subject that had been so fully discussed at our last meeting. Your right to your own property I never disputed; but knew that, were your play even in print, neither of the theatres could in honour represent it, without my concurrence, during the present season. I was quite sure they would not attempt it: but, your right out of the question, I have no objection to its being done one night for your benefit, though I think it ought to be notified that it is to be on that occasion only, and that with my consent and approbation. "I am, as I ever have been, Madam, your real well-wisher, and most humble servant,

"G. COLMAN."

It will be obvious that he thought his fair friend somewhat keen after emolument, and not sufficiently mindful of his fostering care of her offspring. Her mind had been strongly excited this whole year; the pains in her head were excessive, and she was subject to faintings, as likely to proceed from exhaustion as worry. With all her thirst for money, she practised the greatest liberality. She seems to have sent her MS. herself for the use of the Bath manager. The Bonnors were Palmer's assistants, both in his theatre and the post-office, which owes to him the admirable mail-coach plan. The Bonnors were very excellent people, and extremely amiable in their

manners.

VOL. I.

P

"87, Lombard Street, 10th Dec., 1785. "MY DEAR MADAM,

"I beg you will accept my best thanks for your politeness in permitting a perusal of your charming MS. I read and wrote myself almost blind before I went to bed. By correcting the principal speeches, erasing the most striking inelegancies of the pirates, and devoting my best attentions to a preservation of the plot, I have got it into such a state as I trust will answer every end to Mr. P., without discrediting you, though allowances are always made in the country, and if copies are not approved, the audience immediately set them down for spurious, after the original has been so highly approved in the metropolis.1

"I am not without hopes of seeing you in the course of the day or evening, but, as I cannot leave the city so early as I intended, wish to give you the most convincing proof that what we hold so dear, did not fall a sacrifice to the flames we talked about. I am, my dear Madam,

"To Mrs. Inchbald.

66

Very truly and sincerely,
"R. BONNOR.

"I have no game to send you to-day, but I will shortly. Will a few franks be of any use to you?

They had got a pirated edition of the play, which Bonnor makes a little better by the aid of the author's MS. without really copying it, which could not be allowed.

if yes, send the address by bearer-as many as you please, and for what days dated.

"While I write this, Lieut. Bonnor, who beat Sir James Wallace, and was two years imprisoned for it in the King's Bench, is employed in tying up the MS. The little actions of brave men merit notice."

She lent money to some of her connexions who were in difficulties. She made presents to the extent of £38. 18s.; and when her brother George remitted her the interest upon her share of their mother's property, she settled it on her niece Nanny, the daughter of her sister Hunt. She was like the great Cardinal Wolsey, as that honest chronicler Griffith delineated him to Queen Katherine:

"And though he were unsatisfied in getting,
(Which was a sin,) yet in bestowing, Madam,
He was most princely."

CHAPTER X.

The Morells kept a Faro-table in Hart Street-She dines with Mr. Twiss every Sunday-In the evening Kemble and he give readings-The residences of performers in past times-Peter Pindar wooes the Muse An honorable lover, Mr. Glover, offers marriage, a carriage, and a settlement of £500 a year-She vainly preferred Sir Charles Bunbury-Mr. Twiss marries Miss Kemble-Relieves her brother George Simpson-Dramatic concerns Haymarket season-Hayley's Plays in rhyme-Author's esteem for Hayley-The Widow's Vow'-Its success-Robinson buys her 'I'll Tell You What'-City again-Buys £200 5 per Cent. Stock-Begins to grow upon the Manager-Asked to write a pantomime-'Such Things Are' Buys during the run of it £18 per annum Long Annuities, for which she pays £4101. 2s. -Howard now in this country-Odd coincidence with Haswell in the play-Does the 'Midnight Hour'-Buys £200 3 per Cents, and £200 5 per Cents Stock-A hurried Comedy fails-Visits her friends in Suffolk-Mrs. Wells-Topham, Este, 'The World' newspaper-Her lovers or friends seldom apart.

In the preceding chapter, we did not interrupt her proceedings as a writer for the stage by any references to her private life. She continued to lodge with the Morells in Hart Street, who, she found, kept a Faro table. They, however, treated her with very friendly politeness, and she frequently dined with them. Her Sundays, when

he was in town, she passed uniformly with Mr. Twiss, and the readings as uniformly took place. Nor were these frequently ill appropriated to the day. Kemble once read to them a sermon by Dr. Parr. Mrs. Inchbald, without reference to the particular church of which she was a member, read the Bible steadily throughout; so that she may be said to have lived in a state very far from indifference to her highest duties. Practically to be of no public communion, is dangerous, as we are told by Johnson,--and, as showing no example, is pernicious; but she was in her closet, at least cultivating her mind, and no doubt often resolving to be quite right.

She had her sister Dolly to reside with her during the Haymarket season. We suppose in this recess of the patent theatres, the greater part of her visitors migrated into the country. Mrs. and Miss Farren seem to call frequently upon her, and in the summer Mrs. Wells often dined with her; Topham himself occasionally. We do not find any objection to this lady raised by Twiss, who appears to look carefully into Mrs. Inchbald's society. Thus for instance, finding Sir Charles Bunbury very troublesome, he told her she must forbid him her house' she replied that she would see him once more and dismiss him: but he besieged her door, and forced himself up stairs, in spite of the servants. At last she would only receive her