extravagant engagements with every great actor, save Garrick, whom they could win over, down to clever dogs, and intelligent monkeys. At the end of a seven years' struggle, Barry found that Dublin could not support two theatres, and leaving Mossop in possession of the field, he returned to London, having ruined himself and Woodward, and lost everything he possessed but his gentle humour, his suavity, his plausibility, and his hopes. As a sample of Dublin theatrical life, in Barry's time, I cite the following passage from Gilbert's _History of Dublin_, and therewith close the subject for the present. "Dublin was kept in a state of commotion by the partisans of the rival theatres. As already noticed, the Countess of Brandon, with her adherents, attended constantly at Smock Alley, and would not appear at Crow Street; but Barry's tenderness in making love on the stage, at length brought the majority of the ladies to his house. Of the scenes which commonly occurred during this theatrical rivalry, on nights when some leading lady had bespoken a play, and made an interest for all parts of the house, particularly by pit and gallery tickets among her tradespeople, we have been left the following notice: The lady of the night goes early into the box-room to receive her company. This lady had sent out pit and gallery tickets to all her tradespeople, with the threatenings of the loss of her custom if they did not dispose of them; and the concern she was under, when the time was approaching for the drawing up the curtain, at the sight of a thin pit and galleries, introduced the following entertainment. The lady was ready to faint; and after smelling bottles were applied, she cried out, 'She was ruined and undone! She never would be able to look dear Mr. B. in the face any more, after such a shocking disappointment.' At many of these repeated lamentations, the box-keeper advanced and said: 'I beg your ladyship will not be so disheartened; indeed, your ladyship's pit will mend and your ladyship's galleries, too, will certainly mend, before the play begins!' At which the lady cried, 'Out, you nasty flattering fellow! I tell you I'm undone, ruined, and undone! that's all. But I'll be revenged. I am resolved. I'll pay off--No--I'll turn off all my saucy tradesmen to-morrow morning.'" During Barry's absence, some excellent actors took their last farewell of the English stage. Of these I will speak in the next chapter. [Illustration: Mr. Powell as Cyrus.] FOOTNOTES: [82] It was played eleven times. [83] Should be October 1758. [84] Should be Maddox. Mattocks was a singer and actor. [85] I presume Dr. Doran does not mean that Garrick went abroad immediately on Barry's departure. Barry went to Ireland in 1758; Garrick did not travel till 1763. [86] Patty. [Illustration: RICH AS HARLEQUIN.] CHAPTER XV. RYAN, RICH, O'BRIEN.