the fimplex Munditiis, the modeft Ornaments of your Villa, is not within my reading to determine: But that the united Power of Nature, Art, or Elegance of Tafte, could have thrown fo many varied Objects, into a more delightful Harmony, is beyond my Conception.

1

When I confider you, in this View, and as the Gentleman of Eminence, furrounded with the general Benevolence of Mankind; I rejoice, Sir, for you, and for myself; to fee You, in this particular Light of Merit, and myfelf, fometimes, admitted to my more than equal Share of you,

If this Apology for my past Life discourages you not, from holding me, in your usual Favour, let me quit this greater Stage, the World, whenever I may, I fhall think This the bestacted Part of any I have undertaken,

THE

CONTENTS.

TH

CHAP. I.

HE Introduction. The Author's Birth.

Various Fortune at School. Not lik'd by

thofe be lov'd there. Why. A Digreffion upon

Raillery. The Ufe and Abufe of it. The Com-

forts of Folly. Vanity of Greatness. Laugh-

ing, no bad Philofophy.

CHA P. II.

page 1.

He that writes of himself, not eafily tired. Boys

may give Men Leffons. The Author's Prefer-

ment at School attended with Misfortunes.

The Danger of Merit among Equals. Of

Satyrifts and Backbiters. What Effect they

have had upon the Author. Stanzas publish'd

by himself against himself.

p. 25.

С НАР.

CHA P. III.

The Author's feveral Chances for the Church, the

Court, and the Army. Going to the Univer-

fity. Met the Revolution at Nottingham.

Took Arms on that Side. What he faw of it.

A few Political Thoughts. Fortune willing

to do for him. His Neglect of her. The

Stage preferr'd to all her Favours. The

Profeffion of an Actor confider'd. The Mif

fortunes and Advantages of it.

CHA P. IV.

P. 47.

A fhort View of the Stage, from the Year 1660

to the Revolution. The King's and Duke's

Company united, compofed the beft Set of Eng-

lifh Actors yet known. Their feveral Thea-

trical Characters.
P. 74.

CHAP. V.

The Theatrical Characters of the Principal Ac-

tors, in the Year 1690, continued. A few

Words to Critical Auditors.

CHAP. VI.

p. 100

The Author's firft Step upon the Stage. His Dif

couragements. The best Actors in Europe, ill

us'd.

us'd. A Revolution, in their Favour. King

William grants them a Licence to act in

Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, The Author's Difirefs,

in being thought a worse Actor, than a Poet.

Reduced to write a Part for himself. His

Succefs. More Remarks, upon Theatrical

Action. Some, upon himself. P. 147.

CHAP. VII.

The State of the Stage continued. The Occafion

of Wilks's commencing Actor. His Success.

Facts relating to his Theatrical Talent. Actors

more or less esteem'd from their private Cha-

racters.

CHAP. VIII.

P. 185.

The Patentee of Drury-Lane wiser than his

Actors. His particular Management. The

Author continues to write Plays. Why. The

beft dramatick Poets cenfured, by J. Collier,

in his Short View of the Stage. It has a

good Effect. The Mafter of the Revels, from

that time, cautious in his licensing new Plays.

a Complaint against him. His Authority

founded upon Custom only. The late Law for

fixing that Authority, in a proper Perfon, con-

fider'd.
P. 215.