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appear in the royal prefence, branded as merchant in the city, to whom he was you are with the infamy of a notorious foon after bound apprentice. During breach of truft? With what countenance the early part of his fervitude, he difcan you take your feat at the treasury charged his duty fo much to the fatisfacboard or in council, when you feel that tion of his mafter, that he was very foon every circulating whisper is at your ex- indulged with more freedom than is ufupence alone, and ftabs you to the heart? ally allowed to lads in that station. AHave you a fingle friend in parliament fo bout this period, he for the first time faw shameless, fo thoroughly abandoned, as our English Rofcius, whofe admirable to undertake your defence? You know, performances made fuch an impression upmy Lord, that there is not a man in ei- on him, that he immediately became enather House, whofe character, however fla- moured with the profeffion of a player, gitious, would not be ruined by mixing and fome time after entered himself a his reputation with yours; and does not member of the Rofcian Society in Gutyour heart inform you, that you are de- ter Lane, where a number of young graded below the condition of a man, men assembled two or three evenings in when you are obliged to hear thefe infults the week, in order to rehearse such chawith submission, and even to thank me racters, as they afterwards represented in for my moderation? private plays for the entertainment of We are told, by the higheft judicial their friends. In one of these performauthority, that Mr. Vaughan's offer to ances, our young spouter received fuch purchase the reverfion of a patent in Ja- uncommon proofs of the fpectators thinkmaica (which he was otherwise fufficient. ing him poffeffed of great theatrical abily entitled to) amounted to a high mif- lities, that he directly applied to Mr. demeanor. Be it fo, and if he deferves Garrick, who, after hearing him repeat it, let him be punished. But the learn- feveral paffages, pronounced he would ed judge might have had a fairer oppor- one day make an actor, but advised him tunity of difplaying the powers of his by no means to think of appearing in eloquence. Having delivered himself, public, till he had confulted his friends, with fo much energy, upon the criminal and fulfilled his engagement with his nature, and dangerous confequences of mafter. This council Holland invariably any attempt to corrupt a man in your pursued, and refolutely returned to the Grace's station, what would he have faid bufinefs of the warehouse, which he to the minifter himself, to that very privy · transacted with such attention and fidelicounsellor, to that first commiffioner of ty, that he gained univerfal esteem. the treasury, who does not wait for, but impatiently folicits the touch of corruption ;---who employs the meaneft of his creatures in thefe honourable fervices, and forgetting the genius and fidelity of his fecretary, defcends to apply to his house-builder for affistance?

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His paffion for the ftage, however, did not in the leaft fubfide; all his leifure hours were employed in preparing himself by the most rational methods for making a figure in the profeffion he fo much admired, and he has been frequently known to spend the greatest part of the night in the study of characters which the avocations of the day would not permit him to examine.

In the year 1754, Holland made his appearance upon the ftage in the character of Oroonoko, in which he acquired great reputation, though he was not a little difconcerted the first night, by an accident that befel Mr. Burton, who played the governor, and who was unluckily wounded by him in the face.

During the courfe of the season he

formed Eumenes in Merope, and feveral other capital characters, in which he was 'received with uncommon applause

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by the public. His falary, however, at this time did not amount to more than thirty fhillings per week, but the next winter it was confiderably encreased, and on Mr. Moffop's going to Ireland, he became poffeffed of feveral new parts, and received a further augmentation of

pay.

During the theatrical contention in Dublin between Barry and Moffop, they repeatedly invited Holland over to perform in that metropolis, and accordingly in the fummer of the year 1763, he a greed to the propofal of the latter, and played ten nights at Smock Alley thea tre, for which he received the fum of 100l. and a benefit. A confiderable of fer was made him to continue during the winter at Dublin, but his attachment to Mr. Garrick, who had upon various occafions, given him the ftrongeft proofs of his regard, determined him to return to London.

and was in the heighth of his reputation ; he was fuddenly feized with the Smallpox, for which his acquaintance had frequently perfuaded him, in vain, to undergo inoculation. The disorder at firft put on a mild appearance, but foon after turned out of the confluent kind; when perceiving that the gentlemen who attended him, Dr. Schomberg and Dr. Kehlan had but little hopes of his recovery, he refigned himself to his fate with uncommon refolution, and died with great compofure after twelve days illness on the 7th of December 1769, in the 36th year of his age.

