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No. VIII.

MRS. INCHBALD.

THIS HIS lady, known for a long series of years to the public as a pleasing dramatic writer and novelist, was born at Staningfield, a village in the neighbourhood of Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk. Her father, whose name was Simpson, had a large family of daughters, remarkable for their personal beauty. Owing to an unfortunate impediment in her speech, Elizabeth, the subject of the present notice, went very little into society; but passed her time for the most part in retirement and study.

Having lost her father in her infancy, she was left under the care of her mother, who continued to manage the farm; and, in the pleasant seclusion of this cottage home, Miss Simpson was presented with abundant opportunities of gratifying her literary propensities. So sensibly had her imagination been wrought upon by the tales of fictitious grief and happiness she had met with in the course of her desultory reading, that she formed the romantic resolution of visiting the metropolis, the scene of many of the stories which had so powerfully excited her sympathies. This intention did not, as may be supposed, meet with the approbation of her friends; but so fixed was her determination to accomplish à tout prix, the object she had in view, that she seized an opportunity of eloping from her home, entirely without the knowledge of her family. Early one morning in February, 1772, left Staningfield for London, and with a few necessary articles of apparel, packed in a band-box, walked, or rather ran a distance of two miles, to the place from whence the coach set out for the metropolis.

This step, in a girl of sixteen years of age, did not augur very favourably of her future conduct and respectability; but the subsequent tenor of her life affords additional proof, that

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very admirable results will often arise out of indifferent, and even reprehensible, beginnings. On her arrival in London, she sought a distant relation, who lived in the Strand; but, on reaching the house, was, to her great mortification, informed that she had retired from business, and was settled in North Wales. It was near ten o'clock at night, and her distress at this disappointment, moved the compassion of the people of whom she had made her enquiries, who kindly accommodated her with a lodging. This civility, however, awakened her suspicions: she had read in Clarissa Harlowe, of various modes of seduction practised in London, and feared that similar intentions were meditating against her. A short time after her arrival, therefore, observing that she had awakened their curiosity, our young heroine seized her band-box, and, without uttering a single word, rushed out of the house, and left them to their conjectures, that she was either a maniac or an impostor.

Miss Simpson (says the writer of a notice of her life in the Monthly Mirror) run she knew not whither; but being much fatigued and alarmed, knocked at a house where she saw 'lodgings to let,' and was just on the point of being admitted as a milliner's apprentice, when, to her great surprise and confusion, she saw at her elbow the tradesman from whose house she had just escaped, and who, impelled by curiosity, had followed her. Confounded by this detection, she attempted another escape, but the door was locked, and she was detained as an impostor. Sincerity was all that she had now left, and, with a flood of tears, she candidly confessed her real situation; but even now her truth was doubted; and, after a threat of being sent to the watch-house, the fair adventurer was dismissed, and left again to wander through the streets of London.

She now walked where chance directed, exposed to all those insults which unprotected females must expect to encounter. At two o'clock in the morning she found herself at Holborn Bridge, and seeing the stage set off for York, which she understood was full, she entered the inn, pretended that she was a disappointed passenger, and solicited a lodging. Here she remained for the night, and the next day was told that the York

stage would set off again in the evening. This intelligence having been delivered with an air of suspicion, which was extremely mortifying, she immediately took out all the money she had, to the last half-crown, and absolutely paid for a journey she did not intend to take. The landlady, now satisfied, invited her to breakfast, but this she declined, saying she was in haste to visit a relation. Thus she escaped the expense of a breakfast, and, on returning to the inn, stated that her relation wished her to remain in town a few days longer. By this means she secured her apartment, and while she daily took a walk to purchase what she could afford, it was supposed by the people of the inn, that she was feasting with her friend; but, alas! at this time she feasted not, but was in the utmost distress; so much so, that during the last two days of her residence at the inn, she subsisted on two halfpenny rolls, and the water which the bottle in her bed-room contained!

