observing the wonderful effects of their art, laugh or cry, condemn or admire, love or hate, just as they please; subjugating the heart with every various passion: more especially when they pronounce the charms and incantations of a certain sorcerer, called Shakespeare, whose science was so powerful, that he himself thus describes it: ——I have oft be-dimm’d The noon-tide sun, call’d forth the mutinous winds, etc.’ CHAPTER VI Mr Holcroft arrived in London, just at the time that Mr Sheridan came into the management of Drury-Lane. He endeavoured to procure an engagement at this, and at the other house; but in vain. As a last desperate resource, when his money was nearly exhausted, he sat down and wrote a farce, called The Crisis, or Love and Famine which Mrs. Sheridan was prevailed on to read; and this, with his musical knowledge (as he was able to sing in all choruses), procured him an engagement at twenty shillings a week. On his being engaged, Mr Holcroft was desired by Mr Sheridan to give in his cast of parts to Mr Hopkins, the prompter; and they were as follow: Don Manuel, Kind Impostor. Hardcastle, She Stoops to Conquer. Justice Woodcock, Love in a Village. Hodge, Ditto. Giles, Maid of the Mill. Ralph, Ditto. Sir Harry Sycamore, Ditto. Scrub, Beaux’ Stratagem. Sir Anthony Absolute, Rivals. General Savage, School for Wives. Colin Macleod, Faithless Lover. Mortimer, Ditto. Sir Benjamin Dove, Brothers. Major O’Flaherty, West-Indian. Fulmer, Ditto. Varland, Ditto. Colonel Oldboy, Lionel and Clarissa. It was in this last part that Mr Holcroft particularly wished to have made his first appearance. The manner in which he procured a recommendation to Mrs. Sheridan, was through his cousin, Mrs. Greville. In consequence of this connexion, he also obtained introductions to Mrs. Crewe, and several other persons of fashion, who interested themselves in his behalf; and an epistolary intercourse commenced between him and Mr Greville on subjects of taste and the theatre, which continued for some years.