A regular theatre being established in Bristol for the fummer feafon about three years ago, Holland was invited by the late Mr. Powell, with whom he had long lived in the greatest intimacy, to unite with him in the direction of the drama of that city, and in this capacity he acquitted himself fo well, that it was apparent the leffons he had received from his great matter, had qualified him no Jefs for an excellent manager than a dif

tinguished actor.

A few days before his death, Mr. Holland received the facrament, and dictated his laft will, by which, after bequeathing to Mr. Garrick his diamond ring; to Mr. Foote his golden-head cane; the fum of two hundred pounds to a child who was nearly related to him, and a few trifles to fome of his acquaintance; he left his whole fortune, upwards of 5000l. to his mother and his two brothers, at Chifwick, where he was buried.

An extraordinary circumstance has been told of this gentleman, which tho we hope for many reafons has no foundation in truth, yet from the pofitive manner in which it has been repeatedly af ferted, it ought not to be omitted in this place. It is affirmed that on the morning of his diffolution, Mr. Atkinfon, the

apothecary, called at his houfe, and was

The winter before the laft, Mr. Gar- told he was dead, but that on Mr. Atrick and Mr. Lacy refolved to difpofe of kinfon's going into his chamber where the patent, and a treaty was entered in the nurfe had laid him out, at it is comto for the purchafe between thofe two monly phrafed, in order to take a laft gentlemen, and Mr. King the celebrated look at his departed friend, he fhewed comedian, Mr. George Garrick, and Mr. fome figns of life, on which Mr. Atkinson Holland, who, from their talents and ordered him to be placed in a warm bed, fervices, were favoured with the first of- where he revived for a fhort time, and fer of the property. Holland upon this even called for fomething to drink, not occafion received a convincing proof of a little to the astonishment and shame of the respectable light he ftood in with his his attendants, who were feverely rebukfriends, who actually raised for him the ed by Mr. Atkinson for such an unparform of 150001, at one day's notice, donable inftance of neglect. the purpose he intended it, as the nego. the most reputation in were Richard III. fuddenly broken off, by Mr. Brutus, Hamlet, Pierre, Timur in ZinLacy's unexpectedly declaring it would gis, Manly in the Plain-Dealer, and

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fome other parts of weight in comedy. He was not fond of letters, though he a falary of twelve pounds applied with uncommon affiduity to his per week for his theatrical labours (which, profeffion, and was fo accurate in repeatreckoning according to playhoufe pay, ing the words of his author, that he was amounted to about 400 1. in the feafon) rarely known to make the most trifling

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Mr. Holland's figure was about the middle fize, well proportioned, and athletic; with an agreeable countenance, and an expreffive eye: his action was generally proper; but frequently stiffened by imitation.

He was a great favourite of the ladies, and the distinction with which fome of them honoured him, has rendered him famous in the annals of gallantry: among the chief of his amours ftands his connexion with Mrs. E---le, which occafioned a profecution against him by her husband for crim. con. Various have been the accounts of this not unfashionable business; but the public may depend upon what follows to be genuine.

Mr. Holland had received many letters figned Leonora, fome replete with the moft extravagant praifes of him as an actor; and others declaring “ that the writer fhould have thought herfelf happy, if he had fallen to her lot, as a companion for life; but as fortune had cruelly denied her that extreme gratification, he fhould enjoy no rest, till he had affured her in the moft folemn manner, that he would attempt nothing against her virtue, if he was induiged with an interview." The letter which contained this laft declaration, inclosed a prefent of four lottery-tickets; and mentioned that a fervant would call for an answer in a few days.

Our hero's curiofity was hereby ftrong ly excited; and as he was not deficient in point of vanity, his imagination fuggeit. ed, that his person and talents had captivated the heart of a woman of the highest rank and fortune. He therefore refolved to answer her kind letter, when he affured the fair unknown, in the true tragedy tile, "of his gratitude and eternal attachment; that he thought himself too much honoured by her notice, to attempt

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any thing which could be thought difagreeable to a lady, who had laid him under fuch obligations, that a whole life of fervices could not repay," but added, " that he was racked with impatience to fee a fair one, whole beauty was doubtlefs equal to her understanding, condefcenfion, and generosity."

Near a month elapfed before the impatient Mr. Holland received an answer to an epistle, which had coft him much pains, and many transcriptions. This reply, however, at length affured him, in the most tender manner, that the writer's fentiments remained unchanged that the had been extremely ill, was ordered into the country for the recovery of her health; but that, foon after her return, he might depend upon hearing from her again, She, at the fame time, defired him to accept of the diamond ring inclosed, and to wear it constantly for her fake.

