Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/380

Foote Its only appearance seems to have been in a daily newspaper for 3 Aug. 1775, whence it was copied into the 'Westminster Magazine,' August 1775. The 'Methodist, a comedy; being a Continuation and Completion of the plan of the "Minor," written by Mr. Foote,' &c., 3rd edit. London (no date), 1761, 8vo, is, according to the 'Biographia Dramatica,' 'a most impudent catchpenny job of Israel Pottinger.' Foote's prose tracts, like his letters, are forcibly, wittily, and logically written. It is, however, as a dramatist, a wit, and an actor that he has to be judged. all these qualities he is noteworthy. No complete collection of his plays has been made, more than one of his pieces, chiefly his early entertainments, having never been printed. From the dates given it will be seen that the plays were in many cases not printed until long after their appearance on the stage. What are called his dramatic works were issued in 4 vols. 8vo, 1778, and with life by John Bee, i.e. Badcock, in 3 vols. 12mo, 1830. Three dramatic trifles are given in 'The Memoirs of Samuel Foote, with a Collection of his Genuine Bon Mots, &c. By William Cooke,' London, 1805, 12mo, 3 vols. In the series edited by Cumberland, Mrs. Inchbald, Lacy, and in innumerable similar collections, various plays are to be found, and collections of the 8vo editions are in the British Museum and other libraries. In the 'Comic Theatre,' being a free translation of all the best French comedies by S. Foote and others, London, 1762, 5 vols. 12mo, one play only, the 'Young Hypocrite,' is said in the 'Biographia Dramatica' to be by Foote. A play of Foote's occasionally appears on the present stage. To the list already given may be added the 'Tryal of Samuel Foote, esq., for a Libel on Peter Paragraph,' acted in 1761 at the Haymarket, and the 'Diversions of the Morning,' compiled from his 'Taste' and other sources, and played at Drury Lane in 1758. These pieces, previously unprinted, Tate Wilkinson gives at the close of vol. iv. of his 'Wandering Patentee,' 12mo, 1795. 'Lindamira, or Tragedy à-la-mode,' a burlesque tragic bagatelle, by Foote, is included in 'Thespian Gleanings,' by T. Meadows, comedian, Ulverstone, 8vo, 1805. It is taken from 'Diversions of the Morning.' The 'Slanderer,' a comedy, is said to have been left in manuscript, and appears to be lost. As a rule the plays are invertebrate, and the manners they sketch are not to be recognised in the present day. Foote had, however, a keen eye to character, and on the strength of the brilliant sketches of contemporary manners which he afforded, and of the wit of the dialogue, they may be read with pleasure to this day. Foote's satire is direct and scathing. Much of it is directed against individuals, not seldom with no conceivable vindication, since Foote singled out those, such as Garrick, to whom he was under deepest obligations. During his lifetime and for some years subsequently Foote was known as the English Aristophanes. Without being deserved, the phrase is less of a misnomer than such terms ordinarily are. As an actor Foote seems to have attracted attention only in his own pieces. Tom Davies, who speaks with something not far from contempt of his general performances, praises his Bayes in the 'Rehearsal.' In this, however, Foote, like Garrick, used to introduce allusions to contemporary events. This, of course, was quite in Foote's line. The words of Davies are : 'Public transactions, the flying follies of the day, debates of grave assemblies, absurdities of play-writers, politicians, and players, all came under his cognisance, and all felt the force of his wit; in short, he laid hold of everything and everybody that would furnish merriment for the evening. Foote could have written a new "Rehearsal" equal to the old' (Dram. Misc. iii. 304-5). What is this but an account of Foote's own entertainments? Such success as he obtained as an actor in early life was due to an imitation, conscientious at first, but subsequently degenerating into buffoonery, of Colley Gibber. Even as a mimic Johnson disputed his capacity, saying, 'His imitations are not like. ... He goes out of himself without going into any other people.' As a conversationalist and wit he stood alone. Many of the jokes fathered upon him by his biographer Cooke are to be found in early collections, such as Taylor the Water Poet's 'Wit and Mirth.' More anecdotes concerning Foote are to be found among theatrical and than are told of any half-dozen of his contemporaries or successors. The opinions expressed with regard to him by those who lived in his society or under his influence show a curious mixture of fear and admiration. Garrick was distinctly afraid of him, and, in spite of being his equal in wit and his superior in scholarship, sought at almost any cost to cajole him. His favourable utterances are accordingly to be taken with allowances. Johnson, who despised without fearing him, says : 'The first time I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow I was resolved not to be pleased, and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him. But the dog was so very comical that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself