CHAPTER V. Peculiar feelings of actors-Mr. Inchbald improves as a painterHolcroft her literary adviser-Two months at Canterbury— Aspire to the York Company-Visit Standingfield-Join Wilkinson's Company at Hull-York-Davis dresses her hairLittle jealousies-The Kemble family at Liverpool-Driven from the stage-Had not acted before the King-Mrs. Inchbald at last acts Lady Sneerwell-Scene-painting-Kemble writes to Mrs. I. His tragedy at Hull-The Inchbalds are rising in professional importance-Sudden death of Mr. Inchbald-Kemble's epitaph upon him-Translation by Mr. Twiss-Friendly intimacy with Kemble-Finishes her novel-Dr. Brodie sends it to Stockdale-He declines the risk-Kemble a guardian of her reputation. Ir might at first seem probable that persons who met with no greater encouragement than is here recorded, would become weary of a profession so little profitable, and so constantly harassing; but we seldom find that the feet which have once entered the charmed circle of a stage, can avoid lingering about its limits; and indeed players are not more disinclined to enter into other walks of life, than the professors of other arts are averse to welcome such encroachers upon their monopo lies. There is something too in the very assumption of characters of different ranks, that while it stores the memory with good language, is apt to infuse contempt for vulgar occupation and illiterate society. The actor on a circuit must solicit the patronage of all who can take his tickets, and express his obligations to those with whom it would be misery to associate. We commonly find, therefore, that the intercourse of our present subject is chiefly with the better part of her own profession, her landlady, and her select friends; and such gentry in the neighbourhood, as, being themselves Catholics, accompany her to some chapel of their communion, and please themselves in promoting her welfare as a religious duty. At Canterbury they found a chapel very well attended, on St. Leonard's Hill. She soon had walking acquaintance from the service to her lodgings, and Mr. Inchbald now again turned himself to painting with avidity. He borrowed a likeness of Garrick of a friend, and was anxious to copy it perfectly; but a sudden call to dinner not being immediately obeyed by Mr. Inchbald, his more eager lady, without mercy, tore his labours to pieces. He really seems to have been the most indulgent of husbands. His wife's beauty had constantly foiled him, but at Canterbury the difficulty was surmounted; he got a likeness with which they were both pleased, and it was not the only subject on which they agreed. He now walked with his wife constantly, read with her, heard her repetitions of her characters; and the rest of her leisure hours were filled up by correspondence with Mrs. Siddons and her own family. The Canterbury season seems to have been a speculation of Dimond's, for whose benefit play she acted Lady Randolph, and studied a part in an interlude. Holcroft, who was to become her literary adviser, was acting with them at this time, and threw some of his stage experience into a novel, which was entitled Alwyn, or, the Gentleman Comedian.' She played the first-rate characters usually, and her husband the second; generally speaking, she was exempted from farce: but, notwithstanding this elevation, she did not reach the distinction of a night for her sole benefit, but was coupled with Burton, whom some of our readers may remember for his laughable simplicity at Drury Lane in the Days of Tilbury Fort,' when poor Waldron was his "accomplished Christopher," and Miss Pope, with all the "finches of the grove" fluttering about her, was the enamoured Tilburina. It was a stroke from which tragedy could hardly have arisen, but for the genuine inspiration of the Siddons. The Inchbalds passed two months at Canterbury profitably and pleasantly; but their views had pointed to a permanency in the York company, under that "father of the fatherless' among players, Tate Wilkinson; and a letter was received from him by Mr. Inchbald on the 16th of August, 1777, which rendered his wife completely happy. As they each of them had half a benefit, and acted two full months on such salaries as could then be given, they were probably by the close of the engagement rather easy in their circumstances. So on the 20th of September they left Canterbury, and on the 22nd arrived at Standingfield upon a visit to the good old lady her mother. There they lived very domestically with Mrs. Simpson and her little grandson, both whose portraits Mr. Inchbald painted, and bestowed some improvements upon his wife's. They occasionally went to Bury, and visited the theatre of course. She did not avoid conversation with her youthful passion, Griffith, but found him perhaps less irresistible than she once thought him; and on the 13th of October they quitted Standingfield for Hull, to commence their engagement in the York company. Her aunts Mingy and Haslington both lived at Hull, and she saw a good deal of them. She did not make her public appearance there till the 28th of October, when she performed Horatia in the Roman Father, and to the close of the year acted in her usual characters with sufficient distinction. January took them to York, and here a Miss Priestly accompanied her to prayers, and she persevered in her attendance at the chapel. Mr. Digges for a few days was at York, and seems to have had some confidential communication with her; the truth was, that Mr. Inchbald seldom fancied any thing of this sort matter of mere indifference; and she mentions on one occasion to have stated to her fond husband, under closed curtains, what perhaps did not greatly increase his confidence in the hero of the north. The fact was, that she had always a very teasing love of admiration and attention. Her friend Davis recommended himself to her by dressing her hair most zealously on the nights she performed: he contrived to be much with them; lodged in the same house; acted, humbly enough it is true, on the same boards; seemed to live upon her smiles; and Inchbald became decidedly jealous of him. Though he had acted her Othello on the stage, he did not in private express all the fond reliance of the Moor on his wife's discretion ""Tis not to make me jealous To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company— Nor from my own weak merits will I draw About Davis they frequently quarrelled. Mr. and Mrs. Waddy lodged in the same house with them at York, and seem to have been much respected. While they were at York, some very severe shocks were experienced by the family at Stand |