The originality of style and expression in this comedy displeased Quin. He was a conservative, and disliked innovation; contemptuously called the piece a speaking pantomime--forgetful that the old comedies were often much more farcical (which is what he meant) in their incident, and when a name for it was being discussed, suggested scornfully "The Hat and Ladder." Some of Hoadley's friends kindly foretold failure, in order to afford consolation after a kind. Thence the epigram of one of them:-- "Dear doctor, if your comic muse don't please, Turn to your tragic and write recipes." Not merely as a character piece, but for construction of plot, simplicity and grace of style, and comparative purity of speech and action, the "Suspicious Husband" is the best comedy the eighteenth century had, up to this time, produced. It has a good story clearly and rapidly developed, and the persons of the drama are ladies and gentlemen, and not the dully-vivacious ruffians and the unclean hussies of the Aphra Behn, the Etherege, and Sedley period. The writer was a "royal physician," and son to the famous bishop who, for his opposition to civil and ecclesiastical tyranny, was treated as if he were an infidel. The bishop did not go to witness his son's play; but as all the Hoadleys had a theatrical turn, I feel sure he and his family read it, with many a cheery laugh, in the old room at Chelsea. George II. certainly did so at Windsor, and saw it, too, at the Garden, and was so well pleased with his physician, the author, that he gratefully sent him the handsome fee of £100. Garrick came off so well in his contest with Quin, that he probably had no fears of trying the fall to which he was challenged, with Barry. For this struggle Spranger Barry passed over to Drury Lane, to wrestle with David on his own ground. Drury may be called peculiarly his, for, by purchasing a share in the patent, he now commenced that career of management which lasted during his theatrical life, and the brilliancy of which was spoken of in every part of the world where an interest was felt in the intellectual enjoyments of the people. The Drury Lane season of 1747-48 found Garrick joint-patentee with Lacy; Garrick directing the stage without interference, and receiving between six and seven hundred a year, as an actor, exclusive of his profits as part-proprietor. Garrick's company included Barry, Macklin, Delane, Havard, Mills, Yates, Barrington, Sparks, Lowe; and Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Cibber, Mrs. Woffington, Mrs. Clive, and other bright but lesser stars.