PIETY IN PATTENS
and, notwithstanding its bravery, was overpowered by the numbers and discipline of their opponents ; he was defeated, and his first career of glory was the era of his downfall; he never after held up his head. The Chevalier St. George was born at Guadaloupe; he was the son of M. de Boulogne, arich planter in the colony; his mother was a negress, and was known under the name of the handsome Nanon. St. George died in Paris, in 1810 or 1811, regretted by his friends, and the few who knew how to feel for and excuse the imperfections of humanity, qualities from which none of us can hope to be exempt.
Pm’rv 1N PATTENS.
A private party of theatrical amateurs having selected Foote’s burlesque interlude of Piety in Pattens (first performed at his primitive puppet show, 17 7 4, Little Theatre, Hay- market), a piece I have often seen him play the Squire Western, and Thomas the butler. I once attempted the part of the latter, by far the most comic, interlarded with a deal of dry humour. O’Keefe, in his Life, speaking of it, alludes to the taste of the day, “To ridicule the sentimental comedies, the piece consisted of the most trifling and commonplace thoughts, wrapt up in a bundle of grand phrases and high-flown words, and had its full effect as a burlesque on sentiment." A worthy friend of mine, whose acting once delighted the whole town, and Whose ready wit and repartee were proverbial, to give a zest, and to add to my finale as a butler, introducing his technical ideas, purposely wrote the following song for me :—
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