Event Comment: Benefit for
Macklin. Afterpiece: A Comedy in 2 acts written by
Foote, with
Prologue and
Epilogue by him.
Miss Macklin did
Calista and a part in the farce,-all went well (
Cross). A Comedy in answer to the
French Farce A Frenchman in London, with a
Dialogue Prologue, spoken by Macklin & his wife.
Epilogue spoken by Miss Macklin. All by
Foote. Part of Pit laid into the boxes, with an amphitheatre on stage, all at 5s. Full Prices (
Winston MS 8). The Englishman at Paris has been better recev'd that I expected.
Garrick, &c., &c....say kinder things of it than modesty will permit me to repeat. Upon the whole it was damnably acted, Macklin miserably imperfect in the words and in the character (a stain to Comedy). You might have seen what I meant,--an
English Buck, by the power of dulness instantaneously transformed into an
Irish chairman.
Miss Roach, accompany'd by some frippery French woman occupy'd, to the no small scandal of the whole house, the
Prince's box, whilst the
duchess of Bedford &c., &c. were oblig'd to take up with seats upon the stage. The piece will be printed the 25th instant, which I will enclose to you (
Samuel Foote to
Mr Delaval, MS in
Folger Shakespeare Library, written either 24 March, or, perhaps more likely, 24 April, since
Foote states later in the letter he is leaving for foreign parts the first of May)