512 SHERIDAN. His success was various: in some seasons, the theatre produced consider able profit; in others, his gains were but small. In this manner, however, he continued, with the prospect of a firm establishment for life, and the means of a competency, if not affluence, until another storm made ship wreck of his fortune, and drove him entirely from his post, to take refuge in England. —For some time before this period, he had instituted a club, the members of which were in number about fifty or sixty persons; chiefly lords and members of parliament, who were invited to dine together in the manager's apartment in the theatre, no female being admitted but Mrs. Woffington, who was placed in a great chair at the head of the table, and elected president for the season. This club was begun without any party intention on the side of the manager, but, by the means of Mrs. Woffing ton, was, in 1753, metamorphosed from its original design into one of a political nature: the conversation and general toasts of this weekly assem bly, which were what might be called anti-patriotic, soon became the talk of the town; and the manager, of course, was severely abused for being the supporter of the society, as he most certainly and effectually was, when he was the person who paid for it all. At this critical and dangerous juncture, it is not to be wondered at that this assembly of courtiers publicly supported by the manager, who being also the principal actor, was conse quently at a l l times within the immediate resentment o f the provoked party, should become the object o f revenge. The patriots o f the day resolved t o watch for the first opportunity t o destroy him, and a n occasion soon offered. The tragedy o f “Mahomet” had been for some time singled out b y the manager t o b e revived; the chief parts were written out and cast the winter preceding, i n the following manner: Palmira, Mrs. Woffington; Zaphne, Mr. Sheridan; and Alcanor, Mr. Digges. On February 23, 1754, the night o f performance, the pit was filled very soon with the leaders and chiefs o f the country party; and when Digges spoke the following speech:—“If, y e powers divine,” &c. (act I . scene 1,) the moment h e had finished i t , a l l the party i n the pit roared out encore; which was continued with such violence, that the actor, after discovering due astonishment i n his countenance, very readily spoke the whole speech over again, which was most remarkably applauded b y the audience. The fine scenes of Zaphne and Palmira, which are the best i n the play, and were performed b y their principal and usually applauded actors, this night passed unno ticed, and a l l the applause fell o n the character o f Alcanor. Although i t would have been more prudent from the appearances then exhibited, t o have laid aside the play for the present, yet the manager unfortunately yielded t o a request made him t o perform “Mahomet” a second time; and contented himself with ordering a general summons t o a l l the com pany t o meet him i n the green-room o n the Friday morning, the day before the play was t o b e acted. When the company were a l l assembled, h e en tered the room with a paper i n his hand, and read them a lecture o n the duties o f a n actor, particularly respecting his conduct t o the public; and proceeded t o shew, i n the most glaring colours, that the actor who pros tituted himself t o the wanton humour o f a n audience, brought inevitable l
