Memoirs of Mrs. Frances Abington. king of France into a milliner that dealt in finical modes, carmine, falfe hair, and patches; and many other crowned heads into pick-pockets, fhoplifters, makers of card-matches, and venders of frippery. There were many furprifing phonomena in both Houfes. The Duke of Gn and Lord G-v-r, being remarkable for their chastity, were maids of honour; Lord C-m became a tall young lady, genteel to admiration, and very much refembled that charmer lady W-g-e; lord Cn was the finarteft lady imaginable; lord M---d was transformed into an old highland woman and made head fcullion in the kitchen of the Palace at Avignon; Lord P---t was transformed into the Prefident of the Female Coterie, as the fitteft person to defend that modeft inftitution, he having fhewn an invincible spirit of obftinacy in the famous lead cause; and the Premier was no fooner made an oysterwench, than the bawled her wellfleets with fuch a hideous noife, that the almoft fplit my brain. The whole bench of B---ps, except two, were by an eafy tranfition or tranflation, converted into old women, and deftined to fweep the pews, and duft the pulpit-cufhions, &c. in the churches of their feveral diocefes, having never done any duty, but in a certain great affembly, fince they were [romoted to their fees. Two or three middlesex juftices naturally flided into bawds and trulls, and feemed happy that they were def ned to keep company with their old iriends, informers, bullies, affidavitmen, and thief-takers. Memoirs of Mrs. Neminence, generally acknowledgA ed in any of those profeffions that are connected with the polite arts, ent tle the perfons poffeffed thereof to become objects of curious enquiry, as to their origin and progreffive advances to that degree of merit in which they fgure; and not diffimilar in point is the cafe of that celebrated Actress of VOL. VI. 105 Several military officers were traníformed into modern fine ladies, in order to become adultreffes in high life, in fpite of the code; a fcene of action to which they were no ftrangers in their male-ftate, or rather the chief inftruments of connubial infidelity. The Gentlemen of the Long-robe were turned into fish women, and difperfed in the polite feminaries and inns of court at Billingsgate, St. Giles's and Wapping, to improve their oratory. The Prefident of the College of Phyficians was transformed to a groomefs of ftole; and the catharth and emetic tribe, having long traded in intestines, fpontaneously became tripe-women, threw off their formal wigs, dropped their gold headed canes and snuff boxes, and haftened to the Thames to purge their excremental wares, and prepare them for Clare-Market and Leaden hall. I minuted down a thousand other ftrange metamorphofes, which I will fend you when I have leisure to tranfcribe them. It was now the ladies turn, who had been tittering all the while at the odd changes, to be gratified in their darling with, of being transformed into men. It was done in a moment, and a fet of pretty fellows they were; "framed (as fhakefpear fays) to make woman falfe"--and fo impatient to exercise their new power, that all (except one who wore a diadem) immediately fell to ravishing the new-made virgins with more eagerness than the Romans feized the Sabines. But they struggled fo hard, and screamrd so horridly, that I luckily awaked, and faved my virtue. 106 Memoirs of Mrs. Frances Abington. foremost ornaments. She is, however, defcended from an ancient and honourable family near Norton, in Derbyfhire, where Chriftopher Barton (the chief of that family) at the acceflion of King William the third, left four fons; one a Colonel in that King's army, another a ranger of one of the royal parks, the third a Prebend of Westminster, and the fourth (the youngeft) was the grandfather of our prefent heroine. At the age of fourteen fhe had the misfortune of lofing a tender and indulgent mother, who fpared no expence in educating a darling daughter, in every fpecies of improvement that fo young a mind was capable of receiving. On this family difafter she was taken into the care of a female relation of her father, the late Mrs. S--k---n, in Sherrard-ftreet, Golden-fquare, where the continued near three years; her vivacity and engaging manners making her the favourite of all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance; and the promised blef fing of a future comfort to her family. About this period, Mifs R---d, a young lady from Bath, came, under a particular recommeudation, to boa d in the fame houfe, where the foon commenced an intimacy with young Frances, whom she used to take frequently with her to fee plays, and communicated an intention of going upon the stage, advising the other to do the fame, as a more preferable ftate than tha: of depending on any friend or relation; that he had intereft enough to introduce her to the fame manager the was then in treaty with, and