From my earliest youth I had a great hankering after every thing theatrical. It was first prompted, I believe, by a performance got up in an old loft in my neighbourhood by a grocer's apprentice; and from that night, I gave up all pursuits but those which had a histrionic tendency. I was about seven years old at the time, and read tolerably well. Up to my twelfth year I had never seen a performance in a public theatre, and by a regular company; though in the interval I had frequently assisted in murdering some of our best dramatic writers, and even had the temerity to share myself in the composition of a piece, which its framers had the modesty to call a Drama. Unfortunately, as I then thought, this taste of mine was discountenanced by my parents

-not indeed without cause, as it much interfered with my school studies, which I cultivated only in the degree that I thought they may be subsidiary to the histrionic profession which I had resolved to adopt. Every effort to wean me from my new pursuit proved fruitless. When the night of performance came,

B

though locked in a garret, I'd contrive to escape from my attic prison, over the roofs of the houses, to a neighbouring friend, and thence to the place of performance. When the excitement of the scene was over, and the applause of the audience died away on my ear, "oh ! full of scorpions was my my mind dear mother," lest you may have discovered my unauthorised absence, as I repassed the ridgy path to my lofty prison. I mention these matters, merely to shew the early enthusiasm which supported me against the obstacles that in after-times opposed my pursuit.

The death of my father, which took place when I was thirteen or fourteen years old, broke down all bounds between me and my wishes; and though I loved him with a most earnest love, I felt, in spite of myself, some solace in the reflexion that he could no more interfere with my choice of a profession. I must have had some taste, when, in a great theatrical city, I was the first amongst those of my own age-got my choice of characters, and was courted by the various private theatres of the town. But I began to wax weary of this local and circumscribed renown. be the unrivalled Roscius of private theatricals was too trivial a distinction for my great ambition. I panted to appear where no personal partialities should mingle in the shout that hailed my excellence; to illuminate by my genius the various theatres of the empire, until, at length, upon the boards of old Drury or Covent Garden, I should "tread upon the Kean and Kemble glory."

To