Page:Johnsonian Miscellanies II.djvu/80

 ANECDOTES BY RICHARD CUMBERLAND

��[FROM Memoirs of Richard Cumberland, written by himself. 2 vols. London, 1807.

Johnson, writing to Mrs. Thrale, who was at Brighton, says : 1 The want of company is an inconvenience, but Mr. Cumberland is a million.' Letters, ii. in. There is nothing in Boswell to show that Cumberland was much with Johnson. Northcote told Hazlitt that Johnson and his friends ' never admitted him as one of the set ; Sir Joshua did not invite him to dinner.' Conversations of Northcote, p. 385.

Rogers described him as 'a most agreeable companion, and a very entertaining converser. His theatrical anecdotes were related with infinite spirit and humour/ Rogers's Table Talk, p. 136.

'I once (says W. Maltby) dined at Billy's with Parr, Priestley, Cumberland, and some other distinguished people. Cumberland, who belonged to the family of the Blandishes, be- praised Priestley to his face, and after he had left the party spoke of him very disparagingly. This excited Parr's extremest wrath. When I met him a few days after he said : * Only think of Mr. Cumberland ! that he should have presumed to talk before me, before me, Sir in such terms of my friend Dr. Priestley ! Pray, Sir, let Mr. Dilly know my opinion of Mr. Cumberland that his ignorance is equalled only by his impertinence, and that both are exceeded by his malice.' Ib. p. 314.

Sir Walter Scott thus writes of Cumberland : * January 12, 1826.' Mathews last night gave us a very perfect imitation of

old

�� �