For the Haymarket, Fielding wrote the only piece which has come down to our times, his immortal burlesque-tragedy of "Tom Thumb," in which the weakness and bombast of late or contemporary writers are copied with wonderful effect. Young suffered severely by this;--and the "Oh, Huncamunca! Huncamunca, oh!" was a dart at the "Oh, Sophonisba! Sophonisba, oh!" of Jamie Thomson. Of the other pieces I need not disturb the dust. Let me rather, contemplating that of Mrs. Oldfield, glance at the career of that great actress, who living knew no rival, and in her peculiar line has never been excelled. [Illustration: Mr. Garrick as Abel Drugger.] FOOTNOTES: [125] Malone says "August 11." [126] "Giving his answer to the ambassador."--_Victor._ [127] Dr. Doran exactly reverses the state of the case. Dr. Johnson says: "The Whigs applauded every line in which liberty was mentioned, as a satire on the Tories; and the Tories echoed every clap, to show that the satire was unfelt." [128] Wrong. Victor in his Memoirs of Booth says five-and-twenty nights: but this also is incorrect. On May 9, 1713, "Cato" is announced to be played for the twentieth time, and on May 10, for Mrs. Rogers' benefit, "The Funeral" is in the bill. Cibber says "Cato" was acted every day for a month, Mondays excepted. [129] Bellchambers, in his Notes to "Cibber," is very severe on this marriage. "In the year 1719, Mr. Booth, who seems to have been a libertine and a sensualist, gave his hand to Miss Santlow, a strumpet of condition"--and then follow some very strong remarks on Booth and his wife. [130] These four characters were certainly not among Booth's best. Wildair and Sir Charles Easy were Wilks' parts, and indeed I cannot find that Booth ever played any of the four. [131] Chetwood states that her first character was Ismenes, a page, in "Mithridates," in which she sang with extraordinary success. Genest supposes this to have been in November 1728. [132] Acted nine times. [133] It was acted fourteen times--a great success in those days. [134] Charlotte Charke says in her _Autobiography_ that this was her first appearance, but it was really her second. INDEX. Actor, profession of, in Greece and Rome, 2, 3. Actors and clergy in collision, 13; playing under forged licence, 13; authors, 185; Dennis' abuse of, 361. Actors' famous "Points," 155. Actresses, introduction of, 28; pre-restoration English, 66. Addison, Joseph, part author of the "Tender Husband," 294; his "Rosamond," 301; his "Cato," 329; his "Drummer," 339. Aldridge, Mrs., 148. Alleyn, Edward, 31, 43, 48. "Amboyna," 28. Angel, 65, 70. Anne, queen of James I., an actress, 24. Anne, Princess, as Lemandra, 94. Apothecaries' Hall the site of an early theatre, 16. Arbuthnot, part author of "Three Hours after Marriage," 342. Arrest of players, 15. Arrowsmith, dramatist, 207. Arsinoe, first opera after the Italian fashion, 295.