doubt ed not of her fucceeding. The propofal did by no means, difplease our young heroine; and from that moment the defire of becoming actress was her conftant and utmost with. While this project was carry ing on, Mrs. S--k--n difcovered, that her Bath acquaintance was not the tighteft laced of Diana's train, and had a favourite Endymion in a private corner. This intrigue Mifs R--d had carried on, for a confiderable time, with the greateft fecrecy, even from her young female companion, On warning being given her to feek for other lodgings, the prevailed on Frances to quit her friend's house, the better to effect the plan of going on the ftage together ;---but gallantries being prevalent in the mind of this fair monitor, the prudently went off with her Enamorato, and left the decoyed young Frances (whofe friends fhe had deferted) to fhift for herself in the best manner he could. In this fituation fhe confulted with her abilites, to know in what form of exertion they might moft effectually rescue her from the state in which her fair friend had left her. The profeffion of actress presented itself a-new to her, as the most flattering profpect, as well as the most prac ticable; and at that time a very favourable opportunity happened for her making an effay. The late Mr. The. Cibber, fon of Colly Cibber, Efq; Poet Laureat, a comedian of eminence in his days of profperity, had obtained a licence from the Lord Chamberlain to exhibit plays for a certain number of nights at the theatre in the Haymarket; to which theatre our heroine was invited to make her firft appearance ;--the character the attempted was that of Miranda in the Bufy Body, which the executed with fuch an amazing spirit and propriety, that the received the compliments of feveral acknowledged connoiffeurs in the theatrical affairs, who had been prefent during the whole exhibition. From that night her alliance proved of great emolument to this occafional manager, and which he, ever after, most gratefully acknowledged. The reputation which the thus acquired, having reached the ears of the managers of Drury Lane Theatre a recommendation of her abilities met with no difficulty, although at that time particularly full of female Performers. As this event turned out fo agreeable to her on the one hand, on the other it procured her a number of admirers; among which was the ingenious Mr. James Abington, whom he was foon after married; but, on her perceiving that there was but little profpect of advancing at DruryLane Houfe, as fast as an impatient defire of excelling prompted her, through the oppofing i. terets of Miss Macklin and Mifs Pritchard, (introduced at to Memoirs of Mrs. Frances Abington. this very period under the warmeft funshine of theatrical influence, to public favour) the refolved on repairing to Ireland, whither fhe was accompanied by her huft and. To the courteous and hofpitable in habitants of that kingdom, the needed no other credentials but the fuper-theatrical talents with which he was gifted by nature; and that being called forth by the genial hand, continued foftering of public applaufe on the Dublin fage (the beft feminary for thofe of London) the not only shooted forward, but even out-bloomed the faireft conceived hopes of her excelling in Thalia's department. In this admired point of view it is not to be wondered, that, among a people, one of whofe characteristics is gallantry, many of the young fashionable gentry and nobility paid their complimentary addreffes to fo attractive an object, and to which it is hard for female vanity not to liften. Whether the might have hearkened with too encouraging an indulgence to fuch addreffes, or, that the hufband was, by infinuation from others, or fuggeftion from himself, induced to believe he did, is what the writer of this paper cannot take upon him to affert; but it was about that time the husband began to conceive the antipathy againft her, which, from her consciousness of its being undeserved, the affected to return with equal marks of contempt and indignation, till, by degrees, what was at first but a femblance in her, became at last to be a fixed reality, which, to render immoveable, the alienated partner of her bed gave a new caufe; wherefore he and fhe came to a mutual agreement of having articles of feparation drawn up on certain ftipulated terms. In this they but imitated the frequent conduct of their fuperiors; nor, indeed, can there be any valid reafon urged, why divorced minds, as well as bodies, fhould be condemned to drag on an odious existence together to their reciprocal torture. We are now to confider Mrs. A--ng-n as a fingle wo man, out of her native country, and who, on the disappearing of her huf band, was environed by a ftill encreafing croud of admirers, now become 0 2 107 more eager, as his abfence feemed to them to remove all conjugal impediments to their wished for happine fs. In order to rid herfelf of a