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SUCCESSFUL EQUIVOQUE.

In the Theatre of La Comedie Française, at Paris, while under the management of Moliere, a violent riot took place from a stop being put to the free admission of almost all descriptions of the military. These ferocious personages forced the doors of the theatre, knocking down the door-keepers, and sallied after the whole company, to treat them in the same way. A young actor, named Bejart, who was dressed to play an old character, presented himself to the rioters; and, as no argument is so powerful to a Frenchman as a bon-mot, he disarmed their rage by thus addressing them; "Gentlemen, spare an old man of eighty, who has but three hours to exist."

THE GRANDFATHER OF MRS. SIDDONS.

MR. WARD, the grandfather of this illustrious actress, was a performer in the time of Betterton. He was the original Hazeroth in Fenton's "Mariamne," which was first acted in 1723. On the 22nd of April, 1760, he had a benefit in Dublin, when Miss Waffington made her debut in Sir Harry Wildair.

GOLDSMITH.

GOLDSMITH received £1300 for the only two

plays he ever wrote: viz. £500 for the "Good natured Man," and £800 for "She Stoops to Conquer;" a sum very seldom obtained by dramatic authors.

MOLIERE AND RACINE.

WHEN the "" Misanthrope" of Moliere was first performed, Moliere and Racine were, unfortunately, at variance. A parasite, thinking to please the latter, told him, after the representation, that the piece had failed. "I was there, and can assure you nothing can be more cold." Racine replied, "You were there, and I was not; yet I do not believe you. It is not possible for Moliere to have written a bad piece. See it again, and consider it better."

FAIR ADVERTISEMENT.

THE following is copied from a Daily Advertiser, of the year 1741.

"At Lee and Woodward's Great Theatrical Tiled Booth, near the Turnpike, during the time of Tottenham Court Fair, (which began on Tuesday the 4th inst. and will end on Monday the 17th,) will be presented,

THE GENEROUS FREEMASON;

OR, THE CONSTANT LADY;

With the comical humours of Squire Noodle & his man Doodle. Squire Noodle, Mr. Woodward; Clerimont, Mr. Cross; Doodle, Mr. Yaughan; the rest of the characters from both the Theatres.

To which will be added, a new Pantomime entertainment, in grotesque characters, called

HARLEQUIN SORCERER.

Harlequin, Mr. Woodward; Columbine, Miss Robinson, being her first appearance on any stage.

N. B.-During the time of the fair, we shall begin at ten in the morning, and at nine at night.

August 10, 1741.”

MONCRIFF.

AFTER the appearance of "The Abderites," a comedy of one act, performed in 1732, written by the academician Moncriff, a critic, addressing himself to the author, said,-" The comedies of Moliere made us laugh; and we cry at those of La Chaussé: but we neither laugh, nor cry, at your 'Abderites. Like Theogenes, called, by the Athenians, the Poet of Snow, you keep us in perfect apathy, without exciting the least emotion, either of grief or joy."

A MANAGER'S BULL.

AMONG the MSS. sold with Kemble's library, was a list of the performances at Covent Garden for several seasons, during the management of Rich. On the 17th December, 1748, the following entry was made:

"The Merry Wives of Windsor," and the "What d'ye call it?" by command of the Prince of Wales: Prince George, Prince Edward, and three more Princesses, were at the house this night."

DROLL INCIDENT.

IN a French comic opera of one act, entitled "L'Abondance," one character in the piece personified Virtue. The first appearance of it being deferred, and the manager being requested to say how that happened, he replied, "Mademoiselle Rosette, who is to play the part of Virtue, has just been brought to bed, and we are obliged to wait for her recovery." The answer becoming public, the part was necessarily suppressed.

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF OLD

DRURY," IN 1741.

"On Saturday night, of a gradual decline, and in the 117th year of her age, died “Old Madam Drury," who existed through six reigns, and saw many generations pass in review before her. She remembered Betterton in his declining age; lived in intimacy with Wilkes, Booth, and Cibber; and knew old Macklin when he was a stripling. Her hospitality exceeded that of the English character, even in the early days of festivity, having, almost through the whole of her life, entertained from one to two thousand persons of both sexes, six nights out of the seven in the

week. She was an excellent poetess, could be grave and gay by turns, and yet, sometimes, (catching the disorder from intrusive guests,) could be dull enough in all conscience. Her memory was most excellent, and her singing kept on such a gradual state of improvement, that it was allowed her voice was better the three or four last years of her life, than when she was in her prime, at the latter end of the last century. She had a rout of near two thousand people at her house the very night of her death; and the old lady found herself in such high spirits, that she said she would give them "No Supper" without a "Song;" which being complied with, she fell gently back in her chair, and expired without a groan. Dr. Palmer (one of the Family Physicians) attended her in her last moments, and announced her dissolution to the company."

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EPILOGUE TO TYRANNIC LOVE,"

Spoken by Nell Gwynn, when she was to be carried off dead by the bearers, 1672.

BY DRYDEN.

To the Bearer.

HOLD! are you mad, you d-d confounded dog? I am to rise, and speak the epilogue.

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