As a tailpiece to this sketch, I cannot, I think, do better than subjoin Foote's portrait of Quin, which, I will hope, was not drawn to disparage any of Quin's great survivors, but in all honesty and sincerity. "Mr. Quin's deportment through the whole cast of his characters is natural and unaffected, his countenance expressive without the assistance of grimace, and he is, indeed, in every circumstance, so much the person he represents, that it is scarcely possible for any attentive spectator to believe that the hypocritical, intriguing Maskwell, the suspicious superannuated rake, the snarling old bachelor, and the jolly, jocose Jack Falstaff are imitated, but real persons. "And here I wish I had room and ability to point out the severe masterly strokes with which Mr. Quin has often entertained my imagination, and satisfied my judgment, but, under my present confinement, I can only recommend the man who wants to see a character perfectly played, to see Mr. Quin in the part of Falstaff; and if he does not express a desire of spending an evening with that merry mortal, why, I would not spend one with him, if he would pay my reckoning." "With a bottle of claret and a full house," it may well be concluded, from all concurrent testimony, Quin was, in fat Jack, unapproachable. In the traditions of the stage, he still remains _the_ Falstaff, though Henderson was subsequently thought to have equalled him in many of the points of that character. Finally, Quin's will is not uninstructive as an illustration of the actor's character. There is, perhaps, not a friend he had possessed, or servant who had been faithful to him, who is forgotten in it. Various are the bequests, from £50 to a cousin practising medicine in Dublin, to £500 and a share of the residue to a kind-hearted oilman in the Strand. To one individual he bequeaths his watch, in accordance with an "imprudent promise" to that effect. James Quin did not like the man, but he would not break his word! _Requiescat in pace!_ [Illustration: Mr. King as Lord Ogleby.] FOOTNOTES: [59] Quin's last appearance was for Ryan's benefit; but it was at Covent Garden, and he played Falstaff--19th March 1753. [60] I think this must be a misprint for fourteen years. [61] In the second edition Dr. Doran says: "After he passed to Lincoln's Inn Fields, Rich designed to bring forward the 'Merry Wives of Windsor,' but no one seemed daring enough to undertake Falstaff. 'I will venture it,' said Quin, 'if no one else can be found.' 'You!' cried Rich, 'you might as well try Cato after Booth. The character of Falstaff is quite another character from what you think. It is not a little snivelling part that any one can do; and there isn't any man among you that has any idea of the part but myself!' Ultimately Quin 'attempted' the part; his conception of it was admirable, and the house willingly flung itself into a very storm of hilarious jollity." [Illustration: OLD THEATRE ROYAL, EDINBURGH.] CHAPTER XI.