of Foote is an odd mixture of himself and the duke of Buckingham: the old building was new faced with a modern front. He contrived to adapt, as well as he could, his new superstructure to the old ground work. His fancy was so exuberant, his concep tions so ready, and his thoughts so brilliant, that he kept the audience in continual laughter. Public transactions, the flying follies of the day, debates of grave assemblies, absurdities of play-wri ters, politicians, and players, all came under his coguizance, and all felt the force of his wit. In short, he laid hold of every thing, and every body, that would furnish merriment for the evening. Foote could have written a new Rehearsal, equal to the old."

As Foote exhibited great humour on the stage, so he also displayed great wit and humour in private conversation. Of his talents in this respect, the following statsment was made by Dr. Johnson: "The first time I was in company with Foote was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased, and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him. But the dog was so very comical, that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back upon my chair, and fairly laugh it out. No, sir, he was irresist able. He upon one occasion experienced, in an extraordinary degree, the efficacy of his powers of entertaining. Amongst the many and various modes which he tried of getting money, he became a partner with a small-beer brewer, and he was to have a share of the profits for procuring customers amongst his numerous acquaintance. Fitzherbert was one who took his small-beer; but it was so bad, that the servants resolved not to drink it. They were at some loss how to notify their resolution, being afraid to offend their master, who they knew liked Foote much as a companion.. At last they fixed upon a little black boy, who was rather a favorite, to be their deputy, and deliver their remonstrance ; and having invested him with the whole authority of the kitchen, he was to inform Mr. Fitzherbert, in all their names, upon a certain day, they would drink Focte's small-beer no longer. On that day Foote happened to dine at Fitzherbert's, and this boy served at table; he was so delighted with Foote's stories, and merriment,

and grimace, that when he went down stairs, he told them, This is the finest man I have ever seen. I will not deliver your message, I will drink his small-beer."

From the year 1752 to 1761, Foote continued to perform at one of the theatres every season, as fancy or interest directed his choice, generally for a stated number of nights; and on these engagements, he usually brought out a new piece. In this course he went on, until a very pressing embarassment in his circumstances, compelled him to perform the Minor at the Hay-market, in the summer of the year 1760, with such a company as he could hastily collect. The success of this attempt seems to have suggested to him the scheme of occupying that theatre when the others were shut up; and from the year 1762, until the season before his death, he regularly performed there, and acquired a considerable income. But as economy was not to be numbered among his excellencies, he generally expended what he gained in the gratification equally of his vices and his virtues, being at times both generous and extravagant.

In February 1769, he had the misfortune to fall from his horse, while he was on a visit at lord Mexborough's seat in the country, when the duke of York was also there. He was obliged, in consequence of his fall, to suffer an amputation of his leg and it is generally supposed, that this accident facilitated his application for a patent, which he obtained in the course of that year. As he was ever attentive to such temporary circumstances as would afford subjects of ridicule, so he was not at all scrupulous whom he offended in his satirical career. This conduct naturally procured him enemies; and in 1776, a charge was exhibited against him of unnatural practices. On this accusation he was brought to a public trial; but the charge against him was supposed to have originated in malice; and he was acquitted by the direction, and agreeably to the sentiments, of the judge who tried him, after a very. long and strict investigation of all the circumstances of the affair. This disgraceful charge appears, however, to have much hurt him; and a few months afterwards, he was seized, while on the stage, with a paralytic fit, from which he recovered sufficiently to spend the summer at Brighthelmstone, and from thence, on the approach of winter, was advised to remove to France. On the 20th of Oc

tober, 1777, he arrived at Dover, intending immediately to proceed to Calais. But about eleven o'clock next morning, he com plained of a shivering, and went to bed, where he was seized with another fit, which lasted three hours. After the fit was over, he lay very composed, and seemed inclined to sleep; but in a short time fetched a deep sigh, and expired. He was buried in West, minster-abbey.