In about fix weeks, from this period, our heroine returned from the country; and in a letter, penned in the usual strain, affured the object of her paffion, that the had now determined to enter on an interview; and that he would call on him at his lodgings under the Piazza, Covent Garden, on the Sunday morning following, as it was a day fhe was fure of his being relieved from the fatigue of entertaining the town.

In this irksome interval, our tragedian's foul was continually up in arms, and formed ten thousand plans of the manner in which he fhould receive her ladyship or her grace; fome of them as ridiculous as those of lady Wishfor't, in her amour with Sir Rowland Witwou'd.

The happy moment at length arrived, and a plump, well dressed female entered Mr. Holland's dining room, when he exerted the utmost powers of his elocution, in thanking her for the unmerited favour the conferred upon him; calling up all the affiftance of fage-trick, by counterfeiting confufion, terror, &c. On which the lady accofted him in this manmer. "Sir, you may spare your declarations and transports for another person ; I am not the lady, who has been your correfpondent for fome time, but an inti

*We cannot gratify the reader by acquainting him, whether this was the best diamond ring, mentioned in Mr. Holland's will.

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mate friend, who can refufe her nothing; and, as the found herself incapable of meeting you alone, I undertook the task from motives of pure friendship and compaffion. Her coach is now at the door. She has a villa near town, and, if you ple, I will accompany you thither to dinner."

It was almost needlefs to obferve that Mr. Holland gave his affent in terms of the utmolt impatience; when every thing being adjufted, the carriage moved briskly on, and foon arrived at the place of its deftination near Hampstead. Here he was introduced into an elegant apartment, and regaled with chocolate, whilft his fair inamorata was muttering up courage to meet him whom the had often feen in the character of a king, a hero, and a ftatefman. Every decent preparatory ftep being taken, he was fuffered to approach his princefs, when (as Mr. Hume faid of himfelf and Rouffeau) a very tender scene enfued.

The reader will readily forgive our not furnishing him with all the particulars of the converfation; firft, because we are not fufficiently acquainted with it; and, fecondly, because we do not think it would prove either inftructive or entertaining. Suffice it to fay, that Mrs. Ele had perfonal charms to rivet thofe fetters her pen had forged; that they came to a perfect understanding; and were fo well pleafed with each other, that the lady removed to a house in Arundel-ftreet, for the convenience of indulging a paffion the had gone fuch lengths, and taken fuch pains to gratify.

he was incapable of paying large damages. This precaution was, however, foon rendered unneceffary by a meffage from the profecutor, who convinced the culprit, that it was his interest to make no defence, as in that cafe no more than fifty pounds damage would be claimed; and even that fmall fum not received. What could our hero do? In this exigence blank verfe could be of little ufe to him: and he therefore fubmitted to his fate, which turned out exactly as he had been promised, it plainly appearing that the husband's fole view was to get rid of a wife for whom he had no regard, without refunding a fhilling of her fortune, which was very confiderable; and that in this honourable purfuit he had effected his purpose, by means of the virtuous lady *, who had infinua ted herself into the confidence of the unfortunate wife, whofe virtue she had, in a great measure, contributed to fubvert.

This lucky escape was not a fufficient warning for Mr. Holland to avoid all fu ture connexions with married women; for if report is to be credited, a very strict intimacy fubfifted between him and Mrs. B------, the actress, a confiderable time before his death; and fhe is faid to have been fo deeply affected at his lofs, that he was not able to make her appearance upon the stage for fome time after, though her name was conftantly in the bills during that period.

NOTE.

*Mifs G--lb--t, when examined in the ---- of K---- B-----, pretended to fall into fits; and though the neceffary questions were put in the moft decent manner to her, she made ufe of a thousand childish evafions: it appeared, however, that what the faw was from a hole made by herself, in the partition that feparated Mrs. E---le's apartment.

