One night, sitting at the back of the front boxes with a gentleman of his acquaintance, (before the late alterations at Covent Garden Theatre took place,) one of the under-bred box-lobby loungers of the present day stood up immediately before him, whose person being rather large, covered the sight of the Stage entirely from him. Macklin took fire at this; but managing himself with more temper than usual, patted him gently on the shoulder with his cane, and, with much seeming civility, requested of him, "that when he saw or heard any thing that was entertaining on the Stage, to let him, and the gentleman with him, know of it: for you see, my dear Sir," added the veteran, "that at present we must totally depend on your kindness." This had the desired effect--and the lounger walked off.

Another time sitting nearly in the same place, a Noble Lord, since dead, rather of a suspicious character in his amours, placed himself close by him, and entered into conversation with him. After his Lordship went away, a friend of Macklin's was rallying him on the awkwardness of his late situation. 66 Why yes, Sir," says he, "it was rather critical, I must confess: but what could I do? He offered me the first civilities; and you know there's no turning one's back upon such fellows."

Talking

Talking of the caution necessary to be used in conversation amongst a mixed company, Macklin observed, "Sir, I have experienced, to my cost, that a man, in any situation of life, should never be off his guard-A Scotchman never is; he never lives a moment extempore, and that is one great reason of their success in life.

In a continuation of the same subject, he used to say, with some feeling of his former imprudence, "It is a long time before men learn the art of neutralizing in conversation. I have, for a great part of my life, been endeavouring at it, but was never able to act up to it as I wished. I could never sit still, hearing people assert what I thought wrong things, without labouring to set them right; and, often putting myself in a passion, without considering how few people in mixed companies are worth powder and shot, and how difficult it is to correct the errors of others, when we feel ourselves so wedded to our own. But this folly generally attaches to men of inexperience, and lively imaginations: your dull fellows know better; they have little but neutrality to trust to, and soon find out the policy of it."

Discussing one night, at the Globe Tavern, on the merit of some dramatic character, a brother performer present, retorted with some tartness, as if he had said, "he was a better Actor than himself;" upon which Macklin got up, and, with very becoming dignity, replied, No, Sir, I did not say a better Actor-I said an older Actor."

Macklin was very intimate with Frank Hayman, (at that time one of our first historical painters,) and happening to call in upon him one morning, soon after the death of the painter's wife, (with whom he lived but on indifferent terms,) he found him wrangling with the undertaker about the extravagance of the funeral expences. Macklin listened to the altercation for some time: at last going up to Hayman, with great gravity he observed, Come, come, Frank; though the bill is a little extravagant, pay it in respect to the memory of your poor wife: for, by G-I am sure she would do twice as much for you, had she the same opportunity."

66

When Macklin was in Dublin, on one of his theatrical trips, Reddish, a vain, conceited man, belonging to the same company, (and who gave

it out he was a gentleman of easy fortune,) was playing a character, where, in reading a book, it was necessary, on the approach of another person, to throw it aside. Reddish, however, threw the book into a rivulet, supposed to be at the bottom of the garden. On this, a gentleman in the Pit whispered Macklin, "Is it usual for actors to throw away their books thus?" "Why no, Sir, (replied Macklin,) not for an Actor: but a Gentleman of casy fortune, you know, can afford it."

But, notwithstanding some biting parts of Macklin's character, his conversation, at other times, was liberal, pleasant, and instructive; and he generally observed upon common things, in his own way, with singular force and perspicuity. Speaking of one of our late Naval victories during the American war, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sir! an English man of war is the thing after all.-She speaks all languages-is the best negociator, and the most profound politician, in this island-She was always Oliver Cromwell's Ambassador-She is one of the honestest Ministers of State that ever existed, and never tells a lie-Nor will she suffer the proudest Frenchman, Dutchman, or Spaniard, to bamboozle her, or give her a saucy answer."

Such was Macklin! who may be estimated as a man by the character given by Dr. Johnson of the late Mr. Thomas Sheridan, "that were mankind divided into two classes of good and bad, he would stand considerably within the ranks of the former."

The following is a List of the several Characters performed by Mr. Macklin in London, from the year 1784 to 1781.