‘A straw-crown’d monarch in mock majesty.’

I can’t recollect now where that is; but for my part, I really Cannot bear to see such sights.  And then out come the white handkerchiefs, and all their pretty eyes are wiping, and then come poison and daggers, and all that kind of thing,—­O ma’am, ’tis too much; but yet the fair tender hearts, the pretty little females, all like it!”

162

This speech, word for word, I have already heard from him literally four times.

When Mr. Garrick was mentioned, he honoured him with much the same style of compliment as he had done Sir Joshua Reynolds.

“Ay, ay,” said he, “that Garrick was another of those fellows that people run mad about.  Ma’am, ’tis a shaine to think of such things! an actor living like a person of quality scandalous!  I vow, scandalous!”

“Well,—­commend me to Mr. B—­y!” cried Mrs. Thrale “for he is your only man to put down all the people that everybody else sets up.”

“Why, ma’am,” answered he, “I like all these people very well in their proper places ; but to see such a set of poor beings living like persons of quality,—­’tis preposterous! common sense, madam, common sense is against that kind of thing.  As to Garrick, he was a very good mimic, an entertaining fellow enough, and all that kind of thing — but for an actor to live like a person of quality—­oh, scandalous!”

Some time after the musical tribe was mentioned.  He was at cards at the time with Mr. Selwyn, Dr. Delap, and Mr. Thrale, while we “fair females,” as he always calls us, were speaking of Agujari.(114) He constrained himself from flying out as long as he was able ; but upon our mentioning her having fifty pounds a song, he suddenly, in a great rage, called out, “Catgut and rosin !ma’am, ’tis scandalous!” . . .

The other day, at dinner, the subject was married life, and among various husbands and wives Lord L—­ being mentioned, Mr. B—­y pronounced his panegyric, and called him his friend.  Mr. Selwyn, though with much gentleness, differed from him in opinion, and declared he could not think well of him, as he knew his lady, who was an amiable woman, was used very ill by him.

“How, sir? " cried Mr. B—­y.

“I have known him,” answered Mr. Selwyn, “frequently pinch her till she has been ready to cry with pain, though she has endeavoured to prevent its being observed.”

“And I,” said Mrs. Thrale, “know that he pulled her nose, in his frantic brutality, till he broke-some of the vessels of it, and when she was dying she still found the torture he had

163

given her by it so great, that it was one of her last complaints.”

The general, who is all for love and gallantry, far from attempting to vindicate his friend, quite swelled with indignation It this account, and, after a pause, big with anger, exclaimed,

“Wretched doings, sir, wretched doings!”