The following is a list of Foote's dramatic performances, as published in the "Biog. Dramatica ;"

1. Taste, Comedy, 8vo. 1752.

2. The Englishman in Paris, C. 8vo. 1753.

3. The Knights, C. 8vo. 1754,

4. The Englishman returned from Paris, Farce, 8vo. 1756.

5. The Author, C. 8vo. 1757.

6. The Diversion of the Morning, F. 1758; not printed.

7. The Minor, C. 8vo. 1760.

8. The Lyar, C. 1761; printed 8vo. 1764.

9. The Orators, 8vo. 1762.

10. The Mayor of Garret, C. 8vo. 1763.'

11. The Patron, C. 8vo. 1764.

12. The Commissary, C. 8vo. 1765.

13. Prelude on opening the theatre, 1767.

14. The Devil upon Two Sticks, C. 1768.

15. The Lame Lover, C. 8vo. 1770.

16. The Maid of Bath, C. 1771; printed 8vo. 1778. 17. The Nabob, C. 1772; printed 8vo. 1778.

18. Piety in Pattens, F. 1773. N. P.

19. The Bankrupt, C. 8vo. 1773.

20. The Cozeners, C. 1774; printed 8vo. 1778. 21. The Capuchin, C. 1776; printed 8vo. 1778,

22. A Trip to Calais, C. 8vo. 1778.

** Authorities. Theatrical Biography, vol. ii. Biog. Drama tica, vol. i. Davies's Dramatic Miscellanies. Boswell's Life of Dr. Johnson. Foote's Roman and English Comedy considered, and compared, &è.

263

THE LIFE OF

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK.

[A. D. 1728, to 1779.]

THIS celebrated navigator was born at Marton, a village in the North-riding of Yorkshire, on the 27th of October, 1728. His father was a common husbandman, and of course in mean circumstances, but was noted for honesty, sobriety and diligence. He received no other education than some instruction, in a common day-school, in reading, writing, and the first rules of arithmetic. Before he was thirteen years of age, he was bound an apprentice to Mr. William Sanderson, a haberdasher, or shopkeeper, at Staiths, a considerable fishing town, about ten miles north of Whitby. This employment, however, was not suitable to young Cook's disposition. The sea was the object of his inclination; and his passion for it could not avoid being strengthened by the situa tion of the town in which he was placed, and the manner of life of the persons with whom he must frequently converse. Some disagreement having happened between him and his master, he obtained his discharge, and soon afterwards bound himself for seven years to Messrs. John and Henry Walker, of Whitby, quakers by religious profession, and principal owners of the ship Free-love, and of another vessel, both of which were constantly employed in the coal trade. The greatest part of his apprenticeship was spent on board the Free-love. After he was out of his time, he continued to serve in the coal and other branches of trade (though chiefly in the former) in the capacity of a common sailor; till at length he was raised to be a mate of one of Mr. John Walker's ships. During this period, it is not recollected, that he exhibited any thing very peculiar, either in his abilities or in his conduct; though there can be no doubt, but that he had gained a considerable degree of knowledge in the practical part of navigation, and that his attentive and sagacious mind was laying up a store of observations which would be useful to him in future life.

In the spring of the year 1755, when hostilities broke out be tween England and France, and there was a hot press for seamen, Mr. Cook happened to be in the river Thames with the ship to which he belonged. At first he concealed himself to avoid being pressed; but reflecting, that it might be difficult, notwithstanding all his vigilance, to elude discovery, or escape pursuit, he determined, upon farther consideration, to enter voluntarily into his majesty's service, and to take his future fortune in the royal navy. Perhaps he had some presage in his own mind, that by his activity and exertions he might rise considerably above his present situation. Accordingly, he went to a rendezvous at Wapping, and entered with an officer of the Eagle, man of war, a ship of 60 guns, at that time commanded by captain Hamer. To this ship captain (afterwards sir Hugh) Palliser was appointed in the month of October, 1755; and when he took the command, found in her James Cook, whom he soon distinguished to be an able, active, and diligent seaman. All the officers spoke highly in his favor, and the captain was so well pleased with his behaviour, that he gave him every encouragement which lay in his power.

In the course of some time, captain Palliser received a letter from Mr. Osbaldeston, then member of parliament for Scarborough, acquainting him, that several neighbours of his had solicited him to write in favor of one Cook, on board the captain's ship. They had heard, that captain Palliser had taken notice of him, and they requested, if he thought him worthy of it, that he would point out, in what manner Mr. Osbaldeston might best contribute his assistance towards forwarding the young man's promotion. The captain, in his reply, did justice to Cook's merit; but as he had been only a short time in the navy, informed Mr. Osbaldeston, that he could not be promoted as a commission officer. Á master's warrant, captain Palliser added, might perhaps be procured for Mr. Cook, by which he would be raised to a station that he was well qualified to discharge with ability and credit.

*

Such a warrant he obtained on the 10th of May, 1759, for the Grampus sloop; but the proper master having unexpectedly returned to her, the appointment did not take place. Four days after, he was made master of the Garland; when upon enquiry,