Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/416

 412 MACKLIN. account having appeared in one of the papers of a tumult that occurred upon his fourth appearance in the character, in which it was said, “Mr. Smith's friends openly avowed the cause,” this gentleman applied to the printer, and finding Mr. Macklin to be the author of that declaration, addressed a letter to him the next day in the same paper, positively denying the charge. These altercations created a very strong party against Mr. Macklin, November 18, when he was to have played Shylock. They had stationed themselves in proper places of the pit and balcony boxes, for the better application to the managers. When the curtain drew up, the cry was general for Mr. Colman to make his appearance. Bensley having been sent to learn the sense of the house, was not suffered to speak. Mack lin then advanced in the dress of Shylock fron behind the scenes, and humbly supplicated to be heard—but a general uproar took place, and he was forced to retire. He next appeared in his own clothes, but the attempt was fruitless. Messrs. Miles and Sparks seemed to be the leaders of the opposition, and the latter stood up upon his seat with a written paper, anxious to communicate i t s contents t o the house, but h e was not suffered t o read i t . During this time successive embassies were dispatched from the manager, i n the persons o f Bensley, Woodward, Reinhold, and Clark—but a l l t o n o purpose: nothing would satisfy them but the appearance o f Mr. Colman. Macklin was o n and off the stage every two minutes, but could not get leave t o speak. He soon learnt, b y the delivery o f a written paper, that i t was the sense o f the company h e should never play there again. This h e received with a n affectation o f contempt, a t which the house was exceed ingly incensed, and declared, unless Mr. Colman would come forth, they would tear up the benches. Soon after wards Mr. Bensley brought i n a board, o n which was written i n chalk i n large characters, “At the command o f the public, Mr. Macklin i s discharged ” a roar o f applause ensued. An attempt was then made t o perform “She Stoops t o Conquer;” but the cry was still for Mr. Colman