[86] Macklyn, in general a disagreeable actor, was liked in Iago, and extremely admired in Shylock the Jew. He had been tried and honourably acquitted for the murder of another actor, but his character was not popular. He played the Scotchman himself in his own farce, but not well; however, its not being printed, nor played but when he pleased, made it always draw crowded audiences; which, with having a daughter who was a pretty good actress, and of an excellent character, made him never rejected by the theatres, though of a quarrelsome temper. He continued to play for twenty years, and, though past fourscore, retained so much vigour and parts, that he wrote another piece, not less severe on the Scotch, though it was much curtailed before he could obtain permission to have it acted; and though it succeeded, it was not near so much liked as his _Love à la Mode_. [87] John Stuart, Earl of Bute, a very considerable personage in the succeeding reign. [88] Being told that General Conway, whose miscarriage at Rochfort it was supposed Lord George had inflamed, would be of the Court-Martial against him, he said, he should wish for no man sooner for his judge--the highest compliment that could be paid to Conway’s integrity and candour. Though at their outset, both as soldiers and parliamentary speakers, the world had marked them as rivals, there never was any open enmity between them; nor were they ever intimate: the spotless virtue of Conway, his disinterestedness, and total alienation from all political intrigues, could not assimilate with a man so different. [89] The sister of the Duchess of Bedford had married Lord John Sackville, and had quarrelled with Lord George. [90] The Duke of Dorset had enjoyed many great employments both in the Court and State: the Duchess had been Mistress of the Robes to the late Queen. [91] This reasoning was not destroyed by Lord George’s being afterwards twice employed in civil employments, the second time in a very high one; for though he had occasion to prove his personal courage, the imputation of wanting it was never effaced; and was so often thrown in his face, that he never afterwards recovered spirit enough to act with dignity, nor to display the parts which had been so conspicuous in his early life. [92] Richard Onslow, brother of the Speaker of the House of Commons. [93] Sister of Sir William Meredith, a most amiable woman; afterwards married to Lord Frederic Campbell, brother of the Duke of Argyle.--A. She was burnt to death in 1807.--E.