120 FARQUHAR. was his first dramatic attempt, and it obtained for him much popularity. In 1700, he produced his “Constant Couple; or, the Trip to the Jubilee,” it being then the jubilee year at Rouen, where persons of a l l countries flocked for pardons o r amusement; this play was acted with unbounded applause, and was performed fifty-three nights during the first season. I n the character o f Sir Harry Wildair, our author drew s o gay and airy a person age, s o suited t o Wilks' talents, and s o animated by his gesture and vivacity o f spirit, that the player gained almost a s much reputation a s the poet. Towards the end o f this year, Farquhar went t o Holland, probably o n his military duty; and h e has given a very facetious descrip tion o f those places and people, i n two o f his letters, dated from the Brill, and from Leyden, and i n a third, dated from the Hague. He very humorously relates how merry h e was there a t a n entertainment given b y the Earl o f Westmoreland, while not only himself, but King Wil liam and many o f his subjects were detained b y a violent storm, which h e has very humorously described. There i s also among his poems, a n ingenious copy o f verses t o his mistress, o n the same subject. This mistress i s sup posed t o have been the celebrated Mrs. Ann Oldfield, who i n 1699, chiefly o n his judgment and recommendation, was admitted into the theatre; she being then sixteen years o f age. I n 1701, h e was a spectator, though not a mourner, a t Dryden's funeral, a s the description h e gives o f i t i n one of his letters, affords but little indication o f sorrow. En couraged b y the uncommon success o f his last play, h e wrote a continuation o f i t i n 1701, entitled, “Sir Harry Wildair; o r , the Sequel o f the Trip t o the Jubilee,” i n which Mrs. Oldfield received a s much applause, and was a s greatly admired i n her part, a s Wilks was i n his. I n 1702, h e published his “Miscellanies; or, Collection o f Poems, Letters, and Essays,” which contain a n infinite deal o f humour, genius, and fancy. I t was said, that some o f the letters were published from copies returned