belieging groupe, and to enjoy quiet under an honourable protection, (fince by her very intricate and puzzling fituation fhe could not accept any propofals of matrimony) the yielded at last to the generous and tender and folicitations of Mr. N-d--m, a Gentleman of family, fortune, and improved understanding, who had made the tour to Europe, and was member of parliament for N--y, in the county of Down. This connection brought to bear through an approving choice of the minds on both fides, rather than the gratification of any other wish, the pleasures arifing from this intercourse, became gradually fo intenfe, that he delighted in no company fo much as her's. He enjoyed a fingular fatisfaction in reading explaining, and communicating every kind of cultivation to a mind he found to happily difpofed to receive, and profit by his inftruction. Mr. N-d.m being called to England upon particular bulinefs, our heroine embraced this opportunity of revifiting her native country; where her vanity was foon gratified by a warm invitation from Mr. G--k; but when the fince deceafed Mrs. Pritchard, and the now retired Mrs. Clive (whose merit the public are too well acquainted with to need a panegyric from my pen) were poffeffed of thofe parts in which Mrs. A-ng-n had made fo favourable an impreffion on the Dublin audience. The widow Belmour, however (which is particularly adapted to her file of acting) lay open to her, and established her, in the public's judgment, as a valuable re-acquifition to the London Theatre; which favourable opinion wascorroborated by her exhibiting fome other characters, such as Araminta, in the fchool for lovers; Belinda, in All in the Wrong, &c. But another occafional flackening, as well as intermiffion of her theatric advancement, was, Mr. N-d-m's very infirm ftate of health, whom the, from a fenfe of duty, and affection, attended to Bath and other places, that might be thought most conducive 108 Proceedings of the Houfe of Commons against the Lord Mayor. Conducive to his recovery; but a conftitutional malady, under which he had laboured from his infancy, at laft getting the better of his philofophic refolution, and threatening him with the approach of that final tribute, which is to be paid at one time or other by all mortal beings, he bethought himfelf feriously of leaving out of the reach of adverfity a faithful friend and companion, who had devoted herfelf to him; and whofe behaviour, during his laft illness, was fuch as the most heroic matron might not be ashamed to copy after. His heirs have fince discharged, in a very honourable manner, the provifion he had made for her; and the has been alfo favoured by the family with a notice that is rarely the confequence of an attachment of fuch a nature. As foon as the recovered from her grief for fuch a lofs, fhe refolved to make attaining the fummit of comic fame the fole object of her future paffion; and to that end most luckily intervened the Stage's privation of Mrs. Pritchard and Mrs. Clive; by which even he has had an opportunity of SIR, appearing with eclat in Eftiphania, in the Jealous Wife; Maria, in the NonJuror, now Charlotte, in the Hypocrite; the Author of which, as well as thofe of every new piece in which he has performed, has acknowledged, that no Actrefs ever difplayed greater proofs of the true polifhed vis comica; and her diftinguished tafte for elegance of drefs, makes her often to be confulted on that article by ladies of the first fashion. Thus far relates to her public character. As to her private life, it is fo ftrictly under the guidance of circumfpection and decorum, that malice and envy ftung at the prudent and œconomical elegance of her fituation, make daily but fruitless efforts to defcry fome reproachable part in her conduct. Her filial duty towards, and comfortably fupporting of, an aged father accompanied with a chearful benevolence to worthy objects in diftrefs, are virtues which do honour to the moft exalted character. She is defervedly esteemed for a fcrupulous exactnefs in her dealings, and for being capable of the moft difinterested friendfhip, when raised on the bafis of merit, To the Editor of the OXFORD MAGAZINE. Poultry, March 30, 1771. The following particulars of the commitment to the Tower, of the Right Honourable BRASS CROSBY, Efq; our worthy Lord Mayor, may, at this time, be agreeable to your readers, they are at your fervice, and you may depend on their authenticity. Wednesday the Right Honourable the Lord-Mayor, attended by the Committee of the Com ron Council, and an incredible number of the common people, the only true friends to liberty in every country, set out from the Manfion-houfe, to receive his fate at the prostituted fhrine of the Ty Bh in the H- of C-----. He reached the houfe amidft inceffant acclamations, which ftruck terror into the pallid countenances of the Junto. But acclamations alone did not fatisfy the zeal of the people: