IN the following sheets, I have endeavoured to do juftice, as far as my abilities would permit, to the Memory of a moft excellent Actor, and an honeft man. For my prefumption in dedicating to your Lordship thefe volumes, I have no other apology to offer, than that the subject of them was confiderably indebted to your Lordship's bounty; and I am induced to hope, that the benevolence which fupported Charles Macklin while living, will extend to the record of his long life, the patronage of your Lordship's name. If this prefumption may be forgiven me, I shall not risk the displeasure of your Lordship by a vain attempt at panegyric, where praise cannot elevate, nor by language, which is infufficient to express the sentiments of refpect which I entertain for your Lordship. Allow me only to hope, that the life, which is fo eminently useful to your country, may, in its duration, rival that which I have now the honor to fubmit to your Lordship's protection, and that I may be permitted to subscribe myself, My Lord, Your Lordship's Moft obliged, and Devoted Servant, JAMES THOMAS KIRKMAN. London, OF THE A FULL account of Mr. Macklin's family-re- markable circumftances of his birth, and infant for- tunes-the unfortunate attachment of his father to the caufe of King James II.-his defeat at the Boyne-- the confifcation of his property-the distress of his fa- mily his death-the hardships his widow and children suffered afterwards-the industry and prudent conduct of his widow-her marriage with Mr. Luke O'Meally -the line of life they pursued-Mr. Macklin first OBSERVATIONS on the subject of education- of Dublin, and off the mafts of fhips into the river Liffey. P. 19. THE incident that firft directed Mr. Macklin's thoughts to the ftage-his fchoolmafter has "The Orphan" performed by his fcholars-the difficulty of procuring a person to perform the character of Monimia -Mrs. Pilkington recommends Mr. Macklin is ob- jected to by the schoolmafter-she perfeveres in her recommendation-the schoolmafter confents-Charles is inftructed by her plays Monimia-obtains great applause he forms a plan to run away from school- affociates with two other boys for that purpose they determine to vifit London-Charles purloins nine pounds from his mother-they run away-get on board a merchantman-arrive at Parkgate-travel up to London on foot-their adventures in London-one of CHARLES accidentally meets a female acquaint- ance in the Borough-fhe procures him a lodging at a public-house he is employed as a waiter gets ac- quainted with strollers-imitates them becomes very ferviceable in the public-houfe-his mistress grows fond of him-marries him-the humorous behaviour of |