claims of dumb fhew, was the tearing up the benches, breaking the luftres and girandoles, and committing every act of violence to which they were prompted by their ungovernable rage and malice. The play was given up, and the money returned.

The next night a new tragedy, called Elvira, written by Mr. Mallet, was acted at Drury-lane. The rioters, headed by their fpokefman, enforced their former demand in the fame violent and laconic manner. When Mr. Garrick appeared, they cried out with one voice, "Will you, or

will you not, give admittance for half "price, after the third act of a play, ex"cept during the first winter a pantomime "is performed?" The manager, who had learnt the leffon of obedience by the loffes which he had fuftained the preceding evening, replied in the affirmative. But, however, peace was not to be restored till fome of the players had made an amende honorable, for daring to espouse the cause of their mafter. Mr. Moody was called upon to apologize for the offence he had given, in

stopping a madman's hand who was going to fet fire to the play-house. He, imagining that he should bring the audience into good humour by a laughable absurdity, in the tone and language of a low-bred Irish-man, "He was very forry that he had difpleafed them by faving their lives in put

faid,

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66

ting out the fire." This fpeech was fo ill taken, that it rather enflamed than cooled their rage; and they loudly and vehemently infifled that he should ga down on his knees, and afk their pardon. Moody was fo far from complying with this pofitive command, that he had the courage abfolutely to refufe, faying, "I will not,

by G." When he came off the stage, Mr. Garrick was fo pleafed with his behaviour, that he received him with open arms, and affured him, that whilft he was master of a guinea, he fhould be paid his income; but that, if he had been fo mean as to have fubmitted to the required abafement, he never would have forgiven him.

The tumult was fo great on Moody's refufing to comply with the demand of the audience,

audience, that, to appease their wrath, Mr. Garrick promised he should not appear on the stage again during the time he was under their displeasure.

Mr. Moody's fituation was by no means eligible. He was reduced to the neceffity of either taking leave of the capital, and joining the itinerant actors in the country, or of depending upon the generosity of the manager. He could expect no mercy from the gentlemen who had enjoined so severe a penance for an act of duty: he was therefore determined, after weighing all confequences, to feek redress from the original plotter of all the mifchief, Mr. Fitz--k himself.

He waited upon him at his chambers in the Temple. The interview was extraor dinary, and part of it will perhaps appear most to advantage in dialogue. That gentleman feemed fomewhat furprised when Moody addreffed him in these words, fuppofe, Sir, you know me."

Fitz. Very well, Sir; and how came I by the honour of this visit?

Moody. How dare you ask me that queftion, when you know what paffed at Drury-lane laft night; where I was called upon by you to dishonour myself, by asking pardon of the audience upon my knees? Fitz. No, Sir, I was not the perfon who spoke to you.':

Moody, Sir, you did; I faw you, and heard you, And what crime had I committed, to be obliged to stoop to such an ignominious fubmiffion? I had prevented a wretch from fetting fire to the playhouse, and had efpoufed the cause of a gentleman in whose service I had enlisted,

Fitz. I do not understand being treated in this manner in my own house.

Moody. Sir, I will attend you where you please; for be affured, I will not leave you till you have fatisfied me one way or other,

Mr. Fitz------k, perceiving that Moody was determined to exact fatisfaction, asked him what reparation he wished to have, Moody faid, he expected that he would fign his name to a paper, and repair the injury, by acknowledging that he had acted towards

towards him in a moft unjust and improper manner; at the fame time that he would request his friends not to infift on the penance prescribed to Mr. Moody, but to receive him to favour on his making any reasonable excuse,

Mr. Fitz------k now affumed the man; he declared that no power on earth should prevail on him to fign fuch a writing. Mr. Moody then renewed his positive refolution to right himself. After fome farther altercation, Mr. Fitz------k proposed to ferve Mr. Moody in another way, and perhaps more effectually than the figning of

any inftrument whatsoever. "I know

Mr. Moody (faid Mr. Fitz------k) goes to "the Jamaica coffee-houfe; I will meet him there to-morrow morning, and fix 66 upon a proper method to accommodate matters to his entire fatisfaction."

Mr. Fitz-----k did not meet Mr. Moody. However, he fent a gentleman to him with whom he was well acquainted, and one very willing and able to bring about a reconciliation between the audience and the

actor.