at a lofs, even now, to account for the compofure with which I heard this alarming falutation, for I enquired into the cause of it without the leaft emotion. I was informed, that the ftage of the New Theatre had been fet on fire the night before, and that all my paraphernalia and wardrobe, which lay there unpacked, had been confumed by the flames.

The conflagration, I found, was occafioned by the following circumftance. A Methodist teacher, who held forth in that city, told his auditors, that he dreamed, the preceding night, he was in the infernal regions, at a grand entertainment, where all the Devils in Hell were prefent, when Lucifer their chief gave for a toaft, the health of Mr. ———, who had fold his ground to build him a house upon, (meaning the theatre) and which was to be opened the next day for them all to reign in.

The poor ignorant enthufiaftic hearers of this godly preacher, found their enmity against Satan and his fubjects inftantly inflamed by this harangue; and in order to prevent fo alarming an extenfion of his infernal majefty's empire, they haftened away in a body to the new built play-house, and set the stage on fire. Luckily the flames were extinguished, before any other part of the theatre was confumed, but the whole of my theatrical wardrobe, which lay in the packages upon it, were deftroyed. It appeared, that this religious mob

had

had been joined by others, who wished to take advantage of the conflagration; as a great deal of the falfe trumpery upon the regalia of the mock kings and queens, had been taken away, and, being found of no value, lay feattered about the fields. As the theatre was a mile from the city, and the flames did not burst out fo as to become vifible, the incendiaries compleated their defign, and filently retired. No alarm was therefore given, nor our lofs known till the next morning.

Notwithstanding the intelligence I now received was of the utmost importance to me, I heard it with great tranquillity. But poor Mifs Wordley, who had loft her little all, loft with it all that philofophy, fhe, on many former occafions, had preached up to me. Which recalled to my memory these fine lines of Shakspere *;

-Men

Can counfel, and give comfort to that grief
Which they themselves not feel; but tafting it,
Their counfel turns to paffion, which before
Would give preceptial medicine to rage.

'Tis all men's office to fpeak patience
To thofe that wring under the load of forrow;

Much Ado about Nothing, "A& V. Scene I."

But

But no man's virtue, nor fufficiency,

To be fo moral when he should endure

The like himself..

I

Instead of throwing myself into violent agitations, and lamenting my lofs, as many would have done, I very coolly faid, I would go and look at the ruins; and ordered the chaife to drive immediately to the theatre. there beheld the afhes of all my finery, which had cost many, many hundreds of pounds ; and, at that time, upon a moderate computation, were worth nine hundred; there being among them a complete fet of garnets and pearls, from cap to ftomacher.

When I returned to the inn, I enquired for Mr. Bates; for, as to the other partner, I never had any knowledge of him. I was informed that he was gone to the Exchange, to offer a reward for difcovering the incendiaries. But all his endeavours to that purpose were vain. The native firmnefs of the Caledonians infure their fidelity to each other. For in this affair, as well as that of Captain Porteus, in which, by all accounts, many hundreds were concerned, there was not one perfon found treacherous enough to give evidence against their partners, relative to the exceffes they had been guilty of.

The postillions were obliged to wait the return of Mr. Bates, as it was not in my power to discharge them. When he came,

and

and had fent the chaifes away, I defired he would go back to the Exchange, and inform every perfon he faw, that I was fully determined not to make my appearance upon the Glasgow ftage, unless I did fo the next evening, according to the plan I had fixed, but which it was not in my power to do for want of clothes. Upon which, one of the principal merchants of the city, by whofe intereft, chiefly, the theatre had been built, came immediately to the inn, and politely offered me whatever money I wanted. I chearfully accepted his friendly affiftance, and upon my repeating the refolution I had formed, he told me, I fhould have all the ladies clothes in and about the city, before the evening, if we could get the ftage repaired; fo that fhould be no hindrance to us.

It being impracticable for us to perform a Tragedy, as the neceffary dreffes could not be got ready for fome days, we determined to perform "The Citizen," by way of play, and The Mock Doctor" for the farce. Mr. Bates inftantly got fome induftrious carpenters, who nailed down boards for a temporary ftage, (the other being entirely confumed) which they covered with carpets, till the damage could be repaired. And before fix o'clock, the gentleman fo well performed his promife, that from not being mistress of one gown, I found myself in poffeffion of above forty; and fome of thefe almost new,

as well as very rich. Nor did the ladies con→ fine themselves to outward garments only. I received prefents of all kinds, and from every part of the adjacent country, together with invitations and parties for the whole time of my refidence in their neighbourhood.

Every thing was ready by the ufual hour, and we played the two pieces juft mentioned, to a crowded houfe. At the conclusion of the piece, one of the principal ladies declared from the boxes, that none of the audience would ftir, till all the performers, and even the fervants, were fafely out of the theatre; left there might be fome personal attack attempted, bp those who could commit fuch an outrage as that of the preceding evening; and the town guard was ordered to cfcort us into the city.

The capital inhabitants made parties to entertain us; and I can truly fay, that I never met with more civility, more feftivity, nor more applaufe, in any place wherever I appeared. Mr. Reddish was the principal man in tragedy, Mr. Aickin in comedy. Whilft I was at Edinburgh, I had prevailed upon a gentleman, who was poffeffed of fome talents, to compile a little piece from the celebrated poem of Offian; and I appeared in the character of Commela, there, with great fuccefs. But at Glasgow the applaufe I received was beyond all bounds. This little piece alone, tacked to any indifferent comedy, would fill the house, fo that it was erowded every