G. After the hit I made in Monsieur Tonson, it's d--d hard
they don't write more Frenchmen.
MADAME VESTRIS. Mr. Author, can't you make this a breeches part?--I
shall be _all abroad_ in petticoats.
BERNARD BLACKMANTLE. I should wish to be _at home_ with Madame Vestris.
MRS. HARLOWE. Really, Mr. Author, this part of mine is a mere clod's
wife--nothing like so good as Dame Ashfield. Could not you introduce a
supper-scene?
At length silence is once more obtained; the author finishes his task,
and retires from the _Green-room_ ~369~~looking as blue as Megrim,
and feeling as fretful as the renowned Sir Plagiary. Of the success or
failure of the two productions, I shall speak in the next volume; when I
propose to give the first night of a new play, with sketches of some
of the critical characters who usually attend. In the evening, Transit,
Echo, and Heartly enlisted me for the Lord Mayor's ball at the Mansion
House--a most delightful squeeze; and, it being during Waithman's
mayoralty, abounding with lots of character for my friend Bob; to
whose facetious pencil, I must at present leave the scene (see plate);
intending to be more particular in my civic descriptions, should I have
the honour of dining with the Corporation next year in their Guildhall.
[Illustration: page369a]
The wind-up of the term rendered it essentially necessary that I should
return to Oxford with all possible expedition, as my absence at such a
time, if discovered, might involve me in some unpleasant feeling with
the big wigs.
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