402 MACKLIN. houses, How Macklin could have been endured in a cha racter so totally unfitted to his powers of mind and body, is a question not easily resolved at this day—particularly as Woodward played this very character at the other house, and played it in a style of excellence never perhaps before, or since, equalled; yet what is still more strange, Macklin always spoke of Mercutio as one of his favourite parts, and enlarged upon it in full confidence of his power. He produced at this theatre a dramatic satire, called “Covent Garden Theatre; or, Pasquin turned. Drawcanser,” 1752; and towards the close of the year 1753, having obtained, from Mr. Garrick the use of his theatre for that night, took a formal leave of the stage, in a prologue written on the occasion, in which he introduced his daughter as an actress to the protection of the public. . What induced him to quit the stage in the full vigour of fame and con stitution, (as he was then, according to his own calcula tion, but fifty-four) was one of those schemes which he long previously indulged himself in, of suddenly making his fortune by the establishment of a tavern and coffee house, in the Piazza, Covent-garden; to which he after wards added a school of oratory, upon a plan hitherto unknown in England, founded upon the Greek, Roman, French, and Italian societies, under the title of “The British Inquisition.” The first part of this plan was opened on the 11th of March, 1754, by a public ordinary, (which was to be continued every day at four o'clock, price three shillings,) where every person was permitted to drink port, or claret, or whatever liquor he should choose—a bill of fare, we must confess, very encouraging, even in those times, and which, from i t s cheapness and novelty, drew a considerable resort o f company for some time. Dinner being announced, b y public advertisement, t o b e ready a t four o'clock, just a s the clock had struck that hour, a large tavern bell, which h e had affixed a t the top o f the house, gave notice o f i t s approach. This bell continued ringing for about five minutes; the dinner was then ordered t o b e dished; and i n ten minutes afterwards
