634 WOFFINGTON. tinued a widower seven years; but then married Mrs. Fell, the relict of Charles Fell, Esq. of an ancient family in Lancashire, who survived him. This celebrated actor died the 27th of September, 1732, and was interred in the church-yard of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, where a monu ment was put over him by his widow. By his own request he was buried at midnight, to avoid ostentation; yet this peculiar honour was paid to his memory, that the gentle men of the choir belonging to the royal chapel came voluntarily and performed an anthem, prepared for the solemn occasion. He was always the first proposer of any joint charity from the theatrical stock; and tears were often seen in his eyes at the relation of any misfortune that befel others. When the unhappy Mr. Farquhar died, Wilks took care to bury him decently at St. Martin's in the Fields, and also provided for his orphan daughters, whom he placed out as mantua-makers, and to the last gave them several benefit-plays; by which constant stream of bounty, he raised them above want; so that, in losing him, they lost another parent. MARGARET WOFFINGTON, An actress, no less celebrated for talents and fine accom plishments than for her generosity and appropriate feel ings. Her origin was very humble; her mother, on the death of her father, kept a small grocer's shop (commonly called in Ireland a huckster's shop) upon Ormond Quay; and under this inauspicious circumstance did a woman, who afterwards delighted nations, and attracted the highest private regards, begin her career in life. What first gave rise to the accomplishment of so great a change, the following circumstance will explain :—There was a French woman, of the name of Madame Violante, who took up an occasional residence in Dublin about the year 1728. This woman was celebrated for exhibiting great feats of grace and agility on the tight rope, &c. and, as she supported a good private character, her exhibitions were much resorted
