon clapping her 
head-dress upon himself, he was universally allowed to have won the' 
wager. 
Jolly, a w^ell-known tailor, carrying his bill to a noble duke ; his 
grace, for evasion, said, “I never will pay you till you bring me an 
uglier fellow than yourself.” Jolly bowled and retired, wrote a letter, 
and sent it by a servant to Heideggar, saying, “ his grace wished to 
see him the next morning on particular business.” Heideggar attended, 
and Jolly was there to meet him ; and in consequence, as soon as 
lieideggar’s visit was over, Jolly received the cash. 
The late facetious duk^ of Montagu, the memorable contriver of 
the bottle-conjurer at the theatre in the Hay-Market, gave an enter- 
tainment at the Devil Tavern, Temple-bar, to several of the nobility 
and gentry, to whom he imparted his plot. Heideggar W'as invited, 
and, a few hours after dinner, was made drunk, and laid insensible 
upon abed. A profound sleep ensued ; when the late Mrs. Salmon’s 
daughter was introduced, who took a mould from his face in plaster 
of Paris. From this a mask was made, and a few days before the 
next masquerade, at which the king promised to be present with the 
countess of Yarmouth, the duke made application to Heideggar’s valet 
de chambre, to know what suit of clothes he was likely to wear, and 
then procuring a similar dress, and a person of the same stature, he 
gave him his instructions. On the evening of the masquerade, as 
soon as his majesty w'as seated, who was always known by the con- 
ductor of the entertainment and the officers of the court, though 
concealed by his dress from the company, Heideggar, as usual, 
ordered the music to play “ God save the King but his back was no 
sooner turned, than the false Heideggar ordered them to strike up 
“ Charly over the Water.” The whole company were instantly thunder- 
struck, and all the courtiers, not in the plot, were thrown into a stupid 
consternation. Heideggar flew to the music gallery, stamped and 
raved, and accused the musicians of drunkenness, or of being set on 
by some secret enemy to ruin him. The king and the countess laugh- 
ed sp immoderately, that they hazarded a discovery. While Heideg- 
gar stayed in the gallery, “God save the King” was the tune ; but when. 
