which a large and respectable part of the community, deem sacred.

His "Knights" which was the produce of the third season, was a performance of somewhat more dramatic regularity; but still, although his plot and characters seemed less immediately personal, it was apparent, that he kept some particular real persons strongly in view, in the performance; and the town took upon themselves to fix them, where the resemblance appeared to be the most striking. Thus Mr. Foote continued from time to time, to select for the enter tainment of the public, such characters as well general as individual, as seemed most likely to engage their attention.

It would be superfluous to follow this genius thro' the course of his dramatic progress, as to all the pieces he has written, with a history of particulars. Suffice it to observe, that, from 1752, to 1761, he continued to perform at one of the theatres every season, as fancy or interest directed his choice, generally for a stated number of nights; and on these engagements, he usually brought out a new piece. And thus he went on, till a very pressing embarassment in his affairs, compelled him to perform "The Minor," at the Hay-Market, in the summer of 1760, with such a company, as he could hastily collect. Hencefor. ward he pursued the scheme of occupying that theatre, when the others were shut up; and from 1762 to the season before his death, he regularly performed there.

In the year 1766, being on a party of pleasure, with the late Duke of York and some others, Mr. Foote, had the misfortune to break his leg, by a fall from his horse; in consequence of which, he was compelled to undergo an amputation. This accident so sensibly affected the Duke, that he made a point of obtaining a patent for Mr. Foote for life; whereby he was allowed to perform at the little theatre in the Hay-market, from the 15th, of May to the 15th of September every

year.

He now became a greater favourite with the town than ever; his very laughable pieces with his still more laughable performances constantly filled his house and his receipts, were, in some seasons, almost incredible. But his income, great as it was, did not keep pace with his expences, for besides what he spent in vicious indulgences, his generosity and hospitality knew no bounds.

In 1776, he drew a character of a lady of quality, then much talked of, who had influence enough to hinder his play from being represented; and, in the course of this conflict, certain imputations were thrown out against him, which ripened at length into a legal charge. In short, he was accused of unnatural practices, and though the accusation was supposed to have originated from malice, and he was honourably acquitted, yet the shock, he received from this disgracing situation, is believed to have had a fatal effect upon him.

Finding his health decline, he entered into an agreement with Mr. Coleman, for his patent of the theatre; according to which he was to receive from that gentleman 7104 dollars per annum, besides a stipulated sum, whenever he chose to perform. But his spirits now began to fail, and he applied to his old resource the bottle, but in vain: for during these temporary flashes, which. this false friend affords, intervals of silence occurred, which could only be attribut ed to mental anguish in him, or the fear, with which he inspired others, of the keenness of his satire, and the overwhelming tumultuous attack of his humour, which, when exerted, always predominated, bearing down every thing and every body before it.

But, indeed a life spent in direct violation of moral duty, and whose best praise it was, that it provided laughter for the giddy, and indecent merriment for the unthinking, whilst reason and religion sighed at his conduct, could not be expected to end with comfort or substantial hope. In the midst of company,

he was often observed to be lost in thought, whilst frequent sighs, and a corresponding countenance be trayed an uneasy mind. A friend congratulated him on having settled his annuity business with Mr. Coleman, and observed, that he might now pass the remainder of his life, with tranquility and comfort. "I was miserable before, and now I am far from being happy," was his remarkable answer.

A few months after he had sold his patent, being one night affected with a paralytic stroke, whilst on the stage, he was compelled to retire; from which, however, he recovered sufficiently to spend the summer at Brigthelmstone. A few weeks before his death, he returned to London; but, by the advice of his physicians, set out with an intention to spend the winter at Paris, and in the South of France. He had got no farther than Dover, when he was suddenly attacked with another stroke of the palsy, which, in a few hours, put a period to his life. He died, 21st, October 1777, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and was privately interred in the cloisters of Westminster abbey,

We think, that the following words might, with great propriety, have been engraved on his tomb, Those, who, in confidence of superior capacities or attainments, affect to despise the common rules of life, should remember, that nothing can attone for the want of prudence, that negligence and irregularity long continued, render wit absurd, genius useless, and talents contemptible."

FORDYCE, (DAVID) an elegant and learned writer of the last century, was professor of philosophy in the Marischal college, Aberdeen. He was originally designed for the ministry, to prepare himself for which was the whole aim of his ambition; and, for a course of years, the sole purpose of his studies. How well he was qualified to assume that office, ap

pears from his "Theodorus, A Dialogue concerning the art of Preaching." After having finished this work, he went abroad on his travels, in order to obtain fresh stores of knowledge; but after a successful tour thro' several parts of Europe, he was unfortunately cast away in a storm, on the coast of Holland. Besides the above work, he wrote "Dialogues on Education" 8vo. and an excellent "Treatise of Moral Philosophy," which was published in the "Preceptor." The third edition of his "Theodorus" was published in London, after his untimely death, by his brother, the Rev. Mr. James Fordyce, an eminent dissenting minister, in 1755.

FORDYCE, (SIR WILLIAM) one of the most eminent physicians in London, in the 18th century, and a very benevolent man, was originally an apothecary in Huntingdonshire, then mate, and afterwards surgeon to one of the regiments of guards.

By the force of superior talents, incessant application, and his great skill in chemistry, he gradually quitted the low grounds of physic, and, by his great merit, at last, ascendeed, the mountain top. Such was the opinion of his medical acumen, that a certain nobleman of high rank, would not build on his Hampshire estate, till he had by earnest entreaty, accompanied with the title deeds of an estate, prevailed on the physician to become his near neighbour. But uninterrupted rest is not one of the comforts of medical fame, and he was frequently called, by professional engagements, to a considerable distance from the seat of his noble friend.

The son of Lord Eardley was dangerously ill on the continent. Not satisfied with the mildness of an Italian sky, the delightful bay, and medicated ices of Naples, his lordship prevailed on Sir William to visit Mr. Eardley, who soon recovered, and the grateful parent, well knowing the value of health, and better a

ble than most people, to reward the man, who had been instrumental in procuring it, welcomed Sir William's return with a draft on his banker for 2000 guineas.

It has been objected to Dr. Garth, who was seldom well himself, that a man, unable to keep his own machine in order, was but ill qualified to superin-1 tend the repairing of others; but the charge against Dr. Garth, originated more from his indiscriminate amours than any want of necessary knowledge. If the skill of Sir William is to be weighed in such a balance, the estimate will be highly favourable; for, with a frame naturally delicate, he exhbited till within a very short period of his death, unimpaired health, and unclouded faculties, at the age of seventy. From habit as well as inclination, his diet was frugal, and, as far as was consistent with the London etiquette of a carriage, he took every opportunity of. walking and riding on horseback.

He published an Essay on the Venereal Disease, which was generally considered by medical men, as a well written and well-timed publication, as it appeared at a period, when the public were in danger of being led astray by the interested misrepresentations of impostors and quacks, who, with the experience of more than a century, staring them in the face, impudently pretended they could cure the wounds of this scourge of illicit embraces, without making use of its only specific remedy. If the book has a fault, it is a little tendency to tumid and heroic language; the author occasionally wandering out of his road, and prating of the warriors of Agincourt and Cressy, when the reader is looking for scientific instruction and practical utility.

The biographical sketches of this eminent person, which have come to our hands, are exceedingly scanty. From all the accounts, however, which we have seen and also from what we have heard concerning him, he was one of those persons, who by dint of nius, irreproachable manners, and unwearied attention

ge