SHERIDAN. 513 disgrace not only on himself, but on a l l h i s brethren. Mr. Digges rose u p and said, i t was very obvious that this lecture o n the duties o f a n actor was levelled a t him; that h e was the person who had brought that disgrace upon himself and his brethren; but a s the same play was t o b e performed the following night, and the same demand from the audience was likely t o fall o n him, h e desired t o know what were the manager's commands i n regard t o his conduct. Mr. Sheridan's reply was, that h e should give him n o directions, but leave him t o d o a s h e thought proper. Digges then said, “Sir, i f I should comply with the demand o f the audience, and repeat the speech a s I did before, am I t o incur your censure for doing it?” The manager replied, “Not a t all; I leave you t o act i n that matter a s you think proper.” The night following, March 2 , was the performance. The pit was full a s soon a s the doors were open, the house crowded; and this remarkable speech i n the first scene, a s soon a s ever i t was out o f the mouth o f the actor, h e was called upon t o repeat, with the same vehemence a s o n the first night. The actor seemed startled, and stood some time motionless: a t last, a t the continued fierceness o f the encores, h e made a motion t o b e heard, and when silence was obtained, h e said, “It would give him the highest pleasure imaginable t o comply with the request o f the audience, but h e had his private reasons for begging they would b e s o good a s t o excuse him, a s his compliance would b e greatly injurious t o him.” On his saying that, they immediately called out, Sheridan! Sheridan / the manager / the manager / and this cry soon became universal throughout a l l parts o f the house. After some time Mr. Digges left the stage; and the uproar continuing, Mr. Sheridan (who stood behind the scenes) ordered the curtain down, and sent o n the prompter t o acquaint the audience that they were ready t o perform the play, i f they were suffered t o g o o n i n quiet; i f not, that they were a t liberty t o take their money again. The prompter was not heard, but obliged t o withdraw. Mr. Sheridan then said, with some agitation, “They have n o right t o call upon me; I'll not obey their call; I'll go up t o my room and undress myself;” and h e went up. Some o f his best friends left the pit and boxes, and went t o his dressing room after him, and entreated him not t o undress, but t o g o down and endeavour t o pacify a n audience that knew h e was there, and must b e enraged a t his refusal t o appear before them. But a t these reasons and these entreaties of his friends he remained unmoved: and being strongly possessed with the notion that personal mischief was intended him, h e got into a chair, went home, and left the house i n that uproar and confusion. Mrs. Woffington was then persuaded t o appear before them, t o see i f a fine woman could assuage the fury o f the many. headed monster; but she was not heard. Digges was the seeming favourite and reigning orator. He was desired t o g o on, and t o assure the audience Mr. Sheridan had laid him under n o injunction not t o repeat the speech, and therefore could not on that account have incurred their displeasure. Digges went on, moved t o b e heard, and a profound silence ensued; h e repeated what h e had been desired, but i n vain; a s they had called s o long for Sheridan, they would insist o n having him before them, and his answering f o r himself. A t last, when they were told h e was positively gone home, WOL. 11 . I , L .