they followed the example of their predeceffors, who Your's, &c. CIVIS. have in this country often put a stop, by their commotions, to the defpotic defigns of minifters. All the band of daftardly justices, who affifted as lobbykeepers to the houfe upon this occafion, were unable to oppofe the fury of the incenfed populace. What the show of authority could not reftrain, their own commiferation effected. Lord N---and the two F- --, victims worthy to. be offered up at the altar of liberty, were in the power of the people; indignation and contempt was expreffed fufficiently; they were befpattered with mud, their cloaths torn, and their car riages. Proceedings of the House of Commons. against the Lord Mayor. riages broken; but their perfons did not receive fo much infult as might have been expected. The Lord-Mayor, who had at his first coming into the Houfe, declared that he neither came to folicit favour, nor expected it, and had faid, that he fhould not offer an argument to avoid that fate, which he knew was already determined upon in the Cabinet, fired with an honest contempt at the found of fear, rofe up, infirm as he was, and declared, that he refused to become an object of their pretended lenity, that even his Health had mended with this ftruggle for his Country; that if any offence had been committed he was the greatest offender; that he longed to join his noble brother in office in the Tower, and that fo far from making apology, he then publicly declared, that what he had done in his capacity of Lord-Mayor, he was ready and refolved to do again, whenever that House would permit him again to execute the duties of his office. The Miniftry accepted the Lord-Mayor's fuggefted amendment, and figned their mandate for his commitment to the Tower. They forefaw the triumph which the people would otherwise gain over their affumed authority, by openly carrying the Lord-Mayor back to his own Manfion, which they were determined to do; and accordingly executed. The Lord-Mayor, for the fake of peace, and to appeafe the ftorm, which would otherwife be raised, was in his way back (about twelve o'clock at night) repeatedly compelled fo far to tranfgrefs the truth, as to affure the people that he was not in cuftody, and pafs upon them the innocent Serjeant, Mr. Clementfon, who was then with him in the coach, as only one of his domeftic attendants. The Serjeant has fince had the gratitude to confefs his obligations to the Lord-Mayor, and being naturally (like his mafter, Lord North) of a timid difpofition, confefles that he owes his life to his protection. When the dreadful atchievement had been performed, of committing the firft Magiftrate of the greatest City in the Univerfe to a garrisoned Prifon, for his Intrepidity in executing the Laws according to his Oath, by pro 109 tecting the Citizens, under his care, from r-ffi-ns, the miniftry (for fo we may call the majority) proceeded to enter into an enquiry into what they called the riots of the day; and after various threats thrown out against all the popular Members, a committee was appointed for that purpose, which is to fit this day. It is feared however they will make but little progrefs in this work, being afraid to ask their own confciences the queftion which would immediately fuggeft the truth; viz. that the measure of their iniquity is well nigh full. We Es was again the inftrument to move the House upon occasion of the pretended riots; but the wretch who fignalized himself the moft upon this occafion of the pretended riots; but the wretch who fignalized himself the most upon this occafion, was Ifcariot Wbe, Efq. The venal turncoat W-b-e was more than ordinary flaming and abufive upon this occafion. He faid, that pains had been taken to raise and difcipline a mob that they were, therefore, the milita ry power of the people, and it was confequently not only neceffary but legal to oppofe that power by the armed forces of the Crown, who, he faid, ought inftantly to be called out to play upon them. Lord N-h publickly declared, that there were members of that House, but there were but few, who were ready to levy a civil war upon the government; that they had their affittants and their emiffaries without. doors, who indeed were ftill but few, that waited only for the word of command to begin the campaign. He knew them well; they were a fet of defperate, determined men, enemies to all order; but that he trusted the govern-, ment would prove too ftrong for them. The Juftices were repeatedly called up before the chair and received their charge to difperfe the people from all the avenues of the houfe. Confterna, tion was in every minifterial face, and they expected every moment to ice the doors fly open, and let the enraged multitude upon them. The expretions of the people without doors were every moment related by the parliamentary fcouts, who were fent out to catcu them. Stephen F- was told, that they. |