During one of her daily rambles in the metropolis, Miss Simpson attracted the notice of a performer at Drury Lane, who, with some difficulty, learning her situation, recommended to her the stage as the most probable means of support, and offered to instruct her. A few meetings having convinced her that his designs were not honourable, she prudently declined his company, but determined to follow his advice. Accordingly, she applied to Mr. King of Drury Lane, the manager of the Bristol theatre, and having communicated her intention with much stammering, which was increased by her anxiety, the comedian listened to the fair candidate with natural astonishment. She rehearsed a part before him, and many whimsical jests have been related respecting this interview. It seems, however, that Mr. King did not discourage the young lady, though he declined to give her an engagement. She next applied to Mr. Inchbald for advice. This gentleman, with whom she had hitherto been unacquainted, but whom she had frequently seen at Bury St. Edmunds, introduced her to another performer, who had purchased a share of a country theatre, and who, struck with her beauty, gave her an immediate engagement without trial. He became also her in

structor, and in him she imagined she had found a friend : but she soon discovered the nature of his friendship. Indignant at the dishonourable proposals which he dared to make to her, she hastened to Mr. Inchbald, whose kindness had inspired her with confidence, and informed him of every circumstance. Afflicted by her sorrow, this gentleman endeavoured to soothe it, and recommended marriage as her only protection. "But who would marry me?" cried she. "I would," replied Mr. Inchbald with warmth, "if you would have me?" "Yes, Sir, and would for ever be grateful.” “And for ever love me?" rejoined he. The lady hesitated; but not doubting her love, in a few days they were married, and thus unexpectedly she became both a wife and an actress.

Mr. Inchbald first introduced his wife on the stage at Edinburgh, where she continued four years, and performed the principal characters, when she was but eighteen years of age; from which, it may be inferred, that her previous unsuccessful attempts had proceeded principally from natural impediments and private prejudices. For one who could with only tolerable success, appear at so early a period as a principal actress, must have possessed a considerable degree of intellect, and no common insight into the human character.

At length Mrs. Yates, who had been long in possession of the public favour in London, visited Edinburgh, and became the formidable rival of Mrs. Inchbald, whom she is said to have treated with great incivility; in consequence of which, she and her husband quitted Edinburgh, and passed two years at York.

Mrs. Inchbald's health being now much impaired, a tour to the south of France was recommended, and, after staying abroad about a year, she returned with her husband, with whom she lived in the most perfect harmony. Two years afterwards Mr. Inchbald died, when she returned to London, and continued to act for four years at Covent Garden theatre. She next visited Dublin, and performed under Mr. Dalby's management for some time.

On quitting the Dublin theatre, Mrs. Inchbald returned

once more to Covent Garden, where she continued to act for some years, but suddenly relinquished it, and remained in London in great poverty and obscurity.

It was at this juncture that Mrs. Inchbald first began to devote her attention to dramatic composition. Having written a comedy, she read part of it to the late Mr. Harris of Covent Garden theatre, who, disapproving the piece, sent it anonymously to Mr. Colman, the manager of the Haymarket; and in his hands it remained unnoticed for several years. Notwithstanding this manifest discouragement in the outset of her literary career, she continued to persevere, and, availing herself of the rage for balloons, which prevailed in the year 1784, she sent him a farce, entitled "The Mogul Tale." This piece was read, approved, and accepted. Its success with the public induced Mrs. Inchbald to remind Colman of the neglected comedy; on which he immediately replied, "I'll go home. this moment and read it." He did so; and conceiving that it would answer his purpose, gave it the name of "I'll tell you What," and brought it out with deserved success, in 1785.

The prospects of Mrs. Inchbald now began to assume a brighter aspect. She changed her humble lodgings for others more suitable to her circumstances; for it was one great excellence in the conduct of this amiable woman, that she ever accommodated her mode of living to her means, preserving always, even in her humblest fortunes, a high sense of moral dignity and independence.

The comedy of "I'll tell you What," was soon followed by others of a similar character, that of genteel comedy, Mrs. Inchbald having never attempted either tragedy or tragicomedy.

In 1789 Mrs. Inchbald retired altogether from the stage, and from that period until the year 1805, it will be seen she was very actively employed in dramatic writing. In 1806 she undertook to edite a new edition of "The British Theatre, with Biographical and Critical Remarks." This work, which consists of upwards of a hundred plays, acted at the Theatres Royal, was published in twenty-five volumes 12mo., between the years

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