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the Chester Whitsun plays, in the Harleian.-Of these, we have given some account elsewhere.

FOOTE'S COMEDY OF 66 THE NABOB."

ABOUT the year 1772, a general outcry had been raised against several members of the East India Company, who, from small beginnings and obscure origins, had raised immense fortunes in a very short period. What made this more disgusting to the public, and particularly to the higher classes, was, that these new men, from the extent of their purses, and the extravagance of their tempers, not only ousted many of the old families from their seats in parliament, but erected palaces about the country, and blazed forth in a style of magnificent living, that eclipsed the steadier but less brilliant lights of the hereditary gentry.

On his return from Scotland, Foote seized upon this popular subject, so congenial to his own vanity, as well as to his talents; and, in 1772, brought out a new comedy, called "The Nabob." In this piece, in the person of Sir Matthew Mite, the son of a cheesemonger, who is supposed to have made an immense fortune in the East Indies, he ridiculed all the expensive vices and follies generally attached to such a character. This raised

a violent party resentment, and two gentlemen, who had been in high situations in the East Indies, undertook personally to chastise the author for his insolence. In pursuance of this design, they furnished themselves with oak cudgels, and sallied forth for Suffolk-street,being resolved to make his own house the scene of his chastisement and disgrace. They arrived there about one o'clock, and, on their sending up their names, Foote received them in his drawing room with that politeness and urbanity, which no man knew better how to practise than himself. This had such an immediate effect upon them, that they thought proper to change their mode of attack, and begin with remonstrance; on their entering the room, he saw their purpose, and, at the same instant, saw the course proper for him to take. He, therefore, redoubled his politeness, and hoped the gentlemen would take some coffee, which was ready in the next room, before they opened their business. This, however, was civilly refused;"The business must be settled first." They then began to state "the insult which particular persons of character and fortune had sustained by the licentiousness of his pen, and for no other reason, than because Providence had favoured

their industry, and adventuring spirit, with a suitable remuneration." They were proceeding in this manner, but rising into choler and irritability every moment, when Foote, gently interrupting them, requested" they would but hear him one word, which was but to beg that they would state their grievances with temper, till he made his justification, and then, if they were not fully satisfied, he was willing to meet every consequence of their resentment.”

This being agreed to, the gentlemen continued the declaration of their grievances at full length. When they had finished, Foote began by assuring them, in the most solemn and impressive manner, "that he had no particular person in view, as the hero of his Comedy; that he took up his story from popular report; and that as he was by trade a wholesale popular monger, he thought he was perfectly secure from giving offence to the honourable part of the East India Company's servants, by satirizing, in a general way, those who had acted otherwise." He then took the manuscript of the Comedy out of a drawer near him, which he read to them, and, by a happy display of ingenuity, so congenial to his character, he explained so fully to their satisfac

tion, that it was only a general satire on the unworthy part of the Nabob gentry, that his visitors called for coffee, and sat down to it in the most perfect good humour.

They continued chatting together till about four o'clock, when Foote begged the honour of their company to dinner, having a small party (as he said) to meet him, which he hoped would contribute to their entertainment. They were now too

much attracted by the charms of his conversation, to refuse him a request of this nature; they staid to dinner, therefore, with the greatest pleasure, and felt their gratification so much increased by the brilliancy of his wit,and conviviality of his friends, that they did not leave the company till three o'clock in the morning.

The next day, they talked of nothing but Foote, his wit, his humour, his politeness, and his hospitality, and how narrowly they had escaped from precipitating themselves into a quarrel or a lawsuit, with such an unoffending, pleasant fellow : in short, his peace was not only established with the East India Company, but they attended his Theatre every night, and supported his piece through the remainder of the season.

MR. KEAN, AND THE PORTSMOUTH PUB

LICAN.

WHEN Kean was at Portsmouth, in the Summer of 1820, he was requested by the Manager, and two or three more, after a morning's rehearsal, to accompany them to take a bottle of Madeira, and a biscuit. Kean objected at first, but at length consented, and adjourned to one of the first-rate inns in Portsmouth. The landlord, when apprized that Mr. Kean was one of the party, ushered them into an elegant room; thanked the actor for the honour he did him, and, for ten minutes, overwhelmed him with obsequious civilities. Kean bore it well for some time, but, at length, knitting his brow and fixing his eye upon the landlord with tremendous expression, said " Mr. H, I came into your house, at the request of these gentlemen, to partake of some refreshment, and not to be pestered with your civilities, which, to me, are so many insults. Look at me, sir, well. But I see you do not recollect me. But you know that I am Mr. Kean, Edmund Kean, sir,-the same Edmund Kean that I was fifteen years ago, when you kept a very small inn in Portsmouth. At that time, sir, I was a mem

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