Immerfed in thefe fweet moments of enjoyment, our lovers little fufpected the fate that hovered over them; and were greatly furprized, after the affiduous care they had taken to conceal their amour, to find an action brought against Mr. Holland, by the enraged Mr. E---le for trim con. and ftill more fo that Mifs G-lb-t, the complaifant, friendly lady firit mentioned in thefe anecdotes, was to be produced by Mr. E---le, as the fole witness to prove the deed. This froke operated like a thunder-storm, and difperfed at once all the loves and graces; the is worthy of univerfal imitation, as a fpilady retreating to obfcurity, and the gen- rit of culture hath brought forth a fertitleman preparing for his defence. As he lity and richness of pasture beyond any had no doubt of the fact being fully pro- thing I remember to have feen. The ved, his only resource was to prove, from method of laying down is this: Oats are his falary, and other circumftances, that fown (underfeeded) upon land that has

The Marquis of Rockingham's Management of Grass-Lands, Turnip-boeing, &c.

down and keeping his grafs-lands IS Lordship's management in laying

been

been exceedingly well fallowed for a year and half, by many ploughings, harrowings, &c. By which operations the furface is laid molt completely level, fo that not the leaft trace of a furrow is to be diftinguished; with the corn, 12lb. of white Dutch clover, and eight bushels of finely-dreffed hay-feeds are fown. At harvest the oats are reaped, and 6lb. more of clover feed fown over the ftubble, which is then mown, and raked off, and confequently the feed pretty well buried in the ground; a very rich compoft is immediately spread on the field, and well harrowed in, by which means the feed is completely covered; in this manner it is left the first winter. The crop is next year left until the feeds are ripe enough to fhake in the mowing and making, by which means the land gains a fresh fprink ling, and the whole furface enfured a total and thick covering.

The fuccefs attending this method is fo very great, that, in feveral large fields which I viewed, the after-grafs was eight and nine inches high, foon after clearing a crop of hay of two tons per acre, and this the first year of the lay. No one would have known, from walking over the field, that it was not of fome years growth, fo thick and matted on the ground was the first year's produce. This grafs, in any part of the kingdom, would have lett for 30s. an acre, and for 40s. in molt An improvement of a noble kind, when the rents, before this management, were no more than 8 and 9 fhillings per acre, and lett at their value.. Adjoining to several of these new lays, fome of the old paftures are to be feen yet in tenants hands; they are poisoned with fuperfluous water, and over-run with every fpecies of trumpery and weeds, the grafs of a poor fort, and the quantity trifling. In lays of three or four years old, the aftergrafs, had it been mown, would have yielded at least two tons of hay an acre.

It is obfervable upon this plan, that no part of it is beyond the reach of a common farmer; a principal view of his lordfhip in all his husbandry. Here are no two-years fallow, nor any lofs by laying without a crop of corn; the feeds indeed are in large quantities, and amount in to tal price to near fifty fhillings an acre; but then it is to be confidered, that the thickness of fowing gives it a moft excelthe very fit year, which, in

lent crop

the common management, is generally the very contrary; and it is incontestible, that his Lordship's method pays its own expence in the very first crop. Suppose the farmer's feeds cost him 20s. the excefs on the fide of the better manner is then, we will fay, 25 s. a fum in the value of hay that does amount to little more than a fifth of the first year's product.

But Lord Rockingham, in scarce any thing, has acted with greater fpirit, than the improvement of the turnip culture by hoeing; for the disgust he felt at seeing the common flovenly management of the farmers, in refpect to this crop, made him determine to introduce the excellent practice of hoeing, common in many of the fouthern parts of the kingdom. With this view, he endeavoured to perfuade his tenants to come into the method, defcribed to them the operation, pointed out its advantages, clearly explained to them the great confequence of increasing the fize of the roots in the luxuriance of its growth, and the equality of the crops; he reminded them of the poor crops of fpring corn, gained after turnips, for want of a better culture, from the difference of following a crop of weeds, which will not feed cattle, and confequently not improve the land; and fucceeding a large produce of valuable roots, which, by their thick fhade, and the quantity of cattle they maintained, enriched the land, at the fame time that all weeds are deftroyed by the hoeing.

Uncontrovertible as this reasoning, fo clearly founded on facts, mult appear to the unprejudiced, yet, with a fet of men of contracted ideas, used to a stated road, with deviations neither to the right or left, it had very little effect: Tornips continued to be fown, but were never hoed. His Lordship then finding, that difcourfe and reafoning could not prevail over the obstinacy of their understandings, determined to convince their eyes. He fent into Hertfordshire for a husbandman ufed to hoeing of turnips, and gave directions for his management of a large crop. This he continued feveral years; and by this means, by degrees, he introduced the practice, which is now (though not univerfal) the common practice of all the good common farmers. Much does this neighbourhood owe to fo patriotic a defign, which was truly planned with

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