Another story will let us see what effect a mistaken offence of this kind had upon the French theatre, which was told me by a gentleman of the long robe, then at Paris, and who was himself the innocent author of it. At the tragedy of "Zaire," while the celebrated Mademoiselle Gossin[A] was delivering a soliloquy, this gentleman was seized with a sudden fit of coughing, which gave the actress some surprise and interruption; and his fit increasing, she was forced to stand silent so long that it drew the eyes of the uneasy audience upon him, when a French gentleman, leaning forward to him, asked him, If this actress had given him any particular offence, that he took so publick an occasion to resent it? The English gentleman, in the utmost surprise, assured him, So far from it, that he was a particular admirer of her performance; that his malady was his real misfortune, and if he apprehended any return of it, he would rather quit his seat than disoblige either the actress or the audience. [Footnote A: Jeanne, Catherine Gossin, of the Comédie Française.] This publick decency in their theatre I have myself seen carried so far that a gentleman in their second Loge, or middle-gallery, being observed to sit forward himself while a lady sate behind him, a loud number of voices called out to him from the pit, "_Place à la Dame! Place à la Dame_!" When the person so offending, either not apprehending the meaning of the clamour, or possibly being some John Trott who feared no man alive, the noise was continued for several minutes; nor were the actors, though ready on the stage, suffered to begin the play till this unbred person was laughed out of his seat, and had placed the lady before him. Whether this politeness observed at plays may be owing to their clime, their complexion, or their government, is of no great consequence; but if it is to be acquired, methinks it is a pity our accomplished countrymen, who every year import so much of this nation's gawdy garniture, should not, in this long course of our commerce with them, have brought over a little of their theatrical good-breeding too. INDEX Abington, Mrs. Actors and audience, Colley Cibber on Addison, Joseph his "Cato" Anne, Queen Anne's reign, Life in Queen Ashbury, Joseph Ashton's "Reign of Queen Anne" Aston, Tony Attorneys of Queen Anne's day Baggs, Zachary Baker of Dublin Barry, Spranger, Mrs. Spranger Barry, Mrs. Elizabeth Bartholomew Fair Bath life "Beaux' Stratagem," Farquhar's Bellchambers, Edmund Bertie, Miss Dye Betterton, Thomas Blackmore, Dr. (Sir Richard) Boileau Bolingbroke, Lord Booth, Barton Mrs. Barton _see also_ Santlow Boswell, James Bowman, an actor Bracegirdle, Anne Bradshaw, Mrs. Brett, Colonel Miss Anne Broschi, Carlo (Farinelli) Budgell, Eustace Bullock, an actor Burney, Dr. "Busiris," Young's