636 WOFFINGTON. Harry on the stage. However, this curiosity was fully satisfied in favour of Miss Woffington; it was admitted by the best critics, that she represented this gay, good humoured, dissipated rake of fashion with an ease, ele gance, and deportment, which seemed almost out of the reach of female accomplishments: and her fame flew about the town with such rapidity, that the comedy had a run, and proved a considerable addition to the treasury for many seasons afterwards. However great her reputa tion in this part, she did not rest it wholly in Sir Harry. In characters of easy, high-bred deportment, such as Millimont, Lady Townley, Lady Betty Modish, &c. she possessed a first-rate merit; she likewise excelled in many of the humorous parts of comedy, such as Lady Pliant, (Double Dealer,) Mrs. Day, (Committee,) and others; not in the least scrupling, on these occasions, to convert the natural beauty of her face to the wrinkles of old age, and put on the tawdry habiliments and vulgar manners of the old hypocritical city vixen. At what period Garrick became acquainted with Miss Woffington, is not ascer tained; by computation, it must be some time before his appearance at Goodman's-fields, or immediately after wards, as we find them both engaged at the Dublin theatre in the summer of 1742, and both embarking on that expedition in the month of June the same year. Upon their return from Dublin, Miss Woffington lodged in the same house with Macklin; and as Garrick often visited there, there was a constant course of society between the parties: a fourth visitor too sometimes made his appear ance there, but in private—who was a titled gentleman of distinction, and was much enamoured with Miss Wof fington's many agreeable qualifications. I t , however, unfortunately happened one night, that Garrick had oc cupied Miss Woffington's chamber when his lordship took i t into his head t o visit his favourite Dulcinea. A loud knocking a t the door announced his arrival, when Garrick, who had always a proper presentiment o f danger about him, jumped out o f bed, and gathering u p his clothes
