Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/415

 MACKLIN. 411 decency for the loss of his wife would admit; but such was the versatility of his temper, that he not only quitted his engagements with Barry and Woodward, and returned to London the middle of December, 1759, but made an engagement to perform at Smock Alley (the opposition house) towards the close of that season; which, however, he did not fulfil. Macklin, now, had greater projects than joining the Irish theatres: at this time he got an engagement at Drury lane at a very considerable salary; and besides had it in meditation to bring out his farce of “Love à-la-Mode,” which, though it met with some opposition in the beginning, afterwards received such applause, both in London and Dublin, as made amends for a l l his former dramatic miscarriages, and crowned him with n o inconsiderable share o f reputation. This farce was first acted a t Drury-lane, 1760, and afterwards h e brought out a t Covent-Garden “The Married Libertine,” comedy, 1761; “The Irish fine Lady,” farce, 1767; and “The True-born Scotchman,” comedy, which was after wards acted under the title o f “The Man o f the World,” 1781. I n 1774, h e attempted the character o f “Macbeth,” which met with a most violent opposition. The ground o f complaint against this actor was changed after his second appearance i n the character, and from a critique upon his acting, his antagonists attacked him with regard t o his conduct; this arose from a speech which h e then made, wherein h e asserted that Mr. Sparks and Mr. Red dish had hissed him i n the gallery o n the first night o f his appearance. These gentlemen made affidavits t o the contrary, and, during the whole week, the papers were filled with squibs o n both sides. On his third appearance i n Macbeth, previous t o the play, h e came o n i n his own character, with a manuscript i n his hand, and after much contest, was allowed t o read a part o f i t , which contained the proofs o f his former assertion. He then went through the character with some applause. This second address t o the public produced a letter from Mr. Reddish t o Mr. Macklin, t o which the latter published a